Welcome back to another episode of Ask The Expert. This week we’re joined by Josh Arthur, General Manager of 1-800 WATER DAMAGE of Southeast Michigan, and Jordan Kohn, Owner of 1-800 WATER DAMAGE of Peoria/Bloomington. These gentlemen share practical insights about fire and smoke damage to help homeowners understand what happens after a fire and help restorers explain the complexities of fire-related losses. From wildfires, kitchen grease fires to electrical fires, Jordan and Josh highlight the importance of proper assessment, documentation, cleaning and restoration to protect the health and safety of both customers and restorers.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

• The core process is similar across different fire losses, but wildfire jobs typically focus more on smoke, soot, and ash contamination.
• The biggest mistakes that Josh and Jordan see homeowners make after a fire is rushing to throw away “damaged” contents or starting the cleanup process before the damage has been documented, assessed, and gone through safety checks. 
• Smoke and soot can travel through walls, hidden voids, HVAC systems and insulation, leaving behind hazards, odors, and contamination.
• Homeowners should leave their home as-is after a fire, document what they can thoroughly, secure important documents, and coordinate with a restoration company.
• Homeowners often think they’ve lost everything, but that isn’t always the case. Textiles, clothing, furniture, soft goods, and electronics can often be restored.
• Josh and Jordan recommend annual HVAC inspections, dryer vent cleaning, chimney cleaning, keeping fire extinguishers accessible and regular maintenance on their landscaping.