August 12, 2005 – Experiencing a house fire is devastating enough, trying to recover and move forward can be made more difficult by not knowing what to do first. To help make recovering from one of the most devastating life events a little easier, the Office of the State Fire Marshal is encouraging homeowners to prepare for the worst by following some simple fire recovery tips.

“Each year hundreds of families are displaced by a house fire in Michigan,” said Andy Neumann, State Fire Marshal. “The first thing homeowners need to do is contact the local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army, to help with immediate needs such as shelter, food, clothing, medicine and other essential items. Also, as tempting as it may be to try and search for items, the homeowner should NEVER enter the damaged fire site without approval from the fire department. Fires can rekindle from hidden, smoldering remains.”

After the immediate needs have been addressed, homeowners should contact the insurance agent or company. Also, beginning immediately, save receipts for any money spent. These receipts are important to show the insurance company what money has been spent related to the fire loss and also for verifying losses claimed on income tax returns.

Once the fire department gives approval, homeowners should try to locate identification, such as driver's licenses and Social Security cards; insurance information; medication information; eyeglasses; hearing aids or other prosthetic devices; valuables; such as credit cards; bank books; cash and jewelry

Also, the homeowners should notify the mortgage company, family and friends, employer, child's school, post office and utility companies of the fire and their current location.

When sorting through the fire damage, it’s important that homeowners do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made. All damages are taken into consideration in developing the insurance claim.

Important information such as insurance policies – medical, dental, automobile and home, passports, driver’s licenses, bank books, wills, social security cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce papers should be copied and stored in a separate location outside the home.

Below is a checklist of documents that will need to be replaced if they have been destroyed, and who to contact for information on the replacement process.

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth news releases.