Fire Damage Emergency Tips

What you can do until help arrives

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Identifying Hazards and Risks After Tallahassee Housefires 

Fires in your Tallahassee home can be one of the most destructive occurrences and a situation that can continually worsen the longer that homeowners wait for adequate restoration. It is often most advisable for occupants of the house to find a safe place away from the structure to allow restoration professionals the room to work and recover the residence. If the damage is localized to a specific area of the house, this relocation is not often necessary. 

There are steps that you can take shortly after a fire-damaged home gets turned back over to you from the firefighters and first responders leaving the scene. When it is safe to re-enter parts of your home, there are a few actions you can take to reduce property loss in your Tallahassee house, including: 

  • Ventilating lightly exposed areas
  • Removing belongings not yet damaged by the spreading fire effects
  • Closing off damaged areas until our SERVPRO team arrives

Identifying Hazards That Could Threaten Your Family

There are many situations where re-entering the house comes with some risks and concerns. Many homeowners do not know what to look for regarding potential structural hazards or airborne contaminants and risk exposure or injury from beginning their own recovery efforts in the house. There are multiple areas of concern, but among the most pressing are carcinogens like soot particles and structural degradation and damage to ceiling assemblies, wall systems, and other points that could collapse. 

Have Smoke or Fire Damage? Call (850) 765-5706

What To Do After A Fire

  • 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.

What NOT To Do After A Fire

  • 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.

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