After a house fire: safety checks, smoke cleanup and getting rid of the smell

After the fire department leaves, the hard part is knowing where to start. The damage doesn't stop when the flames are out: ash, smoke residue and the water used to fight the fire keep working on the property. Here is what the American Red Cross advises for going back in safely, documenting the damage, and cleaning up soot and smoke odor.

Before you go back inside

The Red Cross says not to cut or walk past colored tape on doors or windows unless local authorities say it's safe, and not to enter a home with a building inspector's color-coded sign until you know what the sign means. It also suggests leaving children with a relative or friend for the first inspection.

Check the outside first. Look for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or missing support beams, and ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure before you enter.

Safety checks inside

• If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave immediately and call the fire department once you're safe.
• Check for smoke and embers throughout the home, including the attic.
• Don't force a jammed door: it may be supporting the structure.
• A sagging ceiling or floor got wet and may collapse. Stay off sagging floors.
• Use a flashlight, never candles or open flames.
• If you see sparks, frayed wires or smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main panel, but never stand in water to do it.
• If water pipes are damaged, turn off the water at the main valve and call a plumber.
• Throw away food, drinks and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot.

Document everything for insurance

The Red Cross recommends taking photographs of the damage, since you may need them to support your insurance claim. Contact your insurance agent, and don't throw away damaged items until an inventory has been taken. Save receipts for anything you spend because of the fire, including temporary repairs like covering holes and bracing walls.

Why the smoke smell lingers

Smoke odor can get into every corner of a property, not just the room that burned. Covering it with fragrance only masks it. Getting rid of the smell means cleaning the residue off surfaces and eliminating the odor at its source.

Cleaning soot from walls and surfaces

For walls, furniture and floors, the Red Cross suggests a mild soap or detergent, or a solution of 4 to 6 tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) and 1 cup of household cleaner or chlorine bleach per gallon of warm water. TSP is caustic, so read the label, wear rubber gloves, and rinse with clear warm water and dry thoroughly.

• Wash walls one small area at a time, working from the floor up to prevent streaking, and rinse right away.
• Wash ceilings last.
• Don't repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry.
• Wear protective clothing, work gloves and heavy-soled shoes, and wet debris down to keep dust out of the air.

Clothing and fabrics

The Red Cross notes that products containing TSP can reduce odors in fabrics, and that smoke odor and soot can sometimes be washed out of clothing that can be bleached. Test garments first and follow the manufacturer's care instructions.

Water from the fire hoses

Firefighting water causes its own damage. The Red Cross advises consulting a professional about replacing drywall and insulation soaked by fire hoses, because it can't be dried out and keep its structural integrity. Wet surfaces should be dried out quickly.

When to call a restoration company

If the smell is throughout the house, drywall and insulation got wet, or there is structural damage, it's time to call a restoration company.

We provide fire and smoke damage assessment and restoration: ash and smoke residue cleanup, water from firefighting, board-up for windows, and reconstruction as licensed general contractors. For odor, we use advanced deodorization methods that eliminate smells instead of masking them. We document everything and coordinate with your insurance company, 24 hours a day, across Charlotte and 16 counties in North and South Carolina.

Prevent the next one

As you rebuild, the Red Cross recommends hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms with battery backup on every level of the home, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom, so if one sounds, they all sound.