You make your way past the fire police, and park your car by the end of the block. As you walk down the block, past the fire engines and ladder trucks, you see a burnt out shell where your home used to be. Now what do you do? That's why we're here. This is a base reference on where to start when your house catches fire and becomes uninhabitable. The first thing you have to remember is:

Do not enter the house until the fire has been declared out and the house has been declared safe!!!

Once the structure has been declared safe, and firefighters guide you into the house to recover your things and assess the damage, you will probably have a few questions.

Was it really necessary to put holes in the roof and break out my windows?
As a fire burns, it moves upward, then outward. Removing windows and cutting the roof, (ventilation in firefighting terms), stops that damaging outward movement of smoke and heat and enables us to locate potential victims, and fight the fire more efficiently. The result is less damage in the long run, and reduction of the risk of serious injury to firefighters.

Why did we put holes in the walls and ceilings?
We had to be absolutely sure there was no "hidden" fire inside the walls, ceilings, and partitions.

Where are my firearms?
All weapons will be removed by the fire department and given to the local police department to be claimed by owner.

What steps should I take after a fire?

→Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
Most insurance policies require you to have your home secured against vandalism and looting. Keep all receipts, in order to be reimbursed by your insurance company. If possible, do not disturb or remove any items before the insurance adjuster arrives.
Some insurance policies provide for additional living expenses until you are able to move back home. You must keep receipts for all expenditures.
If you are a tenant, contact the resident manager, the owner, or the owner's insurance agent. It is the owner's responsibility to prevent further loss to the site. See that your personal belongings are secure within the building or by moving them to another location, such as the home of a relative or friend. Contact your own insurance agency to report the loss of your personal belongings.

→Contact a professional disaster restoration company as soon as possible.
Professional fire and water damage restoration businesses are a good source of cleaning and restoration of your personal belongings and home. One local company that offers this service is ServiceMaster Clean by Daniels. They can be reached at 717-792-7770. They have a working relationship with all insurance companies. They can secure your home against vandalism and looting, and will respond to your emergency within 2 hours.

There are also some things you can do after smoke, water, or vandalism damage to your home. Your prompt action can minimize further damage. The safe, timely steps listed below can assist you in restoring your home to the condition it was in before the crisis. Incorrect actions can be costly.

Smoke & Fire Damage Do's

→If electrical service is off, clean out your freezer and refrigerator. Leave the doors propped open or place charcoal in the unit.

→Clean formica and chrome fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom to prevent permanent tarnishing, and coat with a light coating of cooking oil.

→Wipe residue from porcelain bath fixtures to prevent etching.

→Wipe the leaves of house plants to remove smoke residue.

→Change the air filter on your furnace if it uses forced hot air.

→Tape cheesecloth over intake and outlet air registers to capture any loose soot in the air. This is even more effective if the cheesecloth is damp.

→If the outside temperature is above 60 degrees, air out the house to reduce smoke odor.

→Move pets to a clean environment if heavy fire residues are present.

→Blow off or brush-vacuum loose soot particles from upholstery, drapes, and carpets.

→Cover carpeted traffic areas with towels or old linens to prevent additional soiling.

→Discard open food packages; they could be contaminated.

Smoke & Fire Damage Don'ts

→Do not wait to call for professional help!

→Do not use electrical appliances that have been close to fire or water before having them checked. They could malfunction.

→Do not use ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet. A short circuit could result.

→Do not eat food that has been exposed to fire or smoke.

→Do not attempt to clean carpets or upholstered furniture.

→Do not attempt to wash any papered or flat painted walls without consulting your professional cleaner. Incorrect cleaning procedures could increase damage.

→Do not touch anything. Soot on your hands can permeate upholstery, walls, and woodwork, causing further damage.

Water Damage Do's

→If the outside temperature is above 60 degrees, use dehumidifiers if available.

→Use fans to circulate the air and assist drying.

→Remove as much water as possible by mopping and blotting.

→Wipe furniture dry.

→Lift draperies off carpet, loop through a coat hanger, and place the hanger on the drapery rod.

→Prop up wet furniture cushions for even drying and place small wood blocks or aluminum foil under furniture legs.

→Open furniture drawers, closet doors, and luggage to enhance drying.

→Move photos, painting, and art objects to a safe, dry location.

→Remove wet fabrics and dry them as soon as possible. Hand furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

→Remove damp books from shelves and spread out to dry.

→If damage occurs during a cool season, leave heat on; if in summer, use an air conditioner if available.

→Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings.

Water Damage Don'ts

→Do not wait to call for professional help! Damage from water and bacteria can begin within hours.

→Do not use electrical appliances while on wet carpet or wet floors.

→Do not go into rooms with standing water if the electricity is still on.

→Do not lift tacked down carpet without professional help. Lifting the carpet incorrectly could promote shrinkage.

→Do not use an ordinary household vacuum to remove water.

If your property is not covered by insurance:

Emergency assistance, including temporary shelter, food, clothing, eyeglasses, and medicine is available through the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. This contact can be made by the fire department, or by calling the American Red Cross at 1-717-845-2751.

It's always better to get professional help, however, if you are not covered by insurance and plan to restore your home on your own, we offer these tips.

Clothing

Smoke odor and soot can sometimes be washed from clothing. The following formula will often work for clothing that can be bleached:

›4-6 teaspoons Tri-Sodium phosphate (can be purchased in paint stores)
›1 cup Lysol or any household chlorine bleach
›1 gallon of warm water
Mix well, add clothes, rinse with clean water, and dry well.

An effective way to remove mildew from clothing is to wash the fresh stain with soap and warm water, rinse, and then dry in the sun. If the stain has not disappeared, use lemon juice and salt or a diluted solution of household chlorine bleach.

Cooking Utensils

Your pots, pans, flatware, etc., should be washed with soapy water, rinsed and then polished with a fine powdered cleaner. You can polish copper and brass with a special polish, salt sprinkled on a piece of lemon, or salt sprinkled on a cloth saturated with vinegar.

Electrical Appliances

Do not use appliances that have been exposed to water, steam, or fire until you have a service representative check them. This is especially true with electrical appliances. In addition, steam can remove the lubricant from some moving parts.
If the fire department turned off your gas or power during the fire, call the electric or gas company to restore these services - do not attempt to do it yourself. Often a licensed plumber or electrician must make repairs before service can be restored.

Rugs & Carpet

Rugs and carpets should be allowed to dry thoroughly. Throw rugs can be cleaned by beating, sweeping, or vacuuming, and then shampooing. Rugs should be dried as quickly as possible; lay them flat and expose them to a circulation of warm, dry air. A fan will speed the drying process.
Even though the surface seems dry, moisture remaining at the base of the tuffs can quickly cause the rug to rot.

For information on cleaning and preserving carpets, call your carpet dealer, installer, or a qualified carpet cleaning professional.

Leather & Suede

Wipe your leather goods with a damp cloth, then with a dry cloth. Stuff purses and shoes with newspapers to retain their shape. Leave your suitcases open. Leather goods should be dried away from heat and sun. When leather goods are dry, clean with saddle soap.

You can use a suede brush on suede. Rinse leather & suede jackets in cold water and dry away from heat and sun.

Books

Books can be dried by placing them on the end with the page separated. They should then be piled and pressed to prevent the pages from crinkling. Alternating the drying and pressing processes will help prevent mildew until the books are thoroughly dry. If your books are very damp, sprinkle cornstarch or talc between the pages, leave it for several house, then brush off. A fan turned on the books will help them dry.

Photographs

Preserving damaged photographs is often very important to victims of fire, floods, and other disasters. If photographs are not burned they can usually be saved. Never try to peel apart photographs that have stuck together. Always remember those photographs were originally developed in water solutions and then washed.

Soak the photos in clear, clean water, rinse carefully and thoroughly. Let stuck photographs separate on their own. If they stay damp they can be damaged by mold. If you have quantities of wet photos, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them, then thaw them and wash them a few times. After washing the photos, dry the image side up on a smooth, hard surface like a glass table or a kitchen counter.

Walls, Floors, and Furniture

To remove soot and smoke from walls, furniture, and floors, use a mild soap detergent or mix together the following solution
›4-6 teaspoons Tri-Sodium phosphate (can be purchased in paint stores)
›1 cup Lysol or any household chlorine bleach
›1 gallon of warm water

Wear rubber globes when cleaning with this solution. Be sure to rinse your walls and furniture with clear warm water and dry thoroughly after washing them with this solution.

Wash a small area of the wall at a time, working from the floor up. Then rinse the wall with clear water immediately. Ceilings should be washed last. If the weather allows, open windows and use a fan to circulate air.

Do not repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry.

Your wallpaper can also be repaired. Use a commercial paste to repast a loose edge or section. Contact a wallpaper dealer or an installer for information on wallpaper cleaners. Washable wallpaper can be cleansed like an ordinary wall, but care must be taken not to soak the paper. Work from the bottom to top to prevent streaking.

Wood Furniture

›Do not dry furniture in the sun. The wood will warp and twist out of shape.

›Clear off mud and dirt.

›Remove drawers. Let them dry thoroughly so there will be no sticking when you replace them.

›Scrum wood furniture or fixtures with a stiff brush and a cleaning solution.

›Wet wood can decay and mold, so dry thoroughly. Open doors and windows for good ventilation. Turn on you furnace or air conditioner if necessary.

›If mold forms, wipe the wood with a cloth soaked in a mixture of borax dissolved in hot water.

To remove white spots or film, rub the wood surfaces with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup of household ammonia and 1/2 cup linseed oil. Be careful-turpentine is combustible. Please remember oily rags can start fires by spontaneous combustion. You do not want another fire. Put all used rags in an airtight metal container like a paint can and place it outside away from your home.

You can also rub the wood surface with a fine grade steel wool pad dipped in liquid polishing wax; clean the area with a soft cloth and then buff.

Document Replacement

Documents are very important to your well-being and can be damaged or destroyed as a result of a fire or other disaster. The following documents should be located if at all possible:

›Birth Certificate
›Payment Book
›Credit Cards
›Driver's License
›Title to Deeds
›Bank Books
›Warranties
›Marriage Papers
›Income Tax Papers
›Automobile Registration
›Medical Records & Reports
›Passports
›Social Security Cards

A wise investment is a fire-proof safe that is UL rated for a minimum of 1 hour at 1700° Fahrenheit. This is usually enough time for firefighters to extinguish a blaze. You will then be able to recover your preserved documents when it is deemed safe.

Currency Replacement

If your U.S. Savings Bonds have been damaged or destroyed, write to:

U.S. Treasury Department
Bureau of Loans and Currency
537 W. Clark St.
Chicago, Illinois 60605
ATTN: Bond Consultant

Include name(s) and address(es) on bonds, approximate date or time period when purchased, denominations, and approximate number of each.

Mutilated currency can be mailed or personally delivered to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. A letter should accompany the submitted currency and give the estimated value of currency and explain how the currency was mutilated. All mutilated currency should be sent by Registered Mail, with a return receipt requested to the following address.

Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Office of Currency Standards
PO Box 37048
Washington, D.C. 20013.

It is your responsibility to insure the shipment.

The Bureau's special currency examiners are usually able to determine the value of mutilated currency when it has been carefully packed and boxed as described below.

›Regardless of the condition of the currency, do not disturb the fragments any more than is absolutely necessary.

›If the currency is brittle or inclined to fall apart, pack it carefully in plastic without disturbing the fragments, and place the package in a secure container.

›If the currency was mutilated in a purse, box, or other container, it should be left in the container to protect the fragments from further damage.

›If it is absolutely necessary to remove the fragments from the container, send the container along with the currency and any other contents that may have currency fragments attached.

›If the currency was flat when mutilated, do not roll or fold the notes.

›If the currency was in a roll when mutilated, do not attempt to unroll or straighten it out.

If coin or any other metal is mixed with the currency, carefully remove it. Any fused, melted, or otherwise mutilated coins should be sent for evaluation to:

Superintendent
U.S. Mint
PO Box 400
Philadelphia, PA 19105

Food Management

Wash your canned goods in detergent and water. Do the same for food in jars. If the labels come off, be sure you mark the contents on the can or jar with a grease pencil. Don't use canned goods when cans have bulged, or are dented or rusted.

If your home freezer has stopped running, you can still save the food as long as it's still frozen.

Keep the freezer closed. Your freezer has enough insulation to keep frozen food for at least 1 day, perhaps 3.

If your vegetables have thawed and cannot be used soon, throw them out. Always remember "If In Doubt, Throw It Out."

Meats may be refrozen if crystals remain, but cook thoroughly before eating.

Move your food to a neighbor's freezer or a commercial storage freezer.

Refrigerators and Freezers

To remove the odor from your refrigerator or freezer, wash the inside with a solution of baking soda and water or use 1 cup of vinegar or household ammonia to one gallon of water. Some baking soda in an open container or a piece of charcoal can be placed in the refrigerator to absorb the odor. Never forget that before discarding a refrigerator or freezer, remove or secure the doors closed to prevent them from accidentally closing behind a child.

Disclaimer
These tips to salvaging your belongings after a fire only represents what has worked in the past, and what we believe to be the best methods to accomplish this task. The West York Fire Department, Reliance Fire Company, any associated personnel, and all related entities claim no responsibility, legally or civilly, for any damages resulting from the steps above, and we wish you the best of luck getting back on your feet. Do not hesitate to call or e-mail us here at the station with any questions.