How to Handle a Fire in Your Home

4/23/2020 (Permalink)

Experiencing a house fire can be one of the more traumatic situations a person can endure. Even when the immediate threat of physical harm has passed, the aftermath can be stressful if not completely overwhelming. Fires can do a lot of damage to your home. Sometimes it's hard for a homeowner to know what to do after a fire, so SERVPRO of Central Phoenix put together a few tips to help you get through this situation.

What to Do After A Fire

There are definitely a few actions you should take after a fire in your home once the flames have been extinguished.

• Limit movement in the home to prevent ash and soot from being tracked and embedded into upholstery, flooring, and carpets.
• Keep your hands clean to avoid spreading ash on to upholstery, walls, furnishings, and woodwork.
• If you need to walk around the home, place floor covering carpet traffic areas to keep further damage to a minimum.
• Wash kids’ and pets’ toys thoroughly
• Wash pet bowls and bedding thoroughly
• Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
• Change HVAC filters

Of course, fire remediation specialists can help determine what they can handle vs. what the homeowner can or should do, but oftentimes homeowners are focused on cleaning and recovering immediately. The above items are safe to do if you use caution, and only enter the home if you’ve been told by a professional that its safe to do so.

What NOT to Do After A Fire

There are also several activities you should avoid following a house fire. Many of these are best left to the professionals. Done incorrectly, you could cause even further damage.

• Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery.
• Don't try to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat, or water.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
• Don’t turn on the A/C or ceiling fans even if it’s safe to do so, as you could further spread ash and soot throughout the house.
• Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set a smoke odor.

If you’re not sure what you should do after a fire, don’t do anything and defer to the professionals. After any fire damage situation, your primary focus should be safety first.

If you have a fire or smoke damage emergency in your home, call SERVPRO of Central Phoenix at (602) 386-4268. We are available 24/7 and are here to help you get through this challenging and stressful time.