Fire Damage Restoration Safety Tips

7/20/2017 (Permalink)

Fire Damage Restoration Safety Tips

If fire cleanup cannot wait, ensure that you do not put yourself at risk to re-enter the building. While it is tempting to rush back in to remedy the situation and begin fire cleanup after a fire in home or a fire in business, doing so may only cause added worry and concern to residential or commercial fire damage situations. The smoke smell alone can be detrimental to your health!

A call to a fire damage restoration company is the first call you should make after fire damage occurs. Professionals know how to renovate your building after a fire, preventing loss as they work. With the professionals at a restoration company assisting in the fire cleanup, your home or business will be back to its old-self in no time, with the smoke smell and other signs of damage removed quickly. However, if you choose to re-enter the building before the restoration company arrives on the scene, do so with precautions in mind. The tips below are a handful that can help you prevent additional damage or injury when re-entering a facility after a fire.

Be Safe & Cautious at all Times

Okay to enter isn't the same as safe to enter. Unless given the okay by a firefighter or building official, re-entering a building after a fire in business or fire in home isn't recommended. Your safety is at risk because the smoke smell and fire damage, the smoke smell, soot damage, and smoke damage all have potential consequences to your life. A fire can easily restart at any time, needing only seconds to spread into an uncontrollable blaze. Unstable walls and ceilings, damaged floors, and other structural damage is also a potential risk after fire damage. Wait until you feel safe, after being given the okay by an official, to re-enter the building. When you do go back inside, wear protective clothing, and take someone with you.

Wear Masks & Gloves Inside the Building

When re-entering a building after a fire in home or fire in business, do so wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth, and a pair of gloves. Soot damage and smoke damage can be deadly if ingested and may cause a plethora of additional health consequences. Soot damage is toxic to your health! If you are going inside the house, ensure that you are prepared with these items to avoid the soot damage and smoke damage potential consequences. The restoration company wears these items when fire cleanup takes place and so should you.

Leave Things Alone

Board up of the windows and doors is something that fire department officials may do after a fire in home or fire in business. If board up has occurred, do not remove anything on your own. The board up is done to keep intruder and looters out of the property and to minimize additional fire damage, soot damage, and even smoke damage. If a board up is in place, leave it alone!

Keep Employees/Customers Out

Commercial fire damage is risky to the property owner and employees and customers. Do not re-open your facility to others until fire damage restoration is complete. Commercial fire damage restoration ensures that the health and safety of everyone coming in and out of your facility is protected and that isn't something you should be willing to overlook. Additionally, do not allow children into the building after a fire in home or a fire in business.

Electrical Concerns

If electricity has not been disconnected after a fire, electrocution worries are present at the building, adding more danger to the situation. Since electricity is conducted through wet walls, floors, and appliances, the hazard is extensive after a fire. Until the restoration company provides fire damage restoration, including water removal, do not go inside a home with live electric!

Final Thoughts

When you've experienced commercial fire damage or a fire at your home, leave the restoration to the professionals. When you do go inside, use the precautions and tips listed above to help maintain your safety. Residential and commercial fire damage are both scary, even when the flames are extinguished.
Visit http://www.SERVPROclearlake.com for more information on fire damage.