3 Things You Need to Throw Away After a Fire

9/24/2020 (Permalink)

The fire's heat is certainly capable of melting your cosmetics

Items That Need To Be Discarded After a Fire

Attempting to remediate and recover from fire damage is extremely stressful for any homeowner. One of the first things you need to do upon returning to your property in Portage Des Sioux, MO, is to assess the damage and sort through your belongings to figure out which items you can keep, and which ones you need to throw away. That being said, there are certain items that always need to be discarded following a fire.

1. Burned Medications
It's highly recommended that you discard all of your medications following a fire. The high heat can alter their chemical structures, potentially making them either useless or dangerous to consume. If you want to avoid getting new prescriptions, make sure you check each and every bottle and pill very carefully for signs of heat damage or fire extinguisher residue.

2. Perishable and Non-Perishable Food Items
More likely than not, any food item that has been exposed to fire damage must be thrown away. Non-perishable food items can become contaminated when the fire melts their packaging, permeating the food itself. Perishable food that's inside the refrigerator could potentially be okay if the fridge itself wasn't damaged in the inferno. Assess and determine whether or not to throw away each food item on an individual basis, if this is the case.

3. Damaged or Burned Cosmetics
The fire's heat is certainly capable of melting your cosmetics, effectively changing their chemical structures. Much like your medications, this can make them dangerous to use. Even if they weren't damaged in the fire itself, they may have been contaminated when the fire was extinguished. Check the packaging to see whether it's warped, charred, or melted. Also, check for residue from the fire extinguishers.
Experiencing a home fire is almost just as stressful as attempting to recover from one. Knowing which personal possessions you can keep and which ones you need to throw away can help streamline the process and make it easier for you. Contact fire remediation experts for more information and assistance recovering after a home fire.