Full-Service Emergency Response and Restoration Services

Fires impact millions of individuals and families in the US alone each year, causing billions of dollars of damage and costing widespread property damage. Knowing how to properly handle fire damage once the fire is out at your home is a way to prevent further damage while preserving as much of your property as possible throughout the process.

What Can Be Done After a Fire?

Wear gloves and keep hands clean to avoid contributing to the soot found on walls and furnishings throughout your home. You may want to consider safety gloves from somewhere like unigloves to help protect yourself during this stage. In addition, cover furnishings with clean linens, clothing, or towels to reduce the amount of soot that absorbs into the fabric of your belongings.

Take photos of all of the damage the fire has done to your home, both inside and out for insurance purposes and to assist fire marshals with assessing the situation and the cause of the fire (if it is currently unknown to you).

Remove food and drinks from your refrigerator if your electricity is off and store it in a temperature-controlled area, leaving your refrigerator door slightly propped open to air out. Clean HVAC filters immediately after a fire to prevent sending more soot and dust into the air if your electricity is still on and working properly. Use multiple layers of cheesecloths over your air registers for another layer of protection, keeping your home free from dust and soot.

Seek out a professional dry cleaner who has an understanding of how to properly treat and clean clothing and other linens that have been exposed to smoke damage. A traditional dry cleaner that does not work with fire-exposed garments may set a smoke odor in place, damaging or ruining your items permanently.

What to Avoid After a Fire

Avoid entering any area of your home where a fire is still present or smoke is still smoldering. Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death when a fire is present, and can quickly lead to respiratory issues and ailments if not properly avoided.

Steer clear of working with electrical devices or appliances until your home has been fully inspected and you are no longer at risk of an additional fire or electrical shock.

Do not eat any food that has been exposed to a fire, including canned goods. Instead, throw away all of your food to ensure you are not at risk of being exposed to chemicals triggered by the fire along with soot.

Do not turn on any lights or ceiling fixtures if your home has been exposed to water during the process of ridding the fire (including an automatic sprinkler system). If any area of your home is still wet, the electrical wiring may spark, cause another fire, or trigger an electric shock that is potentially fatal.

Hiring a Fire Restoration Service

Hiring a professional fire restoration service is often necessary to completely remove risks posed by fires, especially a large or widespread occurrence. Professional fire restoration services work to ensure the safety of your home by eliminating electrical risks and cleaning up water damage, soot, and hazards in the home if a fire has reached the foundation of your property. With the right fire damage restoration service it is possible to repair your home as much as possible without guesswork and the struggles of eliminating soot and further damage being done to your property.