A fire can be devastating to a house because it moves so quickly. Firefighters try their best to put out a fire. However, sometimes, the damage can be so bad that water cannot save the house. If you live in an area that is prone to fires or an accident occurs at home that leads to your house burning down, it’s good to know what you can do to protect yourself.

How Much Water Is Necessary to Put Out a Fire?

In order to successfully put out a fire, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that firefighters use a minimum of 150 gallons of water a minute from one line. Sometimes, it is necessary to use 300 or even 1,000 gallons a minute.

The typical fire engine can carry 750 to 1,000 gallons of water. That is only 5 to 7 minutes of water. Firefighters being able to hook up the fire hydrant in a couple of minutes makes a difference in saving your house from burning down.

What if You Don’t Have Access to a Fire Hydrant

If you live on the outskirts of a major city, you may not have enough fire hydrants in your neighborhood. Rural areas typically do not have fire hydrants. In cases like these, fire departments usually have tankers to address these situations.

A tanker is a fire truck that can carry 1,000 to 6,000 gallons of water. Although a tanker is useful, it does not take long for a house to burn down. In fact, it can happen in a matter of minutes.

How Do You Make a Claim

When it comes to fire insurance claims, you want to ask your insurer for an advance on your eventual claim to cover your living expenses. They can help replace items as small as the toothbrush you left behind in the fire. Make sure you keep the receipts for the new items you bought to replace the old ones you lost.

Take the necessary photos to show the damage that has been done to your house, and protect your property from further damage. Your insurance policy requires you to mitigate damages. So, board up your home to prevent vandals from getting in.

Check regularly for new issues that come up and address them. You also want to make sure there are no more fire risks. If you feel there are fire risks, contact the fire department to get advice on handling the issue.

Your policy requires you to file your fire insurance claims as soon as possible. You can do this by calling or emailing your agent. The insurance company is going to ask for proof of loss claim. In order to do this, you will have to make a list of the things you lost in the fire and their value. An adjuster will then be sent to your home to handle the claim.

Why You May Need Help

Although you can make a claim yourself, you may want to contact a public insurance adjuster in New York. They can help you assess the damage caused by the fire as well as other issues that may come up due to fire. Due to their expertise, they know the loopholes. So, if your insurance company is treating you unfairly, they can help you build your case.

Your public insurance adjuster in New York can also give you recommendations for contractors and restoration services. This is because their line of work allows them to make a lot of connections with people in that line of work.

At New York Fire Claims, we can help you every step of the way when it comes to addressing your damaged home. Our expertise means your insurance company won’t take advantage of you. Contact us today so we can help you.