What To Do After Your Home Or Business Experiences Fire Damage

10/15/2019 (Permalink)

After any fire damage situation, your primary focus should be on the safety of yourself and your loved ones. Once you contact a professional for help, there are some steps you can take yourself to make sure everyone is safe while you wait. Here are some tips on what to do after fire damage occurs in your home or business:

• Determine if it is safe to remain in the building
• Identify any electrical and "slip and fall" hazards immediately, and ensure that people stay away from these hazards
• Only perform activities that are safe for you to complete
• Wet materials can be extremely heavy, so use caution when moving any items 

You will want to:

• Limit all movement in the building to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets
• Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty your freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open to allow smoke-tainted air to escape.
• Clean and protect chrome with a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
• Wash houseplants on both sides of their leaves.
• Change the HVAC filter.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

Some cautions:

• Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces, and don’t shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting a professional.
• Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
• Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures, such as overhead fans, if your ceiling is wet; wiring could have been damaged during the fire.
• Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner, since improper cleaning may set the smoke odor in your clothing permanently, making them unwearable. 

We are here to help you in any emergency, no matter the size. If you have experienced a disaster event, call SERVPRO of Huron & East Seneca Counties for assistance. We will be there right away.