Disposing Items After A Fire

11/4/2022 (Permalink)

Disposing Items After A Fire

Items to Throw Away After a House Fire Exposure to heat and smoke can ruin delicate or perishable contents. While some items can be cleaned and restored, others should be disposed of and replaced. Here are five items to throw away after a house fire in Fayette County.  

1. Food  

• Open food packages may become contaminated by smoke, ash, soot, or fire suppressants. It is important to get rid of: Open packages or containers   

           *Open pet food    

           *Cans exposed to extreme heat   

           *Canned or packaged food that was not exposed to high heat may be safe to consume.                   ~Remove the label, clean the can, and write the contents and expiration date on the can in permanent marker.

2. Porous Kitchen Contents 

• Not only food items pose a re-contamination risk. It is also important to dispose of:  Plastic cutting boards   Plastic dishes, cups, or utensils   Baby bottle nipples  Plastic is porous and may absorb toxins. Throw away and replace these items after a fire. 

3. Medicine 

• High heat and smoke can ruin medicine. Examine each product and consider:   

           *The safe temperature range  

           *Whether the packaging is open   

           *Any visible damage  

• It is safer to dispose of and replace medicine after a fire. Extremely high temperatures may make any formula less effective. 

4. Cosmetics 

• Heat can also destabilize beauty and personal care products. Continued use can result in:  

            *Absorption of toxins through skin 

            *Discoloration

            *Irritation   

• You should dispose of and replace products exposed to smoke or high temperatures. Throwing these items out is safer than risking re-contamination. 

5. Burned Clothing  

• Clothing damaged by smoke or soot may be restored. Burned clothing should be thrown away. This is particularly the case for:

           *Charred or singed items   

           *Babies' or children's clothing    

           *Burnt linens  

• If you are not sure whether clothing can be cleaned, consult with a restoration professional. You should dispose of items with extensive damage. 

All of these contents may pose re-contamination risks. If you are not sure whether to throw away or attempt to clean an item, ask fire damage restoration experts in Fayette County.

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

724-628-3022