Checking Your Home After A Fire- Part 1

10/17/2016 (Permalink)

The following is provided by The American Red Cross

Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Do not cut or walk past colored tape that was placed over doors or windows to mark damaged areas unless local authorities advise that it is safe to do so. If a building inspector has placed a color-coded sign on the home, do not enter it until you get more information, advice and instructions about what the sign means and whether it is safe to enter your home.

If you have children, leave them with a relative or friend while you conduct your first inspection of your home after the fire. The site may be unsafe for children, and seeing the damage firsthand may upset them and cause long-term effects, including nightmares.

Checking for Structural Damage

-Check the outside of your home before you enter.

Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage. See if porch roofs and overhangs still have all their supports. If you see damage on the outside, it could indicate that the inside of your home is seriously unsafe. Ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure before you enter.

-If there is no significant visible outside damage, then check inside.

Carefully open the door. If it is jammed, do not force it open. If may be providing support to structure of your home. If you force open the door, it may cause parts of your home to collapse or become more damaged. Find another way to enter your home.

Those who do enter your damaged home should wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toed rubber-soled shoes or boots and work gloves. Depending on the situation dust masks, safety glasses (or goggles) and/or a hard hat and other safety equipment may be needed. Many people are injured after disasters during clean-up the last thing that you want to do is add injuries to the list of things to care of after a disaster.

-Smell or sniff for gas.

If you detect the odor of natural or propane gas, or hear a hissing noise, leave the property immediately and get well away from it. Call the fire department using a cellular telephone or a neighbor's phone. If the fire department instructs you to do so, turn off the gas with the proper tool at the valve on the outside meter. When natural gas is turned off at the main valve, it must be turned back on by a professional to ensure that the proper sequence is followed to restore gas service and prevent possible gas leaks, fires or an explosion.

-If you have a propane tank system, turn off all valves contact a propane supplier to check the system out before you use it again.

-Throughout your first day back, and beyond, check for smoke and embers throughout the home, including the attic.

-Beware of animals, such as rodents, snakes, spiders and insects that may have entered your home.

As you inspect your home, tap loudly and often on the floor with a stick to give notice that you are there. Animals (including snakes) do not want encounters with humans, and will move away if you make your presence known.

The following has been provided by The American Red Cross.

-Objects, such as furnishings or building parts that have been damaged, may be unstable. Be very cautious when moving near them. Avoid holding, pushing or leaning against damaged building parts.

-Check the ceiling for signs of sagging.

Water from fire hoses or rain may wet plaster or wallboard. Wet plaster or wallboard is very heavy and dangerous if it falls. Since damaged plaster or wallboard will have to be replaced anyway, you can try to knock it down but do so carefully. Wear protective clothing, including eye protection and a hard hat. Use a long stick, and stand well away from the damaged area. If the ceiling is sagging from the weight of water, poke holes in the ceiling starting from the outside of the bulge to let water drain out slowly. Take your time, and knock away small chunks at a time. Striking the center or the damaged are first may cause the ceiling to collapse. 

For a handout on this information contact SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby at 502.241.6861