After-fire cleanup can pose many challenges, concerns

One of the most challenging things a family can go through is an after-fire cleanup. After the fire is out and a family enters their home for the first time, it seems hopeless because everything is covered with a deep layer of soot and remaining floors and carpets are saturated with water and soot. To the family, it looks like a total loss.

Most insurance firms require the policy owner to take immediate action to prevent further damage to the dwelling and its contents. It is imperative that a home owner call a professional fire remediation and restoration company to begin the cleanup.

Companies, like my own, will immediately dispatch a first response team to survey the site and to start the cleanup process. Because power has been turned off, the team supervisor will immediately put in place a generator to provide power for the equipment that will be used in the cleanup process.

The team will immediately start drying out the home. They should use water extraction machines and industrial dehumidifiers to pull out and eliminate water from all surfaces and install 6-mil plastic to act as a moisture barrier.

All surfaces should be treated with counteractants, pairing and masking agents to knock down the smell and fungicides should be applied as well to stop fungal (mold) growth. HEPA air filtration system must be installed to start pulling the soot out of the air within the dwelling. Clothing and bedding will be bagged and shipped to a dry cleaner for cleaning. Windows that have been broken should be boarded up and covered with plastic to keep out the elements and add security for the home. All of the above should happen within the first eight hours after the fire.

On the second day after the fire, a fire cleanup team should be dispatched to continue the cleanup process. They will bring in an ultrasonic cleaning tank to clean personal items and extraction machines to clean the furniture damaged by the soot. The property owner, cleaning team supervisor and insurance adjuster should survey the property and its contents to determine what needs to be cleaned.

A "pack out and storage" crew should work in tandem with the cleaning crew to put cleaned items into storage until the home is restored. This process can take several weeks depending on how large the home is.Once all of the furnishings and personal items are cleaned and packed out, the home is completely cleaned and closely examined to determine how much restoration damage there is and to what extent.

The property owner, insurance adjuster and remediation/restoration supervisor should meet again to determine the extent of restoration. The restoration contractor will manage the rebuilding of the home. Depending on the amount of damage done to the property, restoration could take several months before the home can be re-occupied.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed Madan at Northwest Environmental Services (255-2266) or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do?

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified executive housekeeper and certified fire, water and mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is chief executive officer of Northwest Environmental Services, which specializes in commercial, residential construction, and crime scene/meth lab cleanup.