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After the Fire
Now that the emergency is over, we want to help you in the recovery process.
If we can be of further assistance to you or if you have suggestions of how we might better serve you, please contact us at 952-895-4570.
To obtain a copy of the fire report please submit a data request.
Ventilation
Fires produce temperatures well over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, along with smoke and hot gases. At times, it is necessary to eliminate heat, smoke and hot gases before firefighters can successfully extinguish the fire. Ventilation must be accomplished quickly to help reduce fire spread. Often window and door damage, roof and access holes are attributed to a quick ventilation process. Walls must be forcibly opened to find "hidden" fires.
After the fire is out, damage may appear unnecessary. However, without the use of these techniques, the building could suffer extensive destruction by fire.
Fire Investigation
In the City of Burnsville, it is routine for the fire marshal and/or fire investigator to visit the damaged site to identify the cause of the fire for official legal records and for educational reasons.
Do not take offense to probing questions that appear to apply suspicion. Investigators are simply doing their job.
Often times the insurance company will send a fire investigator out to the residence to conduct an origin and cause investigation. The Burnsville fire marshal and/or fire inspectors will have completed their origin and cause investigation prior to the insurance company investigator. The fire marshal/inspectors will have talked to you regarding their findings. Do not disturb the area where they have determined the fire originated until cleared to do so by the insurance investigator.
Your personal safety is our priority. Once you're out of the burning building you may be suffering from the effects of fire. Assess yourself for burns, injuries and mental state.
Burns
Burns, even minor burns, need to be treated immediately. Personal first aid techniques may be used for minor burns. More serious burns should be treated at a hospital.
Mental State
A major effect of fire is the lack of oxygen and effects from carbon monoxide and other toxic by-products of fire. All act to impair judgment. You may not realize it, but possible exposure to toxic by-products of fire and the lack of oxygen as you escape, may impair your ability to think clearly and rationally. Even if you are not affected, others who escaped with you may display impaired judgment.
After Fire Department personnel leave, the building becomes your responsibility.
- Remove all valuables if you cannot live in the house. Should a firefighter or fire investigator be on the scene, they will accompany you.
- Secure doors and windows and other areas against unauthorized entry and ensuring no further damage occurs to the structure or contents.
Can you live or work in the building?
Allow time after you re-enter the scene for proper ventilation in the building. Toxins may still be trapped in areas of the building and without proper fresh air ventilation, personal discomfort may be experienced with the following symptoms: headaches, dizziness, nausea, etc. Should symptoms persist, see a doctor.
Property Insurance
If you own the property, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible.
If you rent or lease the property, you must contact the owner and your renter’s insurance agent. Your insurance agent will know what parts of the damage are insured. In some cases, they may be able to assist by providing names of reputable contractors who can do restoration to certain elements of the work that are not insured.
You can request a copy of the Fire Department's incident report by submitting a data request.
If You Cannot live in the building
Those who have experienced a fire or other disaster may obtain assistance from the local American Red Cross chapter. Upon application to the Red Cross, you can obtain food, clothing, lodging and other services as needs are assessed. The Burnsville Fire Department can assist with contacting the Red Cross.
Construction
If the building is structurally damaged to the point of repair, and/or is not habitable, a City Building Inspector must be called to assess. After the building inspection is complete, a permit must be obtained prior to making repairs. Contact the Burnsville Inspections Department at 952-895-4444.
If you have moved, be sure to notify the post office, utilities department, bank(s), credit card companies, school district, Social Security Administration, subscription services, and other companies providing service or sending mail to your address.
Tax Information
Tax information on disasters, casualty losses, and thefts, publication 547, is available from the local Internal Revenue Service Office. Check with your accountant for guidance and recommendation.
Utilities
Often the Fire Department will have the utility services interrupted or disconnected as a safety precaution and to prevent further damage to the structure and its contents. Steps to re-establish utility services are:
- Electrical: An electrical inspector must check wiring to ensure safety before the power can be reconnected. Contact your service provider to have electricity restored to the property. Have a service person check damp or wet appliances before you operate them
- Natural Gas: DO NOT turn the gas back on after an incident. Call 612-333-1664 to have a Centerpoint service person turn on gas and relight appliances for you
- Water: You may turn the water back on. Use caution, the incident may have damaged plumbing. Hidden leaks may cause further damage when water is re-introduced into the pipes. Water may have been turned off at the street valve to protect the property from water damage. When ready for water contact the Burnsville Utilities Department at 952-895-4480.
Care of Documents and Valuables
Remove valuables as soon as possible. Many people will be in the home making repairs and assessing the damage. Additionally, a home after a fire is a target for theft. Do not assume these valuables are lost or safe in the home.
Items to consider removing include: money, keys, wallets, firearms and jewelry.
Documents can be easily damaged or destroyed as a result of a fire or other disaster. The following documents should be located as soon as possible after the incident.
| Document | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Drivers License | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Insurance Policies | Your Insurance company |
| Military discharge papers | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Passport | State Department - Passport Services |
| Birth/marriage/death certificate | Dakota County |
| Social Security or Medicare card | Social Security Office |
| Credit Card | Issuing company |
| Will | Your attorney |
| Citizenship | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services |
| Mortgage papers | Lending institution |
| Income tax records | IRS |
| Stocks and bonds | Issuing company or broker |
Note: It is wise to store all important documents in a container specifically designed for the protection of valuable documents.
Rebuilding
Obtain a detailed estimate
Following the emergency mitigation stage comes necessary repairs and restoration. The first step should be to secure a comprehensive, detailed estimate (contractors call these scopes) of what needs to be done. Your approval and the insurance company adjuster’s approval are required. All parties must agree on what needs to be done. Explanations or reasoning behind required work are provided.
Temporary Removal (Pack-Out) of Personal Belongings, Furniture Etc.
One of the first things your contractor will request is your authorization to remove all your belongings from your home for cleaning and deodorizing. Contractors call this a pack-out. Contractors remove your property because it is easier for them to clean and deodorize your items in their facility with their equipment. Removal of your property also provides access to your home’s structure for necessary repairs, restoration and reconstruction. Furthermore, your items will not be further damaged by residual soot, construction dust, etc. Once these items are cleaned and deodorized they are packed in a clean plastic or packing paper and boxed. All items are then returned by the contractor and placed back in approximately the original area of the home. The homeowner can then unpack the items and return them to their preferred location. The contractor will inventory all items taken from the house so that you know what is in their possession.
Cleaning and Treatment of Walls, Door Fixtures and Appliances
These items will obviously require cleaning and treatment on-site. The first step will be to dry the premises. An antimicrobial treatment may be necessary to prevent mold growth caused by water damage. The second step will be to remove as much soot and other debris as possible. Then special chemicals will be used to remove residual smoke damage. Your contractor may elect to use a fogger to treat the general environment of the home for odor. Since smoke is an agent that finds its way into the smallest crevice the contractor must be very thorough in the cleaning process.
Qualification
- Ask your agent or adjuster for a recommendation. Even though insurers cannot tell you who to use, agents and adjusters often are able to give you the names of some contractors who have done a good job for them and their clients in the past.
- Ask your contractor for a list of references. Take time to call a couple of these references. It is a good idea to call people that have been clients within the last three years. This will give you an idea of how your construction process will go and what will happen if any problems arise.
- Ask the contractor for their professional credentials: do any professional organizations or associations nationally certify them? Do they belong to any professional associations or organizations? Are they bonded and licensed? What training is done to keep up their qualifications?
- Ask them how long they have been in business.
Do Your Research
- Physically inspect their plant or office location. This will provide insights on how they do business, the people who work there, their technical capabilities, quality control, and their ability to be around for the duration of the project.
- Interview the contractor. Ask them questions that you may have on your mind. This will give you an idea of whether you can communicate with them and what kind of job they may do. It will also provide some insights on their ability to provide superior customer service. Remember the contractor works for you not the insurance company.
Expertise
- Consider choosing a contractor who does restoration and construction work. This would enable you to do business with one contractor from start to finish.
- Choose a contractor who is an expert in restoration. Fire and water damage restorations requires very specialized training and expertise. Doing business with this type of contractor will give you confidence that your prized possessions can be saved and residual problems with water and smoke damage (i.e. mold growth, and smoke odor) are avoided.
- Choose a contractor who works with insurance companies on a regular basis. The process will go much smoother. Plus, the detailed estimates that must be done for the insurance company also ensures you are getting what you deserve.
- Choose a contactor who specializes in doing reconstruction work on fire or water damaged structure.
- Avoid working with the contractor that built your house. These kinds of contractors probably don’t work regularly with insurers, aren’t proficient at restoration, nor do they commonly do repair or reconstruction.
FAQ's
Can I obtain a copy of the fire report?
Yes. A fire report is a public document available through the City website Public Data Request Portal. Select submit a Data Records Request.
Do I have to go with the contractor my insurance company recommends?
As a customer you have the right under state law to choose the contractor you wish. You do not need to use the contractor recommended or preferred by your insurance company. However, the insurance company reserves the right not to pay prices unreasonably higher than market conditions. You will need your insurance company's approval to begin work and any changes requiring additional expenditures.
Does the Burnsville Fire Department recommend any contractors?
The Burnsville Fire Department does not recommend contractors.
How long will I be out of my home?
Each fire is different, therefore the amount of time it takes to return to your home will vary. Ask your contractor for an estimated timetable of completion upfront.
When it come to my contractor, how can I speed up the process?
- Choose a contractor quickly and get them on the job.
- Get back to the insurance company quickly with requested information.
- Cooperate as best you can with the "pack-out" process. Allow the contractors access to your home so the contents can be moved out quickly and work can begin.
- If you are selecting new finishes, get your choices back to the contractor as soon as possible.
- Avoid going back to the contractor to get personal items that are being cleaned. This may slow down the process.
Do I have access to the property at all times?
Our process:
- After the fire, Burnsville Fire Department passes off the scene to the Burnsville Fire Investigations team.
- The Fire Investigations team will determine the cause and origin of the fire and will determine if the property is safe to enter.
- Once your property is determined safe, you may enter any time you want. Work with your contractor to determine the best time to do so.
Can I do the the reconstruction to my home myself, with the help of family and friends?
Consult with your insurance company.
Does smoke odor return after deodorizer wears out?
A professional restoration contractor uses agents that actually break down the components that create smoke odor. One way of doing this is to use high concentrations of ozone gas to eliminate odors from textiles and other items. Ask your contractor how they will be deodorizing your property. If a deodorizer is used to "mask" the odor, there is a good chance the smoke smell will return.
Is the use of ozone safe for my family and the environment?
Yes. People cannot breathe high concentrations of ozone for long periods of time without ill effects. however, the gas itself quickly dissipates, therefore, there is no lingering health hazards. In terms of the environment, there is no evidence of any pollution.
Why try to restore damaged contents instead of replacing them?
A restoration company will do whatever is required and approved by the insurance company to get you back to pre-loss condition. If you work with a qualified restoration company, you will discover damaged items are restorable. Review your personal property limits on your policy (maximum amount listed on your policy that your insurer is willing to pay on the value of your personal property at home). Many homeowners exceed these limits and must pay out of pocket.