Fire is one of the most common causes of damage to homes throughout San Diego County. After the Witch Creek Fire burned through Escondido and Poway in 2007 it took nearly two weeks for restoration crews to get the clear to begin working on damaged structures. Because of this we here at Clean Earth wanted to give you some tips for what you should do if you arrive at your home before a restoration crew.
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Safety
Wait for the clear from professionals before entering your home following a fire. It’s generally a good idea to make sure that the electricity has been turned off before entering the building. Even if the electricity has supposedly been shut off it is good practice to avoid contact with all electrical appliances, including lights as damaged circuitry could possibly be dangerous. Don’t attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to the fire even if it looks like they were untouched.
Soot
When moving through a burned area be sure to limit your movement as much as possible. To avoid from kicking up soot particles. These particles can embed themselves in upholstery and carpets causing further damage. We generally recommend that it’s a good idea to put clean towels or old linen rugs on soot covered high traffic areas to prevent the soot from being spread to other surfaces.
Cleaning
It is important that you leave as much of the cleaning to the professionals. Don’t attempt to clean soot covered floors, walls, furniture or clothing without professional help as traditional cleaning agents may make the problem worse. Make sure you keep your hands clean to avoid transferring soot to other objects you interact with while moving through the building.
We do however recommend that you clear out the refrigerator if you have confirmed the electricity is off. Houseplants can also be take out and cleaned. Focus on cleaning both sides of the leaves of any plant that may have been affected by fire.
Leave It to the Professionals
It’s always best if you leave as much of the clean up to the professionals if you can. We know what we are doing. If your home has been affected by a fire of any size we are here for you. Contact us today.