There Was a Fire in My Erie Home, Now What?

7/14/2023 (Permalink)

You may be confused and unsure of what to do following a fire event. SERVPRO of Erie and Warren Counties, PA is here with some tips on what to do.

A fire in your Erie home can have both physical and emotional damage. You may be confused and unsure of what to do following a fire event. SERVPRO of Erie and Warren Counties, PA is here with some tips on what to do after a fire.

The first thing you should do is call SERVPRO of Erie & Warren Counties, PA. We have a 24/7 response with immediate board up / tarp up service available.

After any fire damage situation, your primary focus should be safety:

• Is it safe to stay in the house?
• Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns.
• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.
• Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful!

Now that you have determined it is safe, here is what you can do:

• 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 a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
• Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
• Change the HVAC filter.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

There are equal amount of things that you should not such as:

• 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 the ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
• Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

Do not forget the first tip, to call SERVPRO of Erie & Warren Counties when you experience a fire. Call us today at (814) 806-1987 or visit our Website for all of your fire damage needs. We are Here to Help!