If you and your family have been the victims of a house fire, it is imperative to start restoration activities as soon as possible, in order to get your sense of safety and security back.

1) Call your insurance company and inform them of the fire. They will likely send out an adjuster to survey the damage and guide you through the process of submitting a claim.

2) Call a Fire Restoration company. Your insurance agent should be able to recommend someone reputable. A fire restoration company can professionally restore your home, including furniture, walls, roof, duct work, etc. They have the knowledge and the expertise of knowing which process will work with each damaged item. No matter how handy you may think you are, self-restoration can actually make things worse.

3) Locate all important documents and put them in a safe place. Locate insurance papers, birth certificates, health information, etc. Put them in a safe location in your home, where you can access them easily.

4) Take inventory of what has been damaged, what has not. There may be varying degrees of damage - smoke, fire and water. Make a list of what has been damaged; your insurance company will need this. If you can, locate the receipts for each item.

5) Change your furnace filter at least once a day for the first couple of weeks, until visible soot is gone from the filters.

6) Open your windows. This will help get rid of smoke and fire odors and ventilate your home. It will also help dry things out.

7) Cover all non-damaged furniture with a plastic cover; or consider moving them into storage until your home is fully restored.

8) Wash your clothes using your regular washer. This is usually all that's needed with clothes that do not require dry-cleaning for regular care. Consider hanging them outside instead of using your dryer.

9) Dry out your carpets using fans and de-humidifiers. If you can, put them outside and lay them in the sun to dry. The longer your carpets stay wet, the more chance of mold and mildew setting in.

10) Discard all food and drinks that have been exposed to fire, smoke or water. They are no longer safe for consumption, including canned food. Do not refreeze any food that has thawed.

A fire restoration company can help make the process easier by guiding you each step of the way, and using their expertise to clear your home of damage caused by smoke, fire and water. Count on them to get your home back to normal.