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After The Fire

Getting Back to Normal in Montana

A fire will change your life in many ways. Your home and many of your things may have been badly damaged by flames, heat, smoke, and water. The firefighters may have cut holes in the walls or roof looking for hidden flames or to let heat and smoke odor out. Anything that you want to save will need to be carefully cleaned. Knowing where to begin and who can help you is important.

Safety & Security

  • Check with the fire department to make sure your home is safe to enter. Be careful when you go inside – floors and walls may not be as safe as they look.
  • The fire department will have to shut off your utilities if they are not safe to use. Do not try to turn them back on by yourself. This could be very dangerous.
  • Do not eat, drink, or breathe in anything that has been near the flames, smoke, soot, or water used to put the fire out.
  • Do not touch any fire-damaged items. Ask the advice of the fire department, local building officials, your insurance agent, or Dayspring Restoration before starting to clean or make repairs.

More Safety & Security

  • In some cases, you may need to board up openings to secure your property. Dayspring Restoration can help you with rapid-response board and tarp-up service.
  • If you leave your home, call the local police department to let them know that the site will be vacant.
  • Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army. They will help you find a place to stay and find food, clothing, and medicine.
  • If you have pets, try to leave them with a family member, friend, or veterinarian. Keep your pets out of the house until the cleanup is complete to keep them safe.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) about Fire Department Actions

As a fire burns, it moves up, down, and across, growing very fast. Breaking windows and cutting holes in the roof slows the fire’s growth. It also helps get rid of dark smoke that makes it hard for firefighters to see to fight the fire more quickly. In the end, ventilation can help save lives and property.

Firefighters may cut holes in the walls to make sure that the fire is not hidden behind walls and completely out.

In most areas, a fire report is a public document. Ask for it from your fire department or the fire marshal’s office. The fire report will provide you with information your insurance company and other official offices may need.

 

Contact Your Insurance Agent, and Landlord or Mortgage Company

  • If you have insurance, contact your insurance company right away.
  • Ask what you should do to keep your home safe until it is repaired.
  • Ask who you should talk to about cleaning up your home.
  • Talk with them about how to determine the value of your home and its contents.
  • Begin saving receipts for any money that you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company to prove any losses claimed on your income tax.
  • If you are not insured, reach out to community groups for aid and assistance.
  • Contact your landlord or mortgage company.
  • Do not throw any damaged items away until an inventory is complete with photo documentation.
Fire damaged apartment

Documents and Records

You will want to find and, if need be, replace many of the following documents if they were destroyed or lost in the fire:

  • Driver’s License & Passport
  • Citizenship Papers
  • Social Security Cards
  • Credit Cards and Checks
  • Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates
  • Divorce Paperwork
  • Wills
  • Titles to Deeds
  • Medical Insurance Cards
  • Medical Records
  • Auto Registrations
  • Insurance Policies
  • Stocks and Bonds
  • Military Discharge Papers
  • Warranties
  • Income Tax Records
  • Animal Registration Papers

Replacing Money

Damaged money may still have value. If half or more is still intact, you can take it to you can get it replaced through your Regional Federal Reserve Bank. If there is not one near you, you can mail it (registered mail – return receipt requested) to:

Department of the Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office of Currency Standards P.O. Box 37048 Washington, DC 20013.


Next Steps

After the fire, the cleaning and restoration experts at Dayspring Restoration provide the following services:

Whether you or your insurer is responsible for engaging a company to provide these services, be clear about who will pay for it. Be sure to also get an estimate of the cost for the work and agree to it in writing.

Residential house fire
 

Resources:


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Inform your local police department about your absence from home. In certain situations, it may be necessary to secure openings to prevent unauthorized access when you're away. Dayspring Restoration provides a quick-response board and tarp-up service, along with comprehensive restoration.

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Missoula, MT

The family had a grease fire on the stove, resulting in a full loss of their kitchen. Our team went in and provided smoke and fire damage, as well as water damage. We remediated the smoke from the whole home including the ductwork. The family was ...

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Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness, Value Our church had a pressure fire causing smoke damage to the entire building in May 2021. This is a large building (approximately 20000 sq/ft) with multiple floors, 4 offices, 10 o...

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Positive: Professionalism, Responsiveness We had a small kitchen fire. All of the Dayspring personnel I encountered were professional, courteous, and demonstrated a good work ethic while working in my home. I would recommend them for restoration w...

Butte, MT

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Critical: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness, Value The cleaners did a really bad job. I had to have them clean my kitchen 3 times and the guys that were doing the insulation and lacquer ended up doing it the last time. They did n...

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Smoke odor may cause serious health issues and an unpleasant environment. Contact Day Spring Restoration for an efficient smoke odor removal service in Bozeman & Missoula, MT.

Dayspring Restoration is the superior fire damage restoration provider in Bozeman and Missoula, MT. We utilize an efficient, effective fire damage restoration process.

Count on the professionals at Dayspring Restoration for careful, efficient contents pack-out after a fire or water disaster on your property in Bozeman and Missoula, MT.

Some of the Reasons You Can Trust Dayspring Restoration

Serving Your Local Area Since 1985
Serving Your Local Area Since 1989
24/7 Emergency Response
24/7 Emergency Response
Insurance Claims Assistance
Insurance Claims Assistance
Licensed, Bonded, and Insured
Licensed, Bonded, and Insured
Advanced Certification Training
Advanced Certification Training
Full-Service Restoration From Demo to Rebuild
Full-Service Restoration From Demo to Rebuild
3D Site Imaging with Docusketch
3D Site Imaging with Docusketch

Reviews From Our Customers

“Following a devastating fire, Dayspring’s ability to pull resources from all over the state within hours was incredible. They had over 50 workers onsite within 2-3 hours! We would never have been able to have our students back in school within 2 days were it not for the quick response and the quality of work provided by them. Their quality of work was excellent!”

Kalli Kind

Kalli Kind

Helena Public Schools

“Over the past eighteen years I have worked with Dayspring on a daily basis. I have worked with them professionally and have had them work for me personally. In both instances I have found them to be professional, courteous, and helpful.”

Bob King

Bob King

State Farm Insurance, Missoula, MT

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