None of us wish for fire outbreaks in our homes or business areas. But the truth remains that such can happen without warning. It is best to be proactive in the event of fire outbreaks.

Things to note when there is fire damage

Once you are faced with a fire damage situation, the first thing you should do is to ensure your safety and that of your household. Here are the steps you should take:

• Ask yourself if the house or property is still safe or if you should move out for safety until help arrives
• Stay away from any electrical plugs and devices to avoid causing more hazards or getting electrocuted
• If you must carry out any activity (such as taking out furniture and other items to a safe place), make sure it is safe and away from the place of fire outbreak or damage
• Stay away from any wet item since water and electrical appliances do not mix

8 steps to take after fire damage

Once you are faced with a fire damage situation, the first thing you should do is to ensure your safety and that of your household. Here are the steps you should take:

• Place old linens or clean towels on the rugs, carpet, upholstery and on the passage routes
• When washing houseplants, make sure you wash each side of the leaves
• Protect your chrome by cleaning and applying a small amount of oil or petroleum jelly on it
• Empty the refrigerator and freezer when the electricity goes off and not forgetting to open up the windows and doors
• Make sure your hands are clean always to avoid spoiling the walls, woodwork, and upholstery
• Endeavor to change or replace HVAC filter
• To avoid spreading soot particles from the fire, you should limit your movement so as not to spread the soot to your carpets, upholstery, walls and other items in your home
• Place double layers of cheesecloth over air registers and tape them

Things to avoid after fire damage

• When in doubt, always seek professional advice before carrying out any major work, especially after fire damage
• Do not shampoo or wash painted surfaces and walls or upholstery after fire damage
• Do not get too close or attempt to clean electrical devices that may have been affected by heat, fire or water without getting a go-ahead order from a qualified electrician
• Get rid of all packed and canned foods as well as beverages that have been exposed to heat or fire during the fire outbreak
• Do not turn on any electrical device or your ceiling fans after the fire outbreak or if the ceiling is wet. This is to avoid starting another fire as a result of damaged wiring from the fire incidence
• Choose a professional dry cleaner to wash all clothes that have been exposed to smoke or fire to get rid of all smoke odors

Now that you know the dos and don’ts of fire damage, there is still a very important step to take.

The points listed in this piece will help you out but you still need to consult a professional fire damage cleanup company to restore your home back to its former glory.

Ocert1 Water And Fire Damage Restoration is here to help you and ready to answer every question you may have concerning fire damage.