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Immediately After A Fire

Important Documents

Family records and other important document(s) may be damaged or destroyed in a fire. For this reason, documents such as those listed below should be kept in a secure place such as a safe or security box, if possible. Having these documents available immediately after a fire will speed up your recovery process.

Birth Certificates	ID cards
Medical Records	Wills
Bank Books	Death Certificates
Insurance Policies	Burial Contracts
Passports	Warranties
Social Security Cards	Payment Books
Marriage Certificates	Income Tax Records
Divorce Decrees	Citizenship Papers
Property Deeds	Reg. Papers for Animals
Stocks and Bonds	Military Discharge Papers
Adult and Family Services Papers	Automobile Ownership

Note: Special containers designed to protect documents during a fire are available.

Property Insurance

If you own or are purchasing the property, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible. Also, if you are renting or leasing the property, you must contact the legal owner. Your insurance agent will know what is insured and in some cases may be able to assist you by providing the name of reputable contractors who can do restoration to parts that are not insured.

Insurance Checklist

Provide your agent with a list of items that were lost in the fire. Make a checklist if you do not already have one and include:

1. Photographs or videos

2. Descriptions of antiques and jewelry

3. Replacement costs for lost items

4. Dates of purchase

Care of Documents and Books

Documents and books can be dried by placing them on end and separating the pages. You may place a dry, unmarked piece of paper between the pages and press to prevent crinkling and distorting. If a book is very wet, airdry it until damp, then sprinkle cornstarch between the pages, allow the starch to absorb the moisture, and wipe it off with a dry cloth.

Obtaining a Copy of a Fire Incident Report

The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) can provide copies of fire incident reports when requested online. Requests for reports can also be made to the HFD's Planning and Development section at 808-723-7116 or faxed to 808-723-7122. Copies will be provided upon receipt of a reasonable description of the incident being requested. HFD officials must complete their investigation before a report is released. The report shall be provided no later than ten business days after being finalized. The requestor will be contacted to arrange payment and pickup of the report.

A processing fee is charged for duplicating a fire incident report. Fees vary depending on the number of pages in each report; the first page costs 50 cents and additional pages cost 25 cents thereafter.

Friday, October 27, 2006