House Fires And Recovering After

A house fire, whether it was caused by faulty wiring, cooking, candles, or Mother Nature, can be one of the most traumatic experiences a homeowner will ever experience. Recovering after a house fire is not always a quick or easy process. Even after the last embers have been put out, the fire trucks have pulled away, fire damage and water damage from extinguishing the fire lingers and continues to cause damage, creating more stress and worry.

Where there was fire there was smoke

Smoke leaves caustic chemicals and particles that eat away at wood, fabric, metals, and electronics. If left untreated or if handled incorrectly by inexperienced contractors, your home can suffer more damage than what was caused by the fire. That is why we recommend you contact a professional fire and smoke damage restoration company. Professionals have specialized fire and water damage restoration training and experience to quickly clean up and restore your home to pre-fire condition. They also can remove the pervasive smoke odor and deep-clean soot from upholstery and carpet.

What can you do while you wait for the professionals to arrive? We’ve got a list for that…

What To Do After A Fire.

• Get permission from the fire marshal before entering your home and only enter your home if it is safe to do so.
• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
• If the fire or water damage is extensive, make sure you turn off the electricity to your home. The last thing you want to do is get a jolt of electricity.
• Throw away any exposed or damaged perishables.
• Wear a protective face mask and gear if you plan on entering a home with extensive smoke and soot damage.

What NOT To Do After A Fire

• Don’t attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery you may do more harm than good.
• 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 affected by fire, smoke, or water.
• Avoid turning on ceiling fixtures. If the ceiling is wet the wiring may be damaged.
• Don’t send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor and damage clothing fibers.

Fire Damage Restoration

Professional fire damage restoration companies, like ICC Restoration, uses the best equipment along with highly trained professional and digital moisture meters to find any unseen damage that may be lurking behind the walls, floors, and ceilings. Professionals will place drying equipment throughout the structure so when the structure completely dries they can begin the construction aspect of the restoration process.  This includes replacing drywall, wood or ceiling panels that have been removed due to extensive fire damage. The fire damage restoration process is fairly complex and time-consuming. If you are trying to do it yourself expect it to take several weeks at a minimum and you may end up causing more damage and spending more in the end.

Keep in mind that every day that passes only further worsens the damage that’s already present. ICC has the specialized equipment, systems, and procedures to respond to residential, commercial and industrial property losses regardless of the type and size of building affected. Do your research and find the fire restoration and clean-up team that will do the best job for you and your family. Getting your Woodbury home back to pre-fire conditions as quickly as possible.