How to Help the Tenant After a Fire

Loss of any kind begs the helping hands of friends.

Smart homeowners and apartment renters usually maintain an insurance policy in case of fire or other concerns, but not everyone does, nor is everyone prepared for the emotional and other hardships suffered from fire damage. Small fires can break out and be tended to with relative speed, but a major fire that devastates property or leaves burn victims can require assistance from many others. You can help the victims of fires by remaining calm, purposeful and supportive. Assess their needs, advocate for them, reach out to others and help them recreate their life, however you are able.

Instructions

1. Ask what is needed -- don't always assume you know. Maintain as gentle yet strong demeanor and let the victim know you are available to help in any manner. Make sure he has your contact information on hand.

2. Assess the damage. First, make sure the victim is away from any possible further outbreaks, the fire is out completely, the person has not been burned or suffered smoke inhalation. Take victims to the nearest hospital or call for emergency response if someone is injured or in pain. Make sure everyone is cleared from the property and pets have been moved to safe locations.

3. Check the damage in the dwelling. If it is minor, as in only a small end table caught fire from a candle, the items can be replaced and the area cleaned. For large fires that have damaged rooms or entire homes, you'll need to stay out of the building until insurance and emergency teams have officially cleared and investigated the premises. Stay out of their way, but support the tenants in your home or in another location that is safe. If you are uncertain about any damage, such as fire sparks that could have entered ventilation systems or heating ducts, call the local fire department and ask for an inspection to be sure the fire is completely out.

4. Offer to call family and friends on the victim's behalf, if needed. Remain with victims immediately after a fire until they have loved ones with them. Major fires will leave people in shock and emotional pain, even if they have not been physically injured. If anyone else has been lost in the fire, seeking medical and psychological support very soon after will help enormously. Also contact religious or spiritual leaders from church, temple, synagogue or circles as needed -- loving support is often a source of more rapid healing. Meanwhile, be a good listener and offer to help with the basics: temporary shelter, articles of clothing, food, water, a shower, watching the children and tending to the pets.

5. Advocate with insurance companies. If the person had insurance, the company will be among the first people notified. You can help access photographs of inventoried household belongings online if they are available. If the insured is fully covered for fire, you can support the victims as they transition into a new dwelling, but make sure the insurance company is actually working on their case so they can quickly receive compensation. If a third party insurance company is involved -- as in another person in the apartment building was the cause of the fire, or an electrical problem started it and the leasing company is the insured -- help follow through with proper documentation and cutting through red tape.

6. Secure the services of an attorney or contact the tenant's attorney on her behalf, especially for any insurance glitches or problems that arise due to disputes or court cases. Be on hand to intervene if the tenants are emotionally distraught or unable to manage on their own.

7. Shop for items the victims need. Ask them for a list or supply the obvious. Basics like personal hygiene items, blankets, clothing, shoes and food are commonly needed. If you are unable to purchase these, contact the Red Cross or other emergency program for help. You can also gather others from the neighborhood or community to ask for financial donations or for physical items like bottled water and canned goods.

8. Move the victims to a new location. After things have calmed down from the initial dangers and a new home has been found, assist in their packing any remaining items or help rent a moving truck. If the damage was nominal and no move is necessary, make sure the fire alarms or smoke alarms are all fully functional and remove all potential sources of fire, like oily rags, from the living space.

9. Make a donation to community firefighting organizations that fund victim support programs.

Tips & Warnings

• Speak words of loving support while honoring each victim's direct needs moment by moment. Be authentic and try not to get caught up in terror, fear or insurance problems. Your acts of true friendship will be sincerely appreciated, even though victims may not be capable of expressing gratitude right away. Patience and kindness can often be enough, especially if you have a comforting place to just sit quietly with the tenant.

• Advocating for victims does not mean bullying others into a response. It means negotiating and working with everyone involved to arrive at solid, lasting and hopefully quick solutions.

• If other family and friends come on board and want to assume key roles in helping, kindly remove yourself, but make sure the tenant knows you are always available if needed.

Resources

• Mitigation Online: Save My Fire Station, Save My House
• Firefighters Charitable Foundation, Inc.: Helping Victims of Fire and Disaster
• Sierra Wave; Hundreds Support Big Pine Fire Survivors at Saturday Dinner; Benett Kessler; April 2011
• Daily American; Organizations offer help to fire victims; Michelle Ganassi; March 2011
• American Red Cross
• Find Law: Top Ten Tips for Filing Fire Insurance Claims