Fire Damage Emergency Tips

What you can do until help arrives

After experiencing fire damage, ensuring safety should be your top priority:

Assess Safety: Determine if it's safe to remain in the house. Look out for electrical hazards and the risk of slipping and falling.
Exercise Caution: Only engage in activities that are safe for you to perform. Avoid entering the property if there are significant safety concerns.
Beware of Heavy Materials: Wet materials can be extremely heavy, posing a risk of injury. Exercise caution when handling them.
Consult Professionals: For safety reasons, it's often best to consult with fire damage restoration professionals. They can assess the situation and provide guidance on safe actions to take.
Wait for Clearance: Before reentering the property, wait for clearance from authorities or restoration experts to ensure it's safe to do so.
Protective Gear: When handling damaged materials, wear appropriate protective gear such as gloves, masks, and eye protection to minimize risks.
Document Damage: Document the damage for insurance purposes, but only if it's safe to do so. Avoid entering dangerous areas or compromising your safety for documentation.
Seek Professional Help: Fire damage restoration is best left to professionals. They have the expertise, equipment, and safety protocols to handle the restoration process effectively and safely.

Remember, your safety and well-being are paramount. Always prioritize safety and seek professional assistance when in doubt.

Limit movement in the home 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 freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.
Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
Change HVAC filter.
Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting us.
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 if ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.