October is Fire Prevention Month! This month, and especially during Fire Prevention Week (October 6th - 12th), we focus on raising fire safety awareness to help protect your home and loved ones. CFM's Assistant VP of Claims, Kent Peterson, who has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, shares proactive steps you can take to safeguard your home and how to be prepared in case of a fire.
As we recognize Fire Prevention Month, it’s a good reminder to know both how to prevent a home fire and what to do if one occurs.
While we hope you never have to face the reality of a house fire, it’s always wise to be prepared. Taking a few simple steps can help reduce the risk of a fire starting in your home and give you peace of mind:
- Regularly check your smoke alarms.
- Clean out your dryer’s lint trap.
- Avoid overloading electrical outlets
- Be cautious with candles and space heaters
By staying proactive, you can reduce the risk of a fire and keep your home and family safe.
Did You Know?
Installing reliable protection and being proactive is important to help keep your loved ones safe from a fire or carbon monoxide (CO) emergency.
- Almost 3 of every 5 home fire deaths resulted from fires with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms (NFPA)
- Carbon monoxide is the #1 cause of accidental poisoning in the US (CDC)
- Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of home fires (NFPA)
- A fire department responds to a fire every 23 seconds in America (NFPA)
You Have to File a Claim - Now What?
If you do experience a home fire, the most important thing is always ensuring your family’s safety. Once you’ve done that, act quickly by reaching out to your insurance agent and getting your claim started right away. At CFM Insurance, we’re here for you 24/7 because we understand how urgent fire claims are and want to help you through the process as soon as possible.
Once your claim is submitted, our goal is to provide support and guide you through each step. Here’s what you can expect:
1. Immediate Contact and Guidance: We’ll reach out right away to explain the next steps and answer any questions you may have. Saving receipts and staying organized is essential, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.
2. Temporary Housing Assistance: If your home is uninhabitable, we’ll work with temporary housing companies to find immediate accommodations, like hotels, and longer-term options such as furnished apartments. We’ll cover these expenses through our housing partner to reduce the financial burden on your family.
3. Advance Payment for Essentials: To help ease immediate pressures, we provide an advance payment for essential items like personal hygiene products, clothing, school supplies, and prescriptions. This ensures you have what you need to stay comfortable during this stressful time.
4. Assessing the Loss: We’ll assign an adjuster and, if needed, conduct an Origin & Cause investigation to determine the severity of the fire loss.
5. Recovering Sentimental Items: If it’s safe, we’ll work with policyholders to recover sentimental items like keepsakes, provided the scene isn’t disturbed.
This process can feel overwhelming, but remember, you don’t have to go through it alone. Stay organized with paperwork and receipts, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions. Your adjuster and your local CFM agent are there to assist you every step of the way, helping you rebuild your home and restore your peace of mind.
Stay safe, and don’t be afraid to ask for help - We’re here for you.
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