What to do after a house fire

Chief Al Welsheimer of the Resort Bear Creek Fire Department sat down with us to help everyone prepare for fire season. Watch the fire prevention video or read our 7 fire prevention tips. If the worst happens, take these steps to help us get your home back to normal as quickly as possible.

1. Do not clean anything damaged or soiled by fire or smoke

Soot, ash, and smoke get deep into materials like fabric and drywall. A surface can look clean and still hold harmful particles. Call a professional first. We focus on cleaning and restoring before replacing, which can save you time and money.

2. Stay out of the rooms the fire affected

Limit movement between rooms and keep your hands and shoes free of soot so particles do not spread. If the fire affected several rooms, put down old linens or towels to walk on.

3. Limit airflow so particles do not spread

Turn off the furnace or air conditioning and replace the filter as soon as possible. Cover air registers with a double layer of cheesecloth to protect the ducts. The better you limit air moving through the house, the safer your family will be.

4. If water was used to put out the fire, avoid electricity in that area

Keep light fixtures off in rooms that are wet to avoid serious electrical shock.

5. Have electronics exposed to extinguisher residue cleaned by a professional

Fire extinguishing agents can cover an entire room. Electronics are especially vulnerable and will need professional cleaning or replacement, depending on the exposure.