After a house fire devastated Helen Otto’s home in Grand
Rapids, MI, she was convinced most of her belongings, electronics and
appliances were destroyed by water and soot exposure. Most concerning was her
autistic son’s electronic gaming system which was knocked onto the ground
during the fire and now drenched in soot and water. These items were very
important to Helen’s son because they provided normalcy for him during an
already tumultuous time in their lives. Helen was also saddened by the smoke
and soot damage left on many of the family’s keepsakes and sentimental items.
However, to Helen’s content and surprise, most of the items Helen had
originally thought were a total loss due to the fire (including her family
photo albums, electronics and her son’s beloved gaming system) were able to be
restored back to their pre-loss condition.
It is common knowledge that after a fire has engulfed a
residence or a place of business, the priority is to begin the structural
restoration as soon as possible. Although acting swiftly is critical to
ensuring no further damage occurs, think twice before tossing soot-covered contents,
like art, electronics or appliances into the dumpster—Often times, these items
can be restored.
Did you know electronics and appliances can be restored for a fraction of the cost to replace them? According to the National Fire Protection Association, an estimated 374,000 U.S. homes catch fire each year and on average each one of these homes has at least 25 pieces of electronics. When looking at the total cost to replace all those items, it makes a whole lot of sense (pun intended) to restore them instead.
Prism Specialties has locations across the country and offers emergency service 24/7. For residential and commercial claims, submit a claim or call us directly at 888-826-9429.