Fire Damage Tips A fire and the smoke that’s produced can damage certain parts of a house differently, and therefore each area may require a different method of sanitizing, restoring or rebuilding. You may not be able to see the extent of the fire damage because often it has occurred in areas that aren’t visible, such as behind walls and in the attic or it has affected the structural, electrical or plumbing systems. Even walls or surfaces that aren’t in the same room where the fire originated can be damaged. Surfaces with smoke damage and soot require special cleaning agents, that are not available to the general public. Common household cleaning products can be ineffective or may even cause additional damage. If water damage occurs—from extinguishing the flames or if the sprinkler system goes off during the fire—then there is a potential for mold growth, which will also need to be addressed in addition to fire and smoke damage. A trained fire restoration professional, like the ResQ24 Team by Thompson Building Associates, will be able to assess the degree of the fire damage and determine the areas and contents of a home that can be cleaned and restored and which ones need to be completely replaced. While there are certain steps that only a restoration company should perform, there are ways that you can help throughout each phase of the process. Get advice and instruction from your restoration team to make sure any task that you assist with will help make the fire cleanup run more smoothly and will avoid doing anything that will hinder their progress or might cause further damage. Below are some a few Do’s and Don’ts that are usually a safe bet to start with.
What You SHOULD NOT DO…
- DO NOT wash soft goods or textiles; many times this can set the odor and deem the object non-salvageable. We have great cleaners that we partner with and most times can have your most important items back to you within 24-hours.
- DO NOT walk on carpeted area if possible; It is a long shot but can sometimes be salvaged
- DO NOT try to save food
- DO NOT try to save children’s toys (or any items that could cause ingestion of contaminants)
- DO NOT turn on electronics without them being professionally cleaned.
What you SHOULD DO…
- DO turn off the HVAC IF it is practical (please note turning off the heat following a fire during the winter months can cause more damage and can also cause pipes to burst.) In this case, if the heat is turned off, your home DOES NEED to be winterized.)
- DO CAREFULLY try to capture the scene and take photos of items in particular that are of sentimental value and are suspected to be damaged. This is assuming that someone is still able to remain in the home until help arrives.
- DO make sure to use new toothbrushes or any other items that could lead to the ingestion of lead.
- DO be prepared to remove ALL valuable items from the home such as firearms, jewelry, etc. YES, these can be professionally cleaned but special arrangements will need to be made at a later stage in the process.
Thompson Building Associates has been a leader in fire and water response and full-service experts for over 30 years. Expert services from board ups and water extraction to complete reconstruction services. Our experts in property damage provide you the confidence that Thompson will deal with your insurance carriers and agents so you receive the full coverage you’re entitled to. Team members respond 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year means just that…our emergency crews are ready to secure your home or business when property damage strikes. The information and advice contained in this article is intended as a general guide for informational purposes only. It does not take into account your personal situation. Visit us on Facebook