After the Fire is Out
By the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management
Copyright 2011 Williamson County OEM
Electronic Edition
Electronic Edition, License Notes
Thank you for downloading this free e-book. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial purposes.
This e-book was edited and compiled and created by Mackenzie Kelly.
Table of Contents
About the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management
Williamson County OEM’s Mission
Property Insurance
If you cannot live in the house
Property and income tax adjustments
A word about Fire Department Operations
A Message from the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management
About the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management
The Williamson County office of Emergency Management coordinates the county-wide response to large-scale emergencies and disasters. This includes planning and activities for preparedness, response and recovery phases of a disaster.
Williamson County OEM’s Mission
The Williamson County Office of Emergency Management is responsible for developing, promoting, and implementing a holistic emergency management program, resulting in a disaster resilient community. This is achieved through comprehensive planning, training and exercise activities with community partners during all phases of emergency management.
Williamson County’s Office of Emergency Management’s preparedness program, “Preparing Wilco,” works to educate the community on disaster preparedness. Additionally, in times of disaster, the campaign provides information to those affected. This is done primarily through the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management’s Facebook page, Twitter feed and webpage.
Protect Property
After Fire Department personnel leave, the building becomes your responsibility. Remove all valuables if you cannot live in the house. Should a Firefighter or Fire Investigator be on the scene, he or she will accompany you. You are responsible for securing doors and windows as well as other areas against unauthorized entry. In doing so, you will help discourage trespassers from any illicit entry.
First Steps:
If you are the owner, it is your responsibility to see that holes are covered against rain, and also that outside doors to your home are both locked and secured.
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 either within the building or at another location, such as the home of a relative or friend.
Cautions
Fire can rekindle from hidden, smoldering remains. Be watchful for signs of heat or smoke.
Under normal circumstances, the fire department will see that the utilities have been disconnected before they leave the site. Do not attempt to turn them on yourself. Household wiring which may have been water damaged should be checked by a professional before a current is turned back on.
Be watchful for structural damage caused by the fire. Roofs and floors may be damaged and weakened. In some cases, they may even be subject to collapse.
Food, beverages, and medicines exposed to heat, smoke, or soot should be discarded. They should not be consumed at any time by anyone. However, make a list of these items for your insurance claim.
Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory has been made. All damages are taken in to consideration in developing your insurance claim.
Smoke inhalation and toxic fumes can cause health problems. If this has occurred, or is suspected to have occurred, consult with your family physician or with the nearest Emergency Center.
Property Insurance
As soon as possible, notify your insurance agent or insurance company that you have experienced a fire. The insurance company will send an adjuster to review the damage to your building and will help you begin the process of filing a claim to help pay for repairs. The insurance company will require a listing of personal belongings damaged or destroyed, and you should begin making the list as soon as possible. Photographs, operating manuals, sales receipts, etc., will help you and the insurance company in making the list.
The fire department will make an investigation as to the cause of the fire. This is done on the scene of every structural fire, and for a reasonable amount of time, you may be denied access to your home.
As a reminder:
Ask the insurance company what to do about the immediate needs of the dwelling, such as covering doors, windows, and other exposed areas. Also, after contacting the insurance company, ask them what actions are required of you. Some policyholders may be required to make a complete inventory of damaged personal property, showing in detail the quantity, description and how much you paid for the items.
Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory has been made.
Do not contract for estimating, inventorying or repair services without first consulting your insurance agent or adjuster.
If you are not insured
If you are not insured, you may find the results of a fire especially traumatic. Your recovery from a fire loss may be based upon your own resources and help from your community. There are several private organizations that may be sources of aid or information if you find yourself in this scenario. Please refer to the “resources” section of this booklet for more information on who you can contact for additional aid or information.
In case of personal injury
In the event that you, a friend, or a member of your family is injured as a result of the fire, you should follow certain procedures if the injury requires more than immediate first aid. Contact your employer if you have a company health insurance policy or your insurance company or agent if it is your personal policy. Portions of homeowner package policies provide limited medical coverage for persons who are injured on your property and are not members of your immediate family. A package homeowner policy may provide limited medical coverage for persons who are injured on your property and are not members of your immediate family. A package homeowner policy may also cover you for any liability suits brought against you as a result of the fire. Contact your insurance agent for more information.
In the event of a short-term or long-term disability resulting from the fire, contact your employer, personnel department or insurance representative to find out if you have disability coverage, the terms of coverage and the benefits available to you. Contact the Social Security Administration for information regarding benefits to those suffering long term disabilities.
If you cannot live in the house
This may be your decision or a determination based on the fire department. This finding may also be based on the Building Inspector’s judgment that the residence/building is unsafe.
If you need immediate assistance for housing or clothing, whether or not you have insurance, the American Red Cross will provide various programs and referrals to help you. They can be contacted at 512-928-4271.
Beginning immediately, save receipts for any money you spend. These receipts are important in showing the insurance company what money you have spent related to your fire loss and also for verifying losses claimed on your income tax.
If it is safe to do so, attempt to locate the following items to take with you:
Identification; such as drivers licenses and social security cards
Insurance information
Vital medications, such as insulin or blood pressure regulating drugs. Also gather medication information, such as a list of current medications.
Eyeglasses, hearing aids, or other prosthetic devices.
Valuables such as credit cards, cash, checkbooks, savings bonds, money, bank books, and jewelry.
DO NOT attempt to open any safe at this time. A safe involved in a fire may hold the intensity of the heat for several hours after a fire is put out. If the door is opened before the safe has cooled down, the entering air, combined with the high inside temperature may cause the contents to burst in to flames.
There are many people/entities that should be notified of your relocation after a fire. These include:
Your insurance agent/company
Your mortgage company. Be sure to inform them of the fire as well.
Your employer
Your family and friends
Your children’s schools
Your post office. Have them either forward, or hold your mail for you
Any other delivery services other than the post office
Your bank
Your credit card companies
Utility Customer Services offices such as water, wastewater, electricity and refuse
Your telephone company
Your fire and police departments
Any other utility companies that provides utilities to you or your household
Construction & Utilities
To assist you in finding products or companies to help you in clean up or repair, the following are offered as suggestions. Always try to get two estimates for repairs and check with the Better Business Bureau before hiring a person or company to do work for you. These suggestions are not meant to be inclusive but rather are offered to help assist you in drawing together a starting point.
Structural damage must be repaired unless the building is a total loss as determined by your insurance company. Your insurance company may have a preference for contractors to do the repair. Whether you or your insurer employs this type of service, be clear of who will pay. Be sure to request an estimate of cost for the work. Before any company is hired, check their references. These companies provide a range of services that may include some or all of the following:
Securing the site against further damage
Estimating structural damage
Repairing structural damage
Estimating the cost to repair or renew items of personal property
Packing, transportation, and storage of household items
Securing appropriate cleaning or repair subcontractors
Storing repaired items until needed
Remember that building permits will be required before any repairs take place.
Check the yellow pages of the telephone book for these types of firms that do structural work/repairs as they will help assist you in finding out what kind of repairs need to be done:
Air conditioning contractors
Building contractors
Building restoration and preservation
Carpenters
Electric contractors
General contractors
Home builders
Mechanical contractors
Plumbing contractors
Remodeling and repairing/building contractors
Roofing contractors
You can also request a list of firms that are members of the Better Business Bureau by calling 512-476-6943.
If there is significant fire damage or structural damage, your electricity and natural gas service will be disconnected by the utility companies at the time of the fire.
The following procedures will assist you in re-establishing utility service:
Electricity: Have a certified electrician inspect your house first, and then contact your utility company. Remember; do not operate wet or damp appliances. Have a serviceperson check them first.
Electricity and Water do not mix!!!
Water- this utility may be turned back on by the resident. Use extreme caution because the fire may have damaged the plumbing, which may cause water damage to occur once the pipes are filled again with water.
As for the Natural Gas, DO NOT Turn it back on. The building’s gas piping must be inspected and tested by a licensed plumber before the natural gas can be reconnected. After a licensed plumber has made the inspection and approval is given, contact your gas company to have the gas meter reinstalled and the gas turned back on.
Telephone- Contact the phone company business office listed in the front of your telephone directory for assistance in getting the service turned back on.
As a fire victim, you may believe that the fire damage is far more serious than it actually is. As a precaution, please check with your utility companies to determine whether or not the utilities have been disconnected. Never assume anything! !
Care of Documents and books
Important documents: Documents are very important to your well being and can be damaged or destroyed as a result of a fire or other disaster. For this reason, the Office of Emergency Management has provided a list of documents that should be located if possible. Locating these documents will speed up the process of recovering from a disaster.
Birth Certificates
Driver’s licenses
Bank books
Insurance Policies
Military Discharge Papers
Marriage Papers
Passports
Social Security Cards
Registration Papers for Animals
Credit Cards
Title to deeds
Stocks and Bonds
Wills
Medical Records
Payment books
Warranties
Income Tax Records
Automobile Registrations
Automobile Titles
Citizenship Papers
Burial Contracts
Divorce Decrees
Death Certificates
School Records/Transcripts
Senior Citizen ID cards
It is wise to store all-important documents in an approved container that is specifically designed for such purposes.
Professional fire and water damage restoration businesses may be the best source of cleaning and restoring your personal belongings. Companies offering this service can be located in the phone directory. In some cases, you may need to replace the above documents. Below is a list of who to contact for information on the replacement process.
Driver’s license - Auto registration department of motor vehicles
Bank Books (Checking, Savings, etc.) – Your bank, as soon as possible
Insurance policies – Your insurance agent
Military Discharge papers – Department of Veteran’s affairs
Passports –Passport Service Bureau of Records
Birth, death and marriage certificates – In the appropriate State offices
Credit Cards – Issuing companies, as soon as possible
Records – Department of the locality
Titles to deeds – Where the property was issued
Wills- Your lawyer
Medical Records – Your doctor
Animal Registration Papers – Humane Society
Mortgage papers – Lending institution
Damaged monies or securities
Handle burned money as little as possible. Attempt to encase each bill or portion of a bill in plastic wrap for preservation. If money is only half-burned or less, you can take the remainder to your regional or Federal Reserve Bank for replacement. As your bank for the Federal Reserve Bank closest to where you are located. If that is not an option, you can mail the burned or torn via registered mail with a return receipt requested to:
Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Office of Currency Standards
P.O. Box 37048
Washington, D.C. 20013
Mutilated or melted coins can be taken to the regional Federal Reserve Bank or mailed via registered mail with a return receipt requested to:
Superintendent
U.S. Mint
P.O. Box 400
Philadelphia, PA 19105
IF your U.S. Savings Bonds have been destroyed or disfigured, you must first obtain Department of the Treasury Form PD F 1048 (I) from your bank or off the U.S. Treasury Website, and mail it in to:
Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Public Debt Saving Bonds Operations
P.O. Box 1328
Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328
Contact the Internal Revenue Service about special benefits for people with limited financial needs after a fire loss.
For Tax information, check with your accountant, tax consultant, or the IRS.
Cleaning Tips
Carpets and rugs:
Wall to Wall Carpet: A wet/dry vacuum or a water extractor carpet-cleaning machine is excellent for this job. These can be rented at most supermarkets or drugstores. They will remove standing water and dirt. After that, add carpet-cleaning detergent and clean the carpet as instructed on the machine. Rinse by using vinegar and water in the tank of the machine. Carpet drying fans are available at rental service stores to dry under wall to wall carpet.
Rugs: Let rugs and carpets dry out thoroughly. You can clean them by either sweeping or vacuuming. Shampoo with a commercial rug shampoo. Dry the rugs as quickly as possible by laying them flat and exposing them to a circulation of warm, dry air. A fan turned on the rug will speed the drying. Carpet drying fans are available at rental service stores to dry under wall to wall carpet. The fans tend to work better after using a water extractor.
Clothing with soot and smoke odor: Clothing with smoke odor should be laundered or dry-cleaned immediately. Do not store these items with other garments, as they will pick up the scent of smoke after being kept together. Smoke and soot stains are very difficult to remove- especially from synthetics. If an item is of personal value, you may want to take it to a professional dry cleaner before trying to remove the stain yourself. It is possible for you to set the stain, making it impossible for even the dry cleaner to remove the stain. In fact, do not tumble dry any stained garment because the stain can become permanently set this way.
For clothing that can be bleached, FEMA suggests the following formula may work in order to safely remove soot and smoke odor, however they also warn that before you begin you take time to test garments before using any treatment, and that you follow manufactures instructions. Several of the cleaning mixtures they describe include the substance Tri-Sodium Phosphate. It can be purchased under the generic name TSP. Tri-Sodium Phosphate is a caustic substance commonly used as a cleaning agent. It should be used with care and stored out of reach of both children and pets. Wear rubber gloves when using if you have sensitive skin, and always read labels before use. To remove soot and smoke odor, use the following formula:
4-6 tbsp. Tri-Sodium Phosphate
1 Cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach
1 Gallon Water
FEMA recommends mixing all the ingredients well, adding clothes, and then rinsing with clear water. They also advise to dry the clothing thoroughly. An effective way to remove mildew from clothing is to wash the fresh stain with soap and warm water, rinse and then let dry in the sun. If the stain has not disappeared, use lemon juice and salt or a diluted solution of household bleach to effectively remove the stain.
For 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 even salt sprinkled on a cloth with saturated water has proven effective.
For electrical appliances: Don’t use appliances that have been exposed to water or steam until you have a service representative check them. This is especially true of electrical appliances. In addition, steam can remove the lubricant from some moving parts.
Books: Wet books must be taken care of as soon as possible. The best method to save wet books is to freeze them in a vacuum freezer. This special freezer will remove the moisture without damaging the pages. If there is a delay in locating such a freezer, then place them in a normal freezer until a vacuum freezer can be located. A local library or librarian can be a good resource in finding a vacuum freezer.
Food Management
What to do when the home freezer stops:
How long food will stay frozen depends on….
A full freezer will stay cold many hours longer than a freezer only a quarter full.
A freezer full of meat will not warm up as fast as a freezer full of baked goods
The colder the food, the longer it will stay frozen
A well insulated freezer will keep food frozen much longer than one with little insulation.
If dry ice is placed in the freezer soon after the power is shut off, 25 lbs. Should keep the temperature below freezing two (2) or three (3) days in a 10 cubic food cabinet with half a load; three (3) or four (4) days in a loaded cabinet.
Other Options include:
Entire contents of the freezer can be moved to a commercial freezer firm. How about using your friend or neighbor’s freezer?
Check the yellow pages of the telephone book for businesses that can provide both ice and dry ice.
Food: “If in doubt, throw it out.”
Meat, poultry, fish- Meat, including ground meat and poultry that has any off-odor or off-color should not be refrozen and never eaten. The appearance of red meats is changed less than that of other foods.
Shellfish, vegetables, cooked foods- Bacteria multiply rapidly in shellfish, vegetables and cooked foods, and often spoilage in these foods cannot be detected by odor alone. Do not refreeze any of these foods when they have completely thawed. If ice crystals are still in the food, refreeze immediately. Even partial thawing and re-freezing reduces the eating quality of these foods. If the condition of these foods is questionable, throw them out.
Ice Cream or Ice Milk- Thawed ice cream or ice milk should not be refrozen. Do not use or eat after the product has melted.
Fruits- Fruits usually ferment when they start to spoil. A little fermentation will not make fruits dangerous to eat, but it may spoil their flavor. You can refreeze thawed fruits if they still smell good. Fruits generally will absorb smoke or other by-products of fire. It is wise to throw them out no matter their smell.
If in doubt- Throw it out.
Canned foods, medicines, cosmetics:
Canned foods in glass jars: If the canned product was subjected to heat and the jar is cracked or is no longer sealed or if you have doubts about contamination, throw it out immediately.
Tin canned foods: Do not use any canned foods where the can has bulged or is badly dented or has rusted. To disinfect the exterior of a tin can or jar merely was the container in a solution of three (3) tablespoons of household bleach to one gallon of water. Make sure the can has not been punctured by submerging water. If bubbles or leakage of the contents appear, throw the entire can away.
Property and income tax adjustments
Property which is extensively damaged by fire may qualify for re-evaluation and a reduction in the property tax assessment.
At a later time, if there is structural damage, advise your local Tax Appraisal District of the fact that you have had a fire.
Uninsured loss of property, both real and personal, may entitle you to deductions on your Federal income tax. Information is available from the District Office of the Internal Revenue Service located in the Federal Building at 300 East 8th Street in Austin.
A Word about Fire Department Operations
The following are the two most common questions regarding fire department operations and their answers. Hopefully, they will help you better understand the alterations to your home, and how they helped in extinguishing the fire and preventing further damage.
Why are the windows broken or holes cut in the roof?
As a fire burns, it moves upward and then outward. Breaking the windows and/or cutting holes in the roof is called ventilation, and it helps slow the overall damaging outward movement. It also helps remove blinding smoke that can obscure the actual fire itself, enabling firefighters to fight the fire more efficiently. Where there may be minimal damage to the structure, this action actually helped provide less damage as an end result.
Why are holes cut in the walls of my home?
This is done so that the fire department is absolutely sure that the fire is completely out, and that there is no fire inside the walls or any other hidden places.
A Message from the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management:
Yes, the fire is out. At least the flames and smoke are gone. But in your mind you can still feel the heat or smell the smoke, still feel the anxiety and fear they caused.
The emotional and sometimes spiritual trauma that comes with emergency and disaster are neither easily forgotten nor dealt with.
If you or anyone involved need counseling or emotional support through this traumatic experience, the following agencies provide various programs and referrals to help you:
Williamson County Mental Health Center: 512-255-4489
Austin/Travis County Health Department: 512-469-2000
Remember:
Install smoke detectors, and test on a regular basis.
Purchase ABC rated fire extinguishers and place them in accessible places in the building. Learn when and how to use a fire extinguisher.
Remove combustible materials from areas of open flame: kitchen, heater closet, fireplace, water heater area, etc.
Don’t smoke in bed.
This has been a traumatic experience. While we hope you never have another fire, we suggest that you take photographs throughout your building as well as of personal belongings. Make a list of your belongings, including serial numbers. Keep the photographs and list in a safe place, away from the building. This will prove to be your most important reference for what you have.