You need to stay ready in case a fire should happen. Here are four things that you shouldn’t hold onto after a fire has occurred.
Summer is on its way, and the potential for house fires increases exponentially. If nothing went wrong during your Memorial Day bonfire, then that’s a great sign. Even so, you need to stay ready in case a fire should happen. Here are four things that you shouldn’t hold onto after a fire has occurred.
Non-Perishable Food
If you have ever survived a flood, then you know that floods can ruin even non-perishable foods that don’t always have an expiration date; fires do the same. Any open containers must be disposed of, along with any boxes that can’t resist heat – such as plastic or cardboard ones. Jars and cans are safer than boxes, but you need to look at them with a critical eye. If you see smoke and soot residue, then they are no longer safe to use. Unfortunately, this is also the case if fire extinguisher residue has settled on your food.
Perishable Food
Be careful as you open your freezer and refrigerator. The fire most likely caused catastrophic damage, enough to disrupt the cold storage potential of these appliances. If you smell smoke, or the food has started to spoil, then you need to throw it away.
Medicine
Medicine and beauty products might be safe to use under normal circumstances. However, you can never be sure they’ll be the same after being touched by a house fire. Even if you think that the heat hasn’t altered their chemical compositions, you should throw these items out if they look damaged.
Clothes
You can often save clothing and other fabrics after a house fire. That said, you will need to act quickly enough that you can clean and disinfect them; otherwise, the damage might be so extensive that you can’t justify keeping them. If you find signs of burn damage on any of your clothes, you’re much better off getting rid of them, especially the clothes for your young children. You can also use a small amount (4-6 teaspoons) of Trisodium Phosphate, also known as TSP, to clean off the clothes you want to try to keep. Using TSP and a cup of bleach and some water can make a difference, as long as you make sure this concoction is well-blended. Use some clean water to wash them off and let them hang dry.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience in designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480 or contact us online. For more fire safety tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.