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FAQ #39515

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After a fire, can I safely clean up by myself?

Related resource areas: Wildfire


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Before you touch anything, contact your insurance provider. They will tell you what to do in order to file a claim for damages.

What you do yourself will depend on the degree to which your property and home have been damaged, your health and skills, and what equipment and tools you already have on hand to clean up your property. For example, if your home is intact but some of your trees are dead and pose a threat to your home, then they should be removed. If you own a chainsaw and are skilled in its use, then you can probably do that type of cleanup. If you don't own a chainsaw, then it's best to hire someone to do it for you. An injury to you can end up costing you more than the cleanup.

If your home was consumed in the fire, then you may need the help of a contractor in knocking down what remains of your home and removing the debris. In addition, if you had toxic materials in your house or outbuildings that burned, you may need to have them removed by companies or state agencies specially trained in their disposal.

Browse related FAQs by tag: surviving wildfire, cleanup, recovery:returninghome, hazardousmaterials

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