How To Check Your Home After a Fire

How To Check Your Home After a Fire
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How to Check Your Home After a Fire?

After a fire, there may be extensive property damage which you will be eager to inspect. However, it’s best to exercise caution when reentering your home after a fire. Here are some tips on how to check your home after a fire.

Check with the authorities before re-entering- Ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure before you enter. Do not ignore the colored tape that was placed over your doors or windows unless local authorities inform you that is safe to reenter your home. Even in rooms untouched by flames, high heat will have softened glass, blistered wooden floors or melted plastics. Also, many of the burned or melted plastics and synthetic materials will continue to off-gas toxins and there may also be any unseen weaknesses in the structure that may still cause collapse.

Don’t bring the keiki - If you have children, it is best to leave them with a relative or friend while doing your home inspection after the fire. The site may be unsafe for children and may cause upset them in seeing their home damaged.

Check for structural damage – Check the outside of your home before you enter including loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks, missing support beams, etc. Damage on the outside can indicate a serious problem inside.

Check for smoke – There might be remaining embers throughout the home, including the attic.

Damaged objects, such as furniture or stairs, may be unstable. - Be careful when walking through the stairs or near damaged furniture. Avoid holding or leaning against damaged objects. If you see broken or frayed wires or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker.

Check for water damage - Disconnect and check all appliances for water damage before using them.

Take photographs of the damage. – This is important for insurance claims after your home fire.

Contact Hero Fire Protection for a free fire safety assessment for your home. We are a full-service fire protection company in Hawaii dedicated in educating families about the devastating effects of home fires and other home safety issues.

Contact us today to get a FREE fire safety assessment and receive a FREE emergency kit.
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