What do you do after a fire?

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

House fires can often be difficult, potentially devastating events for any family on both a financial and emotional level. After such an emotional event, it can be difficult to know the next steps to take. If you ever find yourself in this difficult situation, having these concerns in mind can steer you in the right direction.

Pressing Concerns

First, consider if your safety is threatened by staying in the house. From there, be sure that any activities you undertake won’t put your safety at risk. Take precaution to avoid electrical hazards and potentially dangerous falls, as well as making sure to be careful with wet materials, as these can be surprisingly heavy.

These are just a handful of the actions you need to take after a fire. The most important decision is to call a SERVPRO professional who will make sure everything is done efficiently. Call (941) 792-7715

 now.

Actions to Take Following a Fire

After a fire, there are a number of measures you should take to limit fire damage. First you should do your best to keep your space clean, by using petroleum jelly or oil to clean and protect chrome, cleaning houseplants (making sure to get both sides of their leaves), avoiding excessive movement while in your home to prevent spreading soot, and washing your hands to prevent getting furniture and walls dirty. With this done, your next moves should entail changing your HVAC filter, covering carpets and furniture with towels or linens, covering air registers with cheesecloth, and finally, emptying and opening your fridge and freezer while the electricity is turned off. 

Actions to Avoid Following a Fire

Some actions following a fire may leave you worse off, rather than helping you. One crucial mistake to avoid is not seeking help from the right professionals. Cleaning electrical appliances  which have been exposed to fire, heat, or water should be done by a repair service. Cleaning walls, carpet, or furniture should be left to a restoration service like SERVPRO. Connect with us at (941) 792-7715.

Even clothing needs to be cared for carefully, as sending your clothes to a regular dry cleaner, may cause the smoke stench to stay. Aside from taking on actions which require professional help, it is also important to avoid ingesting packaged food or beverages which were stored near fire, heat, or water, as well as turning on ceiling fixtures with a wet ceiling.