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Fire attacks everything in its path. Once a house fire is extinguished and everyone is out of harm’s way, your property damage restoration team can assess the extent of the damage and determine what restoration will be required.
Beyond the emotional toll, a house fire leaves you to determine which belongings and structural house components can be saved. This is not often a cut-and-dry process, and it helps to know how common household materials and objects typically hold up against fire.
Let’s explore what you can typically recover after a house fire, along with how a professional restoration company can help you protect your salvageable personal belongings during fire damage cleanup.
It takes a trained professional to understand the effects of fire damage and lead the home restoration process. Even after the fire is out, smoke and soot can linger and cause further damage to the property if not handled carefully. Likewise, fire extinguishers leave behind moisture when used, and this can cause water damage if not dried properly.
There are three main types of fire damage that professional restoration teams deal with:
All of these forms can cause irreversible damage. A professional restoration company will help by assessing the aftermath of the fire, safely storing your repairable items, and discarding all items that are permanently damaged.
The survival of your house’s materials and inventory depends on several factors, including how long the fire burned before it was extinguished. We can estimate which items are most likely to survive based on their composition. In small fires that were quickly extinguished, the most likely salvageable items include:
Non-porous materials are impermeable, meaning they will not absorb smoke and odors as porous materials do. Even clothes and other fabrics that have minor smoke damage can sometimes be restored with proper cleaning products and techniques.
Porous materials and belongings, when exposed to fire for a significant period of time, are more likely to be destroyed in a disaster. Here are some of the most vulnerable items and materials:
Any food, even canned items, is at risk of spoiling if exposed to the high heat of a fire and therefore should be discarded. This applies to pet food as well.
Even if ruined belongings were sentimental, be careful not to keep dangerous items. Objects made with plastic, for example, release toxic chemicals when burned. These can have hazardous effects on the environment and your health if inhaled.
Free Resource for Homeowners
House fires can be traumatic and overwhelming, especially if you’ve experienced loss. Fire damage restoration services not only help you recover faster; they also provide an expert evaluation of all impacted items and materials. A certified technician will let you know which belongings can be kept and repaired, and which should be thrown away.
When fire damage technicians arrive at your property, they will:
Don’t guess with your safety. Use our expert fire damage salvage guide to identify which household items are safe to restore and which must be replaced immediately.
House fires, fireplaces, lit candles—all forms of fires can lead to smoke and soot collecting on home surfaces. The effects are more serious than just staining; smoke and soot present serious health risks, which is why prompt removal is so important. Cleaning smoke and soot can be difficult when the pollutants collect in hard-to-reach places,…
Fires are one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person. According to the National Fire Protection Association, on average, a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the US every 23 seconds. An estimated 358,500 home fires occur every year with 50% of these fires starting in the kitchen. Until…
At Sierra Restoration, we understand the urgency of cleaning and restoring fire-damaged properties. Our IICRC-certified technicians not only provide accurate assessments of structural damage and personal items, but we also pave a way forward with a thorough restoration plan, so you can get back to your life before the fire.
Since 2010, Sierra Restoration has provided 24/7 emergency restoration services to our Utah and Idaho communities. No matter when disaster strikes, we answer the call and provide quality restoration care and craftsmanship. In addition to fire damage restoration, we offer water damage mitigation, mold remediation, home repair and reconstruction services, and more.
Schedule your emergency appointment with Sierra Restoration at 435-563-4007.
If you have a question or would like to request a free estimate, please contact us using the form below.
If this is an emergency, please call (435) 563-4007 for 24/7 service.
