by Jerry Fondale
I happen to live in an area where fires are a common occurrence, so Iave learned the method to how long you should wait to clean up after, and how. There are a few different answers to this problem, so Iave discussed them all, and Iall let you decide what you think will work for you.
Most important is for you to ascertain through experts (the fire department, building inspector) if the scene is structurally and ecologically sound. Next, you should always wait until your insurance company has sent a representative out to survey the damage. Obviously, I would say that if you have some of your near and dear items located where a burglar could take them, you should put them in a safe place immediately. I believe that sentiment trumps cash. Sad but true, fire scenes are spots of high interest to scrappers and outright thieves who take adantage of people in these situations. Lastly, you should take pictures of everything for future use. If your camera was burned, the disposable ones would come in handy for times like these. After you have done all of this, you are set to contemplate how long you should wait before cleaning up after a fire. My personal opinion is that the sooner the better, so things don’t have a chance to mold, freeze or fester, depending upon the climate you are in.
Next is the worst part: cleaning everything up. You should do this as soon as possible, because waiting too long can cause mold, mildew or bacteria to grow on the items that are left behind and whatas left of the structure. When it comes to cleaning, you have three choices. You can either hire a regular cleaning crew, a commercial cleaning crew, or you can do the job yourself. Even though the last option might seem crazy, it actually might be better if you donat want strangers going through your items and possibly throwing away things that you may want to keep.
A cleaning crew knows how to handle cleaning house, but you will need to make sure they are aware of the extent of the damage. They may not be ready, willing, or able to tackle such a project. They may also charge you a premium for taking on the job, or they could outright refuse to even consider the offer.
Next are the companies that do disaster cleaning for a living. I have known some of these people and while you first thought would be “eeewwww why would a person do this for a living?” They have their act down to a science and use some tricks that I will describe to you in the next paragraph, so it is not so bad (or so I’m told). After they are hired, they usually come on the scene in a “flock” so the job goes relatively quick, they have people who have different areas of expertise as well as companionship to hopefully make the time fly.
If you arenat of the financial mind to afford a professional cleaning crew, or the idea of complete strangers cleaning up your mess doesnat sound appealing, youall want to stick to doing the job yourself. You donat want to go it alone, though – enlist the help of close friends and family members to get the job done quick, and lean on them for emotional support as you sift through whatas left of your possessions. Youall need to stock up on some supplies to do the job right: 1. A large shovel, to dig up debris and rubble; 2. Extra large, industrial strength garbage bags; 3. A hose; 4. Large tarps to cover up any areas that may be exposed to the elements, and need protection; 5. Paint, to cover the suit and fire damage; 6. A rented dumpster. Actual clean-up needs to be done in the proper way. Start by 1. Covering any affected areas with tarps to prevent further damager; 2. Draining any water out that may have accrued while the fire was being put out; 3. Remove all loose debris and rubble using the shovel, and place it in the dumpster; 4. Remove heavier items that need to be disposed of in the dumpster; 5. Paint over the walls and any surfaces affected by the fire, after the moisture has dried. Paint can also stop the charring smell that will linger after a fire.
So you see, answers to how long should you wait before cleaning up after a fire are quick to be had. The hard part is realizing that a fire is a most tramautic experience and if you are personally involved, you may believe that you can do an extremely hard job of cleaning up a fire scene, when in fact you cannot. If this fire is personal to you, you may also chose the first paid clean up service you find. I suggest that you take estimates for any work that you hire out, consult with people close to you, who have your best interest at heart, and you will find the answers you seek.
Once thatas all done, youall be able to build a new house or building, and start all over again. If this ever happens to you, a positive way to look at it is that youall be able to create something bigger and better from the ashes of your old house. You should also use it as a lesson to appreciate what you do have in life and not put so much value in material items, because in the long run, theyare really not that important.
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