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“After the Fire”
This page on our website has been created to help those who have had a fire in their home or building. There is no doubt that someone who has had a fire in their home or building will be overwhelmed with not only emotions, but also many questions about how to deal with the situation. Some become angry and sometimes take out their frustrations on the fire department, while others are devistated by the enormity of the situation. In either case, the fire department does understand and we will always try to help you in your time of need. There are, however, some things the fire department does not have either the authority or the resources to help with. This is especially true "after the fire". Once we have extinguished the fire and made the scene as safe as we can, the property owner will have to make arrangements to return to some kind of normality. We can provide you with some advise about what to do "after the fire". Listed below, are some things that may help guide you with who to call and how to handle the situation.
The First 24 Hours - Securing Yourself and The Site
If not already done by the fire department, contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army, to help with your immediate needs, such as:
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temporary housing
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food
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medicine
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eyeglasses
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clothing
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other essential items
Contact Your Insurance Agent/Company:
As soon as things begin to calm down, call your insurance agent/company and let them know what has happened. They will give you information on what you need to do for them to assist you in your time of need. They will also give you information concerning what they will be doing and when they will have a agent/representative come to your location.
CAUTIONS!!!
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Do not enter the damaged site. Fires can rekindle from hidden, smoldering remains.
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Normally, the fire department will see that utilities (water, electricity and natural gas) are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. Do not attempt to turn on utilities yourself.
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Be watchful for structural damage caused by the fire. Roofs and floors may be damaged and subject to collapse.
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Food, beverages and medicine exposed to heat, smoke, soot and water should not be consumed.
Leaving Your Home
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If it is safe to do so, try to locate the following items:
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identification, such as driver's licenses and Social Security cards
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insurance information
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medication information
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eyeglasses,hearing aids or other prosthetic devices
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valuables, such as credit cards, bank books, cash and jewelry
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There are many people/entities that should be notified of your relocation, including:
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your insurance agent/company
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your mortgage company (also inform them of the fire)
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your family and friends
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your employer
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your child's school
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your post office
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any delivery services
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your fire and police departments
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your utility companies
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Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made. All damages are taken into consideration in developing your insurance claim.
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If you are considering contracting for inventory or repair services discuss your plans with your insurance agent/company first.
SALVAGE
Professional fire and water damage restoration businesses may be the best source of cleaning and restoring your personal belongings. Companies offering this service can be located in the phone directory.
Clothing
A word of caution before you begin: test garments before using any treatment and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Several of the cleaning mixtures described in this section contain the substance Tri-Sodium Phosphate. This substance can be purchased under the generic name TSP. Tri-Sodium Phosphate is a caustic substance used commonly as a cleaning agent. It should be used with care and stored out of reach of children and pets. Wear rubber gloves when using if you have sensitive skin. Read the label for further information.
Smoke odor and soot sometimes can be washed from clothing. The following formula may work for clothing that can be bleached:
4 to 6 tbsp. Tri-Sodium Phosphate;
1 cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach: and
1 gallon warm water. Mix well, add clothes, rinse with clear water. Dry thoroughly.
An effective way to remove mildew from clothing is to wash the fresh stain with soap and warm water, rinse, and then dry in the sun. If the stain has not disappeared, use lemon juice and salt or a diluted solution of household chlorine bleach.
Cooking Utensils
Your pots, pans, flatware, etc., should be washed with soapy water, rinsed, and then polished with a fine-powdered cleaner. You can polish copper and brass with special polish, salt sprinkled on a piece of lemon, or salt sprinkled on a cloth saturated with vinegar.
Electrical Appliances
Don't use appliances that have been exposed to water or steam until you have a service representative check them. This is especially true of electrical appliances. In addition, steam can remove the lubricant from some moving parts.
If the fire department turned off your gas or power during the fire, call the electric or gas company to restore these services—do not try to do it yourself.
Food
To remove odor from your refrigerator or freezer, wash the inside with a solution of baking soda and water, or use one cup of vinegar or household ammonia to one gallon of water. Baking soda in an open container or a piece of charcoal also can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer to absorb odor.
Rugs and Carpets
Rugs and carpets should be allowed to dry thoroughly. Throw rugs can be cleaned by beating, sweeping, or vacuuming, and then shampooing. Rugs should be dried as quickly as possible—lay them flat and expose them to warm, circulated, dry air. A fan turned on the rugs will speed drying. Make sure the rugs are thoroughly dry. Even though the surface seems dry, moisture remaining at the base of the tufts can quickly cause the rug to rot. For information on cleaning and preserving carpets, call your carpet dealer or installer or a qualified carpet cleaning professional.
Leather and Books
Wipe leather goods with a damp cloth, then a dry cloth. Stuff purses and shoes with newspaper to retain shape. Leave suitcases open. Leather goods should be dried away from heat and sun. When leather goods are dry, clean with saddle soap. Rinse leather and suede jackets in cold water and dry away from heat and sun.
Wet books must be taken care of as soon as possible. The best method to save wet books is to freeze them in a vacuum freezer. This special freezer will remove the moisture without damaging the pages.
If there will be a delay in locating such a freezer, place them in a normal freezer until a vacuum freezer can be located.
A local librarian also can be a good resource.
Locks and Hinges
Locks (especially iron locks) should be taken apart and wiped with oil. If locks cannot be removed, squirt machine oil through a bolt opening or keyhole, and work the knob to distribute the oil. Hinges also should be thoroughly cleaned and oiled.
Walls, Floors and Furniture
To remove soot and smoke from walls, floors, and furniture use a mild soap or detergent or mix together the following solution:
4 to 6 tbsp. Tri-Sodium Phosphate;
1 cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach; and
1 gallon warm water.
Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with this solution. Be sure to rinse your walls and furniture with clear warm water and dry thoroughly after washing them with this solution.
Wash a small area at one time, working from the floor up. Then rinse the wall with clear water immediately. Ceilings should be washed last.
Do not repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry
Your wallpaper also can be repaired. Use a commercial paste to repaste a loose edge or section. Contact your wallpaper dealer or installer for information on wallpaper cleaners. Washable wallpaper can be cleansed like any ordinary wall, but take care not to soak the paper. Work from bottom to top to prevent streaking.
Wood Furniture
Do not dry your furniture in the sun. The wood will warp and twist out of shape.
Clear off mud and dirt.
Remove drawers. Let them dry thoroughly so there will be no sticking when you replace them.
Scrub wood furniture or fixtures with a stiff brush and a cleaning solution.
Wet wood can decay and mold, so dry thoroughly. Open doors and windows for good ventilation. Turn on your furnace or air conditioner, if necessary.
If mold forms, wipe the wood with a cloth soaked in a mixture of borax dissolved in hot water.
To remove white spots or film, rub the wood surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup household ammonia and 1/2 cup water. Then wipe the surface dry and polish with wax or rub the surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup turpentine and 1/2 cup linseed oil. Be careful—turpentine is flammable (depending on turpentine's flashpoint).
You can also rub the wood surface with a fine-grade steel wool pad dipped in liquid polishing wax, clean the area with a soft cloth, and then buff.
Money Replacement
Handle burned money as little as possible. Attempt to encase each bill or portion of a bill in plastic wrap for preservation. If money is only half-burned or less (if half or more is still intact), you can take the remainder to your regional Federal Reserve Bank for replacement. Ask your bank for the nearest one. Or you can mail the burned or torn money by "registered mail, return receipt requested" to
Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Office of Currency Standards
P.O. Box 37048
Washington, DC 20013
Mutilated or melted coins can be taken to your regional Federal Reserve Bank or mailed by "registered mail, return receipt requested" to:
Superintendent
U.S. Mint
P.O. Box 400
Philadelphia, PA 19105
If your U.S. Savings Bonds have been destroyed or mutilated, you must obtain Department of Treasury Form PD F 1048 (I) from your bank or www.ustreas.gov and mail to:
Department of the Treasury
Bureau of the Public Debt
Savings Bonds Operations
P.O. Box 1328
Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328
Tax Information
Check with an accountant, tax consultant, or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about special benefits for people with limited finances after a fire loss.
'After the Fire'
More Information
The following checklist serves as a quick reference and guide for you to follow after a fire.
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Contact your local disaster relief service, such as The Red Cross, if you need temporary housing, food and medicines.
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If you are insured, contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on protecting the property, conducting inventory and contacting fire damage restoration companies. If you are not insured, try contacting private organizations for aid and assistance.
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Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Be watchful of any structural damage caused by the fire.
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The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself.
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Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made.
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Try to locate valuable documents and records. Refer to information on contacts and the replacement process at this United State Fire Administration website. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/atf/
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If you leave your home, contact the local police department to let them know the site will be unoccupied.
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Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and for verifying losses claimed on income tax.
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Notify your mortgage company of the fire.
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Check with an accountant or the Internal Revenue Service about special benefits for people recovering from fire loss.
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