Smoke and fire damage can be a one-two punch at a time when property owners are already handling other disaster-related costs associate with the fire. These problems can last for a long time unless they’re taken care of in short order, but they’re also made worse when you don’t have the right training for the task. Even something as simple as moving furniture from a fire-damaged room to another can spread soot and ash to carpeting, fabrics, and other surfaces, which will result in more cleaning time and costs.
Here is a brief list of some important “Do’s” and “Don’ts” after a fire:
Do:
Limit the damage. Don’t disturb anything that might be covered in soot or ash, and be very careful not to track soil, ash, and soot on carpeting. Remember that particles can become airborne quite easily, so don’t move anything around that could have particles on the surface, as you could dirty other rooms. Place towels on carpeting or flooring to create pathways through the space.
Make sure perishables are stored properly. After most fires, your electricity is going to be turned off, which means that anything that you have stored in a refrigerator or freezer are going to spoil unless you move them to a proper container or a second refrigerator. Open your freezer and refrigerator, and leave the doors open. Move all perishables to a cooler, a neighbor’s refrigerator, or any other option that has temperature control.
Check your HVAC and clean/change the filter to prevent particles from being spread throughout your space. To reduce the disturbance of soot and ash, you can tape layers of cheese cloth over air filters or registers. This should also keep them from drawing particles in.
Don’t:
Turn on any electronics, especially ceiling and wall fixtures, as your wiring may have been damaged or become wet during the fire.
Hire “out of town” contractors. Low costs can be attractive, but read reviews and verify their credentials before you hire anyone. If they want to “pack-out” your personal contents, they may take them back to their out of town location, certainly not very convenient if you need certain items!
Clean fabrics yourself. Smoke odors from a fire are far more difficult to remove than your average stain or odor, and require special handling and care. Attempting this yourself will almost definitely make it worse.
Do any repair work yourself. Without proper training and certification, you may cause further damage that could become much more expensive. This includes any smoke damage restoration to flooring, wood panels, and other surfaces– even if you manage to remove visual damage, you may not properly restore water damage or odors that could be a problem for years after a fire.
The most important “Do” is to work with a professional fire and smoke remediation service to get your property back in order. Whether your damaged property is a residence, or you’ve got a commercial space that’s been damaged by a disaster, you need professional services if you want to get the best results. Livable, clean environments are hard to pull from the ashes, but it’s possible when you’ve got the right tools and training for the job. Rocky Mountain Restoration has the training, staff, and certifications to do the job properly.
