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. Once you know that everyone is safe it is important to then ask yourself some questions. Is it safe to stay in the house? Is the structure of the home intact? Including floors being safe to walk on and roofs and ceilings are steady and not risking collapse. It is important to remember that you should not enter the structure of the home unless the fire department has cleared it for entry. Due to firefighting efforts, it is likely that materials and contents in the home have become very wet, and heavy materials can be very careful. 

If your property suffers from fire damage, make sure to call SERVPRO of North Portland /West Hawthrone to help you make it "Like it never even happened."

Have Smoke or Fire Damage? Call (503) 907-1161

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.

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