After Fires: What To Do & What Not To Do

2/10/2022 (Permalink)

No matter the fire damage situation, your priority should be safety! After the fire has been extinguished and you have been given clearance from safety professionals to enter your home or place of business, there are a couple of things you can do and some things you need to consider. Listed are several helpful tips to do and not to do after a fire!

What To Do After A Fire  

• Limit Movement In The Home 
• Limiting movement can help prevent soot particles from settling into your upholstery and carpets. 
• Change the HVAC filter. 
• If the electricity is off… 
• Prop doors open for natural ventilation
• Empty freezers to reduce the potential for additional odor 
• To minimize any further damage to walls, woodwork, or upholstery…
• Keep hands clean
• Lay clean towels or old linens in high-traffic areas of the home or business

What NOT To Do After A Fire

• Do not turn on any ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet.
• The electrical work in your home or business may have been damaged after the fire, or it could be wet due to the efforts to extinguish the fire. 
• Do not send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner.
• A permanent smoke odor may result from improper cleaning.
• Leave the detailed cleaning to the professionals!
• Don’t attempt to wash soot out of painted walls or surfaces or shampoo your carpets and upholstery. Doing this could increase the level of damage to your belongings. 

As stated in the beginning, your top priority should always be your safety and the safety of others. If you have suffered a fire loss, call SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City! We are “Here to help” and can make your disaster “Like it never even happened.”