Fire Damage Emergency Tips

What you can do until help arrives

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In 2017, The Fire Department of Winston-Salem responded to over 700 house fires. Statistically that's 2 or more fires a day.  Our Brave Men and Women at the WSFD, are tasked with a grueling and unforgiving job.  Time and again, they are called upon day after day to run head first in to burning buildings and cars to save those inside.

Did you know, that after a fire, most items in your home are potentially dangerous. There are 4 things that you need to throw away immediately after a fire.

  1. All Food items 
    • These items were exposed to extremely temperatures and will spoil quickly. Power is generally cut and those food items in your fridge will have reached unsafe temps for too long
  2. Cosmetics and Medicines
    • After being exposed to high heat, most cosmetics and medicines have melted. Even more importantly, medicines exposed to high heat might have changed chemically and are no longer safe to ingest, or have become obsolete. 
  3. Clothing, Bedding, and soft textiles
    • If it was burned or singed in anyway, properly dispose of them
    • Find a professional cleaning service, and they might be able to salvage and clean some items

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Have Smoke or Fire Damage? Call (336) 744-5104

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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