What to do after a kitchen fire?

Question

I have had a fire today in the kitchen which has resulted in serious damage to two wall units and the extractor fan. The electricity for the oven and hob were connected to the extractor, so I am unable to use these and there is alot of smoke damage to the kitchen and this has spread albeit only a little into all downstairs areas of the house. I managed to smother the flames and throw the pan onto the garden, which has burnt the lawn and I also have a burn to my arm from removing the pan. The insurance company promised to send a cleaning company out today to make the kitchen habitable again and a loss adjuster is coming on monday. So far, the cleaners aren't here and I am not sure whether to start cleaning up myself, as it is getting on my nerves. Can anyone advise whether this is a bad idea in view of the loss adjusters coming and if I should be aware of anything when they come. The kitchen is only a year old and was very expensive. I don't want to under estimate on the level of damage, as I would like it put back the way it was.

Answer 1

I would advise not to do anything until the loan adjuster has been there.  Also, get out your camera and take lots of pictures.  Make sure you have all your receipts and invoices for the kitchen remodel in order.  If possible, have someone else there with you when the adjuster arrives (a witness).  I don't have firsthand knowledge of this, but a relative of a relative said that the insurance company would not cover their kitchen fire loss because the fire was caused by their own "negligence."  So be careful not to say anything to the adjuster that might give him the idea the fire was caused by negligence.  Hopefully, you have an honest and fair insurance company and all will go well.  Good luck!

Answer 2

Leave it for the loss adjusters.

Answer 3

go out to eat

Answer 4

Dont do anything to the kitchen. Go have you arm looked at by your family doctor.

Answer 5

Leave everything exactly how it is otherwise you could jeopardise your claim

Answer 6

Okay, I do fire/water damage restoration work and have for the last 10 years.  First of all, yes, take pictures.  You can attempt to start cleaning if you want to, however, I wouldn't suggest it.  Here is the reason; kitchen fires 9 times out of 10 are caused by protein fire, which means you were cooking something.  These type fires leave a very greasy mess behind.  In the fire/water damage industry, we have special chemicals to remove the soot/smoke odor.  Be prepared that this is not something that can be cleaned up in 30 minutes.  You have to start from the ceiling and work your way down to the floor, including all the contents within the affected area.  

Now, as far as jeopardizing your claim, in 10+ years of doing this, the only time I have EVER seen a claim denied is due to arson.  Never have I heard an adjuster state a claim was denied to negligence.  95% of your fires in homes are caused by carelessness.  It's an accident, whether it was caused from cooking, faulty wiring, etc.

I know your house is a mess right now, and you as the homeowner are allowed to start mitigating your own loss.  If you are not happy with the restoration company coming out, then go into the yellow pages under "fire/smoke damage" and contact someone else.  We always tell our customers that we work for them, not the insurance company.  Also, save all your receipts for eating out, anything you have to put money out to as a result of this fire.  You will be reimbursed by your insurance company.  

When the adjuster comes out, he will scope the loss and write up an estimate.  The restoration company will also write up an estimate based upon what they see needs to be done.  Usually, the price is about the same because we all use the same pricing program to figure out an estimate.  

If I can't suggest anything else to you, I will suggest this, whoever you choose to use in restoring your home, make sure they specialize in fire/water damage restoration work.  If it's not done right, you will not have the odor out of your house, nor will it be cleaned correctly.

Here is some basic info off our website that will help:

Report the damage to your insurance company as soon as possible. Most companies have a toll-free call center to take your information. Or you can always report the loss to your agent.

If you must turn off your water, take steps to prevent your plumbing and/or heating supply pipes from freezing.

If you have lost power and it is safe to do so, remove perishable foods from your refrigerator and freezer. The odor created by spoiled food is usually impossible to remove.

Keep a listing of anything you have discarded and receipts for any expenses you incur in protecting your property. Most likely, your insurance claim representative will ask for these items

If you must relocate, even temporarily, give your insurance company a phone number where you can be reached.

You want your home back to the condition it was in prior to the fire and smoke damage

Appliances/Electronics: Do not use any TV, stereo or electronic appliances until they have been checked by a technician. If the electricity is off, empty your refrigerator/freezer completely and prop the doors open with a rolled towel.

Carpets: Vacuum loose dry soot smoke particles from carpets. Make sure the vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter to prevent redistribution of fine soot. Avoid walking or tracking on carpet if possible. Do not use “do-it-yourself” home carpet cleaners.

Ceilings/Walls: Do not wipe or attempt to wash ceilings or other absorbent surfaces.

Doors: Close doors on affected areas to localize smoke odors as much as possible.

Food Items: Do not consume food items exposed to smoke or canned goods that have been subjected to excessive heat.

Furnace: Change the furnace or air conditioner filter if the blower is operating. Tape double pieces of cheesecloth over air registers with masking tape.

Furniture: If possible, avoid using upholstered furniture or handling drapes.

Pets: Remove all pets to a clean environment.

Plants: Wash plants with mild soap and water, cleaning both sides of the leaves.

Plumbing: Call a plumber to drain and winterize the system if the heat will be turned off in the winter.

Windows: If possible, open windows to ventilate.

Answer 7

Exactly as the person above has advised, leave it as it is so the loss adjusters can see the extent of the damage.

Answer 8

i like deltas answer,,and stop using the smoke alarm as a timer