What Should You Discard After Fire Damage?

3/10/2021 (Permalink)

In the aftermath of a fire, very often, there can still be toxic chemicals and gases lingering in the air. This is why you should always keep yourself safe during fire damage restoration. If it is necessary for you to return to the scene of the accident, such as to retrieve your items, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep yourself as safe as possible. Children and pets should not be allowed back on the site under any circumstances, until the all-clear has been given.

Minimize Exposure to Contaminated Areas

Of course, you should not be returning to the site unless absolutely necessary. This is so that you can avoid breathing in contaminated air that can be harmful for you. If you have to return, avoid any areas that have soot, ash or smoke odors. If soot or ash comes into contact with your skin or hair, wash with mild soap and water immediately. Air scrubbers with HEPA filters should be set up in any enclosed spaces with a lingering smoke odor.

Wear Protective Equipment Before Entering

At the very least, you should be wearing a mask when conducting post-fire clean up or entering an area with smoke odor. Individuals with heart or lung disease should consult their physician before donning a mask and if at all possible, avoid entering the area altogether. It is recommended for personal protection equipment (PPE) to be worn when entering smoke damaged structures, including a respirator with a P-100 HEPA filter.

When sorting through items, avoid coming into direct contact with items that have been affected by soot, ash or smoke. If these items have to be retrieved, always ensure that you have on the adequate PPE such as coveralls, gloves, eyewear and more before doing so.

Best Practices for Cleaning Up

When cleaning up in the aftermath of a fire, the aim is to avoid getting ash in the air as much as possible. To this end, avoid using leaf blowers and other devices that can potentially blow ash into the air. Shop vacuums and vacuum cleaners for residential cleaning should also be avoided as they do not filter out small particles. On the contrary, these particles get blown out through the exhaust where they can be inhaled.

Engage Fire Damage Restoration Services from SERVPRO

If your property has recently underwent a fire, you will be looking to hire fire damage restoration services to get it up and running again. To this end, SERVPRO is your one-stop shop. Our 24-hour emergency service means that our staff can get to your premises quickly and start work as soon as possible. Our fire restoration technicians are highly trained and receive ongoing education to keep abreast of the developments in the industry. Not only do we do our job well, but we also care about our customers. If you have any queries or would like to book a service, please feel free to contact us now.