What To Do (And NOT To Do) After A Fire | SERVPRO® of Prattville

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

“There is no fire too big or too small; we can do it all! SERVPRO® of Prattville is always Here to help®!”

Picture this. Your home has just caught fire. You watch as flames engulf the walls surrounding your safe place. You stare on as the Fire Department uses massive water hoses to extinguish the fire. After what seems like an eternity, you receive the clearance that your home is safe to enter. You take a deep breath and walk into your house to see soot covering everything, your belongings strewn across the floor, and smell a terrible, lingering odor. What are you supposed to do now? 

Fires are not something anyone plans on experiencing. No one wakes up in the morning and moves sentimental items out of their home in preparation for the disaster. It is called "unexpected" for a reason. So, what can you do to prepare for something like this? How do you best prepare for a situation that may never arise? 

First Things First 

Call your insurance agent and notify them of the loss as soon as it happens. We will work closely with your insurance company through the restoration process. 

Call SERVPRO® of Prattville to notify us that our services are needed. We will assemble a team and arrive as soon as possible to inspect the damage. 

Depending on the extent of the damage to your home, you may need to find a temporary place for your family and pets to stay. Most insurance companies will assist you with finding temporary housing. 

Pay attention to lingering smoke inhalation symptoms. Be mindful of your symptoms and seek medical care when needed.  

Know What to Do Until Help Arrives 

The firefighters have left your home. You have contacted your insurance company and notified SERVPRO® of Prattville. Now, you are waiting for the fire restoration to begin. What are the next steps?

Below are a few pointers on what you can safely do while waiting for professionals to arrive on the scene.

First, you want to limit movement in the home. Soot particles will cover multiple surfaces and embed into upholstery and carpets. Keep your family and pets out of the house until fully restored. Keep your hands clean and try not to touch anything if you can help it. Soot can spread very quickly and easily. A simple action like stepping onto the floor can cause the particles to disperse. Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and high traffic areas to slow the spread.

Next, discard any food that has come in contact with heat, smoke, or soot. Contaminated food can be dangerous. If the electricity is off, empty your refrigerator and freezer. Prop the doors open and let them ventilate. Inserting a box of baking soda into the fridge will also help remove any odors.

The HVAC filter will need to be removed and replaced. Do NOT turn on your air conditioning unit until you have gotten the all-clear from professionals. The HVAC unit will circulate the air spreading the soot throughout the home. In most cases, the house will need to have its ducts cleaned before rerunning the air conditioning.

Know What NOT to Do

• Do NOT attempt to wash or shampoo any surfaces. Removing soot or burns without the proper cleaning chemicals may further damage your property. 
• Do NOT attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat, or water. Avoid anything that conducts electricity. Switching these on may cause them to short circuit and start another fire. We strongly advise consulting with an authorized repair company before further use. 
• Do NOT take any prescriptions that may have been contaminated by soot or odor. Call your pharmacist to get immediate refills.
• Do NOT turn on ceiling fixtures if saturated with water. The wires may be damaged and cause electrical problems. 
• Do NOT send your garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set the smoke odor into these garments. Ask SERVPRO® of Prattville about which belongings may need specialized cleaning, and we can direct you to a company that can assist you.
• Do NOT touch or move any glass in your home. Heat can cause intense pressure that will cause the glass to break after a fire.

A fire in your home can be devastating. Here at SERVPRO® of Prattville, we are here to help you restore all the pieces when it seems like there is no hope. We are highly skilled in the restoration industry, but we also know that we are helping people during one of the most challenging times in their lives. We genuinely hope you never have to call on us for emergency services. However, we are always ready to make it "Like it never even happened." 

Call us today at 334.284.1612 for all your fire restoration needs!