4 Items You Should Discard After a Fire

3/21/2022 (Permalink)

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4 Things To Throw Away After A Fire

A residential blaze can cause significant destruction inside any home in Newcastle, WA. In addition to intense heat and flames, your possessions may also sustain damage from water and fire-retardant chemicals. While some of your personal belongings may be salvageable, there are four specific items prone to fire damage that you should promptly throw away during the cleanup and restoration process.

1. Burned Clothing

Items not completely incinerated may sustain both soot and smoke damage. Although you may be able to wash debris and any lingering smoky aroma from some objects, burned clothing is often unsalvageable. As a result, you should discard any charred fabrics.

2. Medicine and Cosmetics

High heat can damage medication, rendering them ineffective and unusable. Heat, water and fire-fighting solutions can also destroy cosmetics. For safety reasons, it’s best to discard and replace these items.

3. Canned and Boxed Food

Your first instinct may be to try and salvage any uncharred, nonperishable food items. However, anything doused by chemicals or water may no longer be safe to consume.

Intense heat can also activate bacteria, causing jarred and canned food to become inedible. For these reasons, you should throw away potentially contaminated pantry items.

4. Perishable Food

In the absence of power, a refrigerator can keep items cool for several hours, if the door remains closed. However, this does not necessarily mean you can salvage perishable food.

If you open your fridge and notice soot buildup or a smoky scent, it’s best to toss any food stored inside. You should also discard freezer items that no longer contain ice crystals or feel cold.

During a fire, your home and its contents are vulnerable to numerous forms of destruction. Although some belongings may appear unharmed, it’s often best to exercise caution and throw away items particularly susceptible to heat and fire damage. Taking this proactive approach may help safeguard your health and wellbeing.