There were 51 civilian home fire fatalities in South Carolina between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. 

What's more, in the entire US, fire departments responded to an estimated 354,400 home fires each year, on average, during the five-year period from 2013  to 2017. These fires caused an annual average of 2,620 civilian deaths, 11,220 injuries, and $6.9 billion in direct property damage. 

If you experience a fire in your South Carolina home, it’s important to know what to do to stay safe, salvage some belongings, and move forward. It’s also vital that you know the role that your South Carolina homeowners insurance plays in your recovery. A South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you find the right coverage.

Here are some tips on what to do immediately after the fire, how to know if your home is safe to live in, and how your South Carolina home insurance helps you get back on your feet. 

What to Do Immediately after a House Fire in South Carolina

What you do in the immediate aftermath of the fire can determine how quickly and completely you’ll be able to recover. Here are some tips on what to do immediately after a fire in your South Carolina home.

• Check with the fire department to make sure your residence, or what’s left of it, is safe to enter: Structural damage can make it impossible for you to enter your home, while heat and smoke need to settle before it’s ever safe to enter. Do not enter your home until you’ve been given the all clear. Be sure that the fire department has inspected for safety or disconnected any utilities as well. Never attempt to reconnect your utilities on your own. 
• Once you are permitted to reenter your home, take precautions for your safety: Soot and filthy water left behind can be damaging to your health. Wear long pants and sleeves, appropriate work gloves, and rubber-soled shoes or boots. You may even want to wear safety goggles, a hard hat, or other safety equipment. 
• Help your pets: Hopefully, your family and all of your pets have made it out unscathed. Comfort scared animals, and find someone trustworthy to watch them while you sort out the mess in your home. 
• Contact a local disaster relief service, like the Red Cross, if you need help with temporary food, housing, or medicine
• Contact your insurance company or agent: Fortunately, home fires are typically covered under your South Carolina homeowners insurance policy. They’ll provide instructions on how to secure your property, how to conduct an inventory of damaged possessions, how to contact fire restoration services, and how to begin the claims process. Be sure to get any estimates in writing and follow the insurance company’s instructions so you are reimbursed appropriately. 
• Conduct a thorough inventory of damaged property and items: This is very important to ensure that your insurance claim is accurate. Separate damaged property from undamaged property, and start a detailed list of what’s been lost. Your list should include as much information as possible about each item, including the brand name, the cost or purchase price, the model number, a description, and the receipt if you have it. 
• If you can, locate valuable documents and records
• Save any receipts for your expenses related to the fire: These will be important for expediting your insurance claim and ensuring you receive the reimbursement you are eligible for.  
• Inform your mortgage company about the fire and follow any relevant instructions 
• If you cannot stay in your home until repairs are made, board up missing windows and doors and secure the home to keep thieves or looters out: Inform the police department that your home will be vacant and vulnerable. 

How to Tell if Your Home is Safe to Live in after a House Fire

If your home has been damaged but not destroyed by a house fire, how can you know if it’s still safe to live in? According to the American Red Cross, your first resource for determining the safety of your home should be your local fire department or other local authorities. If you’ve been told by a building inspector or the fire department that your home is unsafe, do not enter it. 

Typically, the fire department or a building inspector will look at several areas in and around your home to check for dangerous conditions. First, according to the Red Cross, your home should be checked for structural damage:  

• Check the outside of the home and do not enter if damage is visible. Loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks, missing support beams, or other damage indicate that the home is not safe. 
• Sniff for gas. If you detect natural or propane gas, or hear a hissing noise, leave the property immediately and call fire department after you reach safety.
• If you have a propane tank system, contact your propane supplier to check the system out before you use it again.
• Smoke or embers anywhere in the home indicate that it is unsafe. 
• Beware of animals, such as rodents, snakes, spiders and insects that may have entered your home. They can be dangerous themselves and they can also cause additional structural damage.
• Damaged objects such as furniture or stairs, may be unstable and render the house unlivable.
• Check your ceiling for sagging, which may mean it has gotten wet and will have to be replaced. 
• Check the floor for sagging. Stay far away from any sagging areas that could collapse under your weight.
• Disconnect and check all appliances for water damage before using them.

In addition to checking for structural damage, your home’s utilities and major systems should be checked for damage:

• Check to check to see if your telephone service is working. 
• Sparks, broken or frayed wires, or the odor of hot insulation indicate a serious safety problem. 
• Inspect the panel box for any breakers that may have tripped. A tripped breaker may indicate damaged wiring inside your home. 
• Your house is likely unlivable if water pipes are damaged.
• If you have a heating oil tank system, turn off all valves and contact a professional specializing in maintenance of such equipment before using it again.

Major household items should also be checked for safety as well:

• Normal household items like cleaning products can cause toxic fumes and other hazards if they mix. Check to make sure that there have been no dangerous chemical spills.
• Throw away food, beverages, and medicine exposed to heat, smoke, or soot. 

How an Agent Can Help after a House Fire in South Carolina

Fortunately, fire is typically one of the “covered perils” included in most standard South Carolina home insurance policies. If you have a fire in your South Carolina home, you can expect your homeowners policy to offer the following types of coverage to help you repair and replace your damaged property:

• Dwelling coverage: The dwelling coverage in your policy pays to repair and replace your damaged home, and will even pay out the value of your home if it is a total loss.
• Personal property coverage: The personal property coverage, or contents coverage, in your South Carolina home insurance policy pays for damage to your insured personal property, such as furniture, clothing, artwork, and so on.
• Other structures coverage: Any detached structures located on your property (sheds, fences, detached garages) are also covered if the fire reaches them. Some policies may even pay for damage to trees and shrubs.
• Temporary living expenses coverage: Your policy will pay for additional living expenses if you are forced to live somewhere else while your home is being repaired. This coverage typically pays for hotel bills, food, and certain other living expenses (as long as they are in line with your current standard of living). 

If you’re shopping for homeowners insurance in South Carolina, working with a local independent insurance agent is your best bet. Independent agents aren’t tied down to one insurance company. They can help you shop around for the best coverage at a price that fits your budget.

What’s more, your independent agent will get to know you and your family, and will be there for you at claim time. Your agent will guide you through the claims process and help you get your home repaired and your life back to normal as soon as possible.