Dealing with a house fire can be one of the most devastating experiences a person can face. The road to recovery is often difficult and its best to take the appropriate steps to make sure the fire damage restoration process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Call Dry Patrol

Once the fire is out, its important to contact Dry Patrol as soon as possible. The acidic properties within soot and smoke can cause irreversible damage if it isn’t cleaned up in a timely manner, not to mention that its only a matter of time before mold pops up as a result of the damage incurred by fire extinguishing efforts. At Dry Patrol, we’re the fire and smoke damage experts – meaning we can assess the soot and smoke damage caused by the fire, pack out and restore your furniture and contents as necessary, and repair your home to its previous condition.

Clean Up What You Can

Although its a good idea to lean on the expertise of our fire restoration crew to get your home cleaned and restored, there are several things you can do to expedite the cleanup process. Keep in mind that you should only participate in the fire damage cleanup process if its safe for you to do so – there are many safety hazards lurking within a fire-damaged structure. However, if your home has been cleared for safe re-entry, here are steps to take to get the cleanup process started:

• If temperatures outside are above 60 degrees, open the doors and windows to air out your home and help reduce the smell of smoke
• Cover carpeted high traffic areas with sheets or towels to prevent additional soiling
• Change the air filter on your furnace if it employs the use of forced air
• Tape cheese cloth over air ducts and supply registers to capture loose soot stuck in the air
• Wipe soot and smoke residue off of houseplants and move them to an area that didn’t suffer fire damage
• Wipe residue from porcelain and chrome fixtures to prevent etching or permanent damage
• Gently dust off or vacuum loose soot particles off upholstery, drapes, and carpets
• Throw out any food that you suspect might have been exposed to soot or smoke from fire. This includes canned or packaged food goods along with any beverages that were stored close to the fire
• If your electricity is off, empty out your fridge and freezer and leave the doors open to allow it to air out. If the electricity is on, leave charcoal inside it instead

Lastly, if you decide to partake in the restoration process, make sure you don’t touch anything with your bare hands. The natural oils in your hands will inflict further damages to your belongings, when combined with smoke reside. Always wear gloves when cleaning up!

For more about how we can help you, read more at drypatrolcolumbus.com or call us at (614) 407-5543.