“Man is the only creature that dares to light a fire and live with it. The reason? Because he alone has learned to put it out.”
- Henry Jackson Vandyke, Jr. (1852-1933), American author and clergyman.
Fire played a critical role in Man's evolution from cave dweller to creator of modern civilization. While it is the best of friends if kept under control, careless handling or unforeseen accidents can make fire the worst of enemies.
No one knows better than the householder. While fireplaces may have become an old-world oddity, the proliferation of electrical equipment has made the threat of fire damage very real in modern times. Anything from a malfunctioning microwave to a faulty toaster can give rise to fire that can result in significant material damage to a house, besides the obvious threat to life and safety of the inhabitants.
While it is always advisable to have smoke detectors to alarm the house dwellers of any fire, here are some restoration methods for fire damage to your home. These tips cover the actions you should take after the fire has been extinguished and you have been given permission by the appropriate authorities to enter the building. The last point is extremely important: remember, valuables have no value when compared to your physical safety and that of your family.
1. Make the proper insurance claim. This is obviously applicable if you are covered by insurance. In order to make a proper claim, it is important to collect the appropriate evidence in terms of photographs and original receipts of purchase to submit to the insurer. Also, ensure that you have verifications from the Police and Fire Department.
2. Remove anything that has been charred. However, remove flooring only after the removal of damaged ceiling since it will collect the debris. Realize that in addition to the smoke and debris due to fire, the water and chemicals used to extinguish fire also leave behind harmful debris. Hence, they need to be cleared as well.
3. Remove all valuables and detachable furnishings for cleaning.
4. Ensure that the HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system is thoroughly cleaned to remove soot and smoke residue. If this is not done, these harmful substances may be reintroduced into the living area at time of operation. The electrical wiring throughout the house also needs to be checked out thoroughly.
5. Seal framing materials with an appropriate sealer, before replacing drywall, paneling, decking, etc. If this is not done, odor will leach out of structural materials for months, if even years. Simply putting up new drywall and taping and mudding joints will not seal in untreated odor. After this, deodorization has to be done with the proper chemicals.
In spite of the above tips, it's always better to call a professional service to do the restoration. When dealing with fire damage, there is risk to the health of the concerned individual, something that can be handled only by those trained to do so. Hence, let the professionals handle the major issues while you can deal with minor damages.
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