Fire Damage Emergency Tips

What you can do until help arrives

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After any fire damage situation, your primary focus should be safety first. Your safety and your family's safety. Once you know everyone is safe you then turn your attention on to the huge job of cleaning and restoring your home.

It is important to run through this checklist before trying to begin any DIY (Do It Yourself) fire cleanup:

  • Is it safe to stay in the house?
  • If it is not safe what will you do and where will you go? 
  • Are there electrical issues from the fire?
  • Are there "slip and fall" hazards? 
  • Is the flooring safe to walk on?
  • Where do you start?

After a fire, the instinct can be to roll up your sleeves and get back in the home to either clean it up or to remove treasured items. But it is incredibly important to make sure that what you do is safe. There are many risks involved with performing fire restoration so it is best to leave it to the experts. SERVPRO of Gresham & SERVPRO of Oregon City/Sandy has been helping customers for nearly 30 years when fire damage affects their property. We have crews who are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because we know that property damage does not strike during normal business hours. 

Have Smoke or Fire Damage? Call (503) 665-7752

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.