What to do After a House Fire

Chief Al Welsheimer came in for an interview to help us prepare for fire season! Watch the fire prevention video here or read the 7 Steps to Prevent a House Fire blog. If the worst happens, take these steps to ensure we can get your home back to normal as quickly as possible.

1. Avoid cleaning anything that was damaged or soiled by fire or smoke.

Soot, ash, and smoke penetrate deep into materials like fabric and drywall. Though an area may look clean, it could still contain harmful particles. Call a professional cleaning company like us for a free quote after a fire! Unlike other companies, we stress mitigation before we resort to reconstruction, potentially saving you time and money.

2. Stay out of the room affected by the fire, if possible.

Prevent the spread of harmful particles by limiting movement between rooms and keeping hands and shoes free of soot. If the fire affected multiple rooms, put down linens or towels to walk.

3. Prevent the spread of cancer-causing particles through your home by limiting airflow.

Power down central heating or air conditioning units and replace the filter as soon as possible. Protect air ducts from contamination by covering air registers with a double layer of cheesecloth. The better you can limit the flow of particulate through your home, the safer you and your family will be.

4. If water was used to put out the fire, avoid using electricity in that area,

Keep light fixtures powered off in areas that are clearly wet to avoid serious electrical shock.

5. Call a professional to clean electronics that were exposed to fire extinguisher

Though it may not seem like it, an entire room can be covered with fire extinguishing agents. Electronics are especially susceptible and will need professional cleaning or replacement, depending on the extend of the exposure. Some professionals can even extract personal information like photos or documents from severely damaged devices.