This guide is compiled to save you a lot of time and worry, about what to do next if your property was gutted by a fire or was flooded with water. INDEX: A. Fires What to do after the firefighters has left? (1) Heed to your own safety: (a) Do you feel unwell? (b) Unsafe buildings (c) Air quality (d) Skin contact (2) Will your property be left unattended? (3) Contact the insurance company. (4) Secondary damage. (5) What can I do until help arrives? (6) Emergency Tips: (a) Escape plan. (b) If my clothes are on fire. (c) What must I do if the alarm sounds? (d) What if my way out is blocked? (7) Fire Prevention (a) Prevention is better than cure. (b) Kitchen Fires. B. FLOODS: What to do after my property has been flooded? (1) What type of water caused the flood? (a) Clean water. (b) Contaminated water. (2) Water and electricity. (3) Secondary damage. (4) What to do until help arrives? (5) Who can clean - up afterwards? A. FIRES: As soon as the firefighters have left, reality and shock will set in. Try to remain as calm as possible and try to assess the situation. (1) Heed to your own safety: (a) Do you or any member of your family feel unwell? If you or any member of your family suffer from any after effects of smoke/fume inhalation, shock, burns, etc. you should get immediate medical help. Contact your doctor or nearest hospital. It is also recommended to make use of the services of a Trauma Counselor if small children were involved in a major disaster, or where there was the loss of a loved one or a pet. (b) Unsafe buildings: Never re-enter a building that was gutted by a fire unless the fire department told you it is safe to do so. The structure of the walls and roof can be severely weakened by the fire and can easily fall on unwary persons. (c) Air quality: Fires can produce unhealthy and sometimes poisonous gasses and chemicals. It can be absorbed by various porous surfaces during a fire and then be released slowly afterwards. Fires also produce tiny particles of carbon that can float in the air for days after the fire. It is not advisable to be exposed to air of this poor quality, especially immediately after the fire. Sufferers of asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems should keep away from the property until the air quality has improved. Opening the doors and windows can help to improve the quality of the air, until it is professionally treated and purified by specialists from a fire and flood restoration company like Allsure Flood and Fire Restoration. A competent fire and flood restoration company will determine what type of fire caused the damage, for we know that a slow burning, smouldering fire causes more odour and black residue than a quick, fast burning fire. Because of the higher temperatures, a fast burning fire will leave more of a white residue and less odour. Allsure Flood and Fire Restoration will purify the air with the use of specialized equipment. Air scrubbers are used to purify and decontaminate the air and OzoneTreatment will remove lingering odours and sterilize the air. (d) Skin contact Fire residues may contain harmful chemicals that may burn the skin or can be absorbed through it.By wearing gloves and protective clothing when handling any items that were in the fire, you can reduce this risk. 2. Will your property be left unattended? If your property will be left unattended after a fire, do:
3.Your insurance company:
4. Secondary damage: This is the damage that continues to occur after a fire incident and can significantly increase the cost and the unnecessary loss of personal items. Secondary damage can destroy an item that could have been restored to its original condition, if prompt action were taken to prevent it. Acid fire residues causes damage through rust and staining for days afterwards. Allsure Flood and Fire Restoration can ensure that secondary damage is kept to the minimum through prompt and timely action. 5. What can I do until help arrives?
Improper cleaning methods may make it impossible to remove the soot odour. Allsure will do this for you with their specialized cleaning techniques.
Smoke alarms are cheap, easy to install and can save your life! (6) EMERGENCY TIPS: It is important that all the members of your family should know what to do in case of a fire.(a) Escape Plan:
(b) If your or someone else’s clothing is on fire: DON’T PANIC! Remember: STOP! DROP! ROLL
If you can’t, smother the flames with something heavy like a blanket. Immerse the affected area in clean cold water GET IMMEDIATE MEDICAL HELP! a. If the smoke alarm sounds:
b. If your way out is blocked:
(7) Fire Prevention: Don’t ever underestimate the dangers of a fire. If you take the time to implement a number of fire safety measures, you can prevent a fire most of the time. (a) Prevention is better than cure:
(b) Kitchen Fires:
Remember: 4 out of 10 fires start in the kitchen! B. FLOODS: 1.What type of water that caused the flood? Did the water come from a clean source like a geyser, burst water pipe, washing machine? If so, it is considered as clean water. If the water came from an outside source like a blocked sewage system, blocked drains, or storm water, it should be considered as contaminated water.
In both cases, thorough drying, decontamination, cleaning and sanitation of your property are essential and Allsure Flood and Fire Restoration can do this for you. 2. Water and electricity: Electricity travels through water. Avoid electrocution! If your property is flooded, turn off the electricity and don’t use appliances. Some items like TV sets, retain an electrical charge for hours, even when unplugged! 3.Secondary damage: After a flood, moisture levels are very high and mold can start to grow. Wood continues to swell and warp the longer it is left in the moisture/wetness. Secondary damage can destroy an item that could have been restored to its original condition, if prompt action was taken to prevent it. Allsure Flood and Fire Restoration can help prevent secondary damage to your household contents and structure, through our immediate emergency response.
4. What to do until help arrives?
5. Who can clean - up afterwards? A competent flood and fire restoration company like Allsure Flood and Fire Restoration, can be of invaluable help after a disaster incident. By offering immediate response we can substantially reduce an owner’s loss and prevent secondary damage. We work closely with insurance companies and liaise with them at an early stage to gain approval for the necessary work. If your property and the household contents are insured, the insurance company will pay for our work. Within 24 hours after being notified of the disaster, the competent team of Allsure Flood and Fire Restoration will:
(i) Which items need urgent attention to prevent any secondary damage. (ii) Which items can definitely be restored and (iii) Which items are not restorable and must be replaced 3. Make a thorough and detailed inventory of all the affected household contents, with photographs and video material of all the damaged items, as well of all the items that must be uplifted for cleaning and restoration purposes 4. Assess the cost of restoration/damage and supply the insurance company with the relevant cost and time projections, a complete inventory collation, as well as a detailed list of all the irreparable items that must be replaced, subject to the insurance company’s final approval. 5. Plan and prioritize the necessary procedures for restoration to limit your inconvenience and to restore normality to your household, as soon as possible. 6. We shall ensure that all the affected household contents that needs to be restored, is properly wrapped, packed and uplifted. 7. Implement the necessary restoration procedures for example: water extraction, dehumidification, mould prevention, ozone oxidation treatments, removal of odours, cleaning & deodorization of household contents, carpet and upholstery cleaning, etc. 8. We’ll also remove the rubble and irreparable household contents to a dumping site where necessary. 9. On request, provide a qualified builder to survey the site and assess the damage. 10. Submit, as soon as possible, a detailed cost estimate and time projection concerning the restoration of the structure, to the insurance company. 11. Store the restored and refurbished household contents when necessary, until the structure is fully restored. 12. Deliver your household contents after everything has been cleaned and treated. 13. Go through the complete inventory list with you to ensure everything is restored/replaced to your complete satisfaction. Remember, our team of professional and enthusiastic people, are committed to helping you. Leave all the hard work and hassle to us. When disaster strikes…. We clean up afterwards! |
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