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Fire Damage Emergency Tips
What you can do until help arrives
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After your home or business suffers fire damage, make safety your primary focus:
Only enter your property after the local authorities say it’s safe to do so. Look for and avoid any electrical and "slip and fall" hazards. Be sure all repairs and other activities you do on your fire damaged property are safe. Use caution when moving wet materials. Absorbing water can make materials dangerously heavy.
Read SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield recommendations on this page. For more details, many of our blog posts provide specifics. Two that Eastern Connecticut residents may find particularly helpful are House Fires Burn Faster Today. Here’s How To Survive and Cleaning Your Home After Smoke And Fire Damage.
Have Smoke or Fire Damage? Call (860) 461-7194
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.
