What Items Should You Throw Away After a Fire?

7/23/2022 (Permalink)

The high heat that accompanies a fire could affect your medications.

Throw Away These Belongings After a Fire

The large flames and billowing smoke that accompany a fire can be quite destructive. Fire damage restoration professionals in Hebron, KY, can salvage many items in your house. However, they will not be able to save everything. Certain items will have to be discarded for your safety.

1. Burned Clothes
Remediation experts can disinfect and clean beddings and clothes following a fire. However, charred textiles should be tossed in the trash. The chemicals in the soot and smoke could irritate your skin the next time you try to wear those clothes. You could also inadvertently inhale those chemicals.

2. Medicines
The high heat that accompanies a fire could affect your medications. Their potencies could be altered, which could harm you if you ingest the medicines. Soot, smoke and fire-dousing chemicals may damage medicines, as well. You should thus throw away those pill bottles and ask your doctor for refills.

3. Cosmetics
Excessive heat and fire suppressants could also alter the minerals and chemicals inside toiletries and cosmetics. It may be tempting to clean and keep these items, especially since they can be expensive. However, fire-damaged makeup or shampoo could harm your hair and skin.

4. Food
Food can easily get contaminated by chemicals from fire extinguishers. Heat from a blaze could also activate harmful bacteria lingering in jars and cans. Any foods that have fire extinguisher dust should be thrown out, as should any cans that are rusted or bulging.
Any perishable items left in a freezer or refrigerator that lost power should also be tossed. If you can afford to do so, you should consider replacing all food affected by the blaze.
To keep yourself and your family safe, you should throw away burned clothes after a fire. You should also discard any cosmetics, medicines and foods that were damaged by the flames and smoke. However, many of your other belongings can be restored with the help of remediation professionals.