What Every Policyholder Must Know After a Fire or Water Loss. Experiencing a fire or water loss is overwhelming.

When you experience property damage and need to file an insurance claim, your first instinct may be to handle it yourself. That’s...

A recent peer-reviewed publication titled Industrial Hygiene Method for Assessing Toxic Contamination in Smoke and Fire-Damaged Homes by Phalen and Nieusma highlights growing concerns regarding toxic contamination that can remain in homes long after a fire appears to be “cleaned.”

. However, in complex losses — especially those involving heavy smoke, synthetic materials, HVAC contamination, or occupant health concerns — proper testing can provide critical information about the true condition of the property.