“Embracing our past, while we prepare for our future”

Glenn Heights Fire Department

Fire Operations

AFTER THE FIRE!

NOW WHAT DO I DO?

Request for copy of records

 

A Copy of records may be requested by filling out A “Open Records Request” and submitting it to the City of Glenn Heights. All request for Ambulance run reports and Itemized billing statements must be accompanied by a “HIPAA Compliant Authorization To Disclose Health Information form” or a “Court Order” if not being requested by the Patient or someone with legal authority to request the Patients record (i.e. Power of attorney, Parent of Patient, Spouse, etc.)

The First 24 Hours

Securing Yourself and your Home            

· Contact a local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross or a local church group  to help with your immediate needs, such as:

Ø     temporary housing

Ø     food

Ø     medicine

Ø     eyeglasses

Ø     clothing

Ø     Other essential items (the Red Cross has "Smoke Kits" to help get smoke from clothing.)

· Contact your insurance agent/company. Please see the information on insurance shown below.

 

Cautions

· Do not enter the damaged site. Fires can rekindle from hidden, smoldering remains.   Also, the fire may have weakened floors or ceilings and you could be injured if the structure fails.  Always ask the Fire Department if you can reenter the house.

· Normally, the Glenn Heights Fire Department will see that utilities (water, electricity and natural gas) are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. The numbers for the utilities are listed at the bottom of this page

 

 Do not attempt to turn on utilities yourself.

· Be watchful for structural damage caused by the fire. Roofs and floors may be damaged and subject to collapse.

· Food, beverages and medicine exposed to heat, smoke, soot and water should not be consumed. 

 

Leaving Your Home

· Contact the Glenn Heights Police Department at 972-223-3478 to let them know the site will be unoccupied.  They cannot watch the building around the clock but they will ensure that their officers pay particular attention for anything suspicious. 

· If you reenter your home to remove valuables and other property, be aware that the Glenn Heights Police will often check out individuals removing items from a fire damaged building.  This is done to protect your property.  Try to bring identification with you if possible. 

· In most cases it will be necessary to board up doors, windows and other openings to discourage trespassers and vandals. Fire insurance should pay for the costs of the boarding up.  If you are a tenant, stay in contact with your landlord to make sure you get a key to the temporary lock.

· 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, try to locate the following items:

Ø     identification, such as driver’s licenses and Social Security cards

Ø     insurance information

Ø     medication information

Ø     eyeglasses, hearing aids, false teeth 

Ø     valuables, such as credit cards, bank books, cash and jewelry

Ø     items of sentimental value that cannot be replaced

Ø     deeds and/or leases

·      There are many people/entities who should be notified of your relocation, including: 

Ø     Family and friends.  Please call them as soon as possible.  They may hear of the fire on the news and be very worried

Ø     employer

Ø     child’s school

Ø     post office          

Ø     utility companies

Ø     insurance agent/company  

Ø     mortgage bank or mortgage company (also inform them of the fire)

· Oftentimes, your temporary location will change rapidly.  Try to have a family member or friend serve as a point of contact for those who need to get in contact with you.  Voice mail from the telephone company can also be a very useful way to stay in contact.

· Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made. All damages are taken into consideration in developing your insurance claim.

· If you are considering contracting for permanent repair services discuss your plans with your insurance agent/company first.

 

Pets - Your dogs, cats and other pets

If you have had a fire, after ensuring the health and safety of your family, you probably are concerned about the safety of your pets.   Dogs tend to bark and run from the fire building.  You may need to search the neighborhood as often dogs are scared by the noise of the fire trucks and run some distance from the fire.  Hopefully, your dog has a current dog license and tag with your address.  If you cannot find your dog call the Glenn Heights Animal Control.

Cats tend to hide from the fire by going under the furniture and into closets.  Cats also seem to be more vulnerable to smoke inhalation than dogs.  If the cat is found unconscious, it often can be revived by having it inhale oxygen.  Any cat that has been in a fire is often covered with smoke and soot.   Cats tend to clean themselves by licking themselves and will lick themselves until there is no smoke odor.  During this process they will ingest the soot and other byproducts of the fire and they may make themselves quite ill.  A cat that has been in a fire should be carefully and thoroughly shampooed in lukewarm water with a mild baby shampoo.  You may do this yourself but many pet owners find there is less stress on the cat and less bloodshed by the pet owner if this is done by a qualified veterinary or a member of the vet's staff. 

Birds are very vulnerable to smoke and should be checked by a vet who is experience in avian veterinary medicine.  We have no information available as to care of reptiles or other pets at this time but will add information as it becomes available.

If You Are Insured

Give notice of the loss to the insurance company or the insurer’s agent/company.

· Many people who have a fire or other casualty loss choose to use a Public Adjuster.  

· Ask the insurance company what to do about the immediate needs of the dwelling, such as covering doors, windows, and other exposed areas, and pumping out water.

· Ask your insurance agent/company what actions are required of you. Some policyholders may be required to make an inventory of damaged personal property showing in detail the quantity, description and how much you paid for the items.  

 

If you are a tenant

There are some important things to remember if you are a tenant:

· You may have paid your landlord a security deposit and/or a last months rent.  If you are current on your rent you should be able to recover these amounts from your landlord.

 

 If You Are Not Insured

· Your recovery from a fire loss may be based upon your own resources and help from your community.

· If you are reading this before you have a fire, look into getting insurance now.  Many tenants do not have insurance despite the fact that tenants’ policies are available for prices much, much less than a building owners' policy.

· Private organizations that may be sources of aid or information:

Ø     American Red Cross 

Ø     Religious organizations

Ø     Civic organizations

Ø     Non-profit crisis counseling centers

  Valuing Your Property

You will encounter different viewpoints on the value of your property in adjusting your fire loss or in claiming a casualty loss on your federal income tax. Knowing the following terms will help you understand the process used to determine the value of your fire loss

· Your personal valuation: Your loss of personal goods through fire may be difficult to measure. These personal items have SENTIMENTAL VALUE to you; however, it is objective measures of value that you, the insurer, and the Internal Revenue Service will use as a common ground for discussion. Some of these objective measures are discussed below.

 

· Cost when purchased: This is an important element in establishing an item’s final value. Receipts will help verify the cost price.

 

· Fair market value before the fire: This concept is also expressed as ACTUAL CASH VALUE. This is what you could have received for the item if you had sold it the day before the fire. The price would reflect its cost at purchase minus the wear it had sustained since purchase. Depreciation is the formal term used to express the amount of value an item loses over a period of time.

 

· Value after the fire: This is sometimes called the item’s salvage value.

 

 Restoration Services

There are companies that specialize in the restoration of fire damaged structures. Whether you or your insurer employs this type of service, be clear on who will pay. Be sure to request an estimate of cost for the work. Before any company is hired check its references. Many, but by no means all, are listed in the Yellow Pages under "Fire and Water Damage Restoration".  These companies provide a range of services which may include some or all of the following:

Ø     securing the site against further damage

Ø     estimating structural damage

Ø     repairing structural damage

Ø     estimating the cost to repair or renew items of personal property

Ø     packing, transportation, and storage of household items

Ø     securing appropriate cleaning or repair subcontractors

Ø     storing repaired items until needed

Replacement of Valuable Documents and Records

Here’s a check list of documents you will need to replace if they have been destroyed, and who to contact for information on the replacement process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SALVAGE HINTS

Professional fire and water damage restoration businesses may be a good source of cleaning and restoration of your personal belongings. Companies offering this service can be located in the phone directory.

Clothing                                                                                  

A word of caution before you begin: test garments before using any treatment, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Several of the cleaning mixtures described in this section contain the substance Tri-Sodium Phosphate. This substance can be purchased under the generic name TSP. Tri-Sodium Phosphate is a caustic substance used commonly as a cleaning agent.  It should be used with care and stored out of reach of children and pets. Wear rubber gloves when using if you have sensitive skin. Read the label for further information.  One thing to remember.  If you cannot get the smoke smell, out you probably will never wear the clothes again so it is worth taking a chance with the TSP if regular washing does not work. 

Smoke odor and soot can sometimes be washed from clothing. The following formula may work for clothing that can be bleached:

Ø     4 to 6 tbsp. Tri-Sodium Phosphate

Ø     1 cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach

Ø     1 gallon warm water

Mix well, add clothes, rinse with clear water. Dry thoroughly.

An effective way to remove mildew from clothing is to wash the fresh stain with soap and warm water, rinse, and then dry in the sun. If the stain has not disappeared, use lemon juice and salt or a diluted solution of household chlorine bleach.

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 special polish, salt sprinkled on a piece of lemon, or salt sprinkled on a cloth saturated with vinegar

Electrical Appliances

Please 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.

If the fire department turned off your gas or power during the fire, call the electric or gas company to restore these services

do not try to do it yourself.

Often a licensed plumber or electrician must make repairs before service can be restored

Food                                                                               

Wash your canned goods in detergent and water. Do the same for food in jars. If labels come off, be sure you mark the contents on the can or jar with a grease pencil. Do not use canned goods when the cans have bulged or rusted. Do not refreeze frozen food that has thawed.  All food in open packages, paper packages and all refrigerated food should be thrown out. The food might be ok but why take a chance with your family's health.                                       

To remove odor from your refrigerator or freezer, wash the inside with a solution of baking soda and water, or use one cup of vinegar or household ammonia to one gallon of water. Baking soda in an open container or a piece of charcoal can also be placed in the refrigerator or freezer to absorb odor. Remember that you can

NEVER mix Ammonia and Bleach.

The mixture produces a toxic gas.

Rugs and Carpets

Rugs and carpets should be allowed to dry thoroughly. Throw rugs can be cleaned by beating, sweeping, or vacuuming, and then shampooing. Rugs should be dried as quickly as possible - lay them flat and expose them to a circulation of warm, dry air. A fan turned on the rugs will speed drying. Make sure the rugs are thoroughly dry. Even though the surface seems dry, moisture remaining at the base of the tufts can quickly cause the rug to rot. Many people report that they had good luck renting a spray - vacuum "steam cleaner".  If you hold the rug off the floor with small objects like tennis balls and direct a fan under the edge you can speed the drying process.   For information on cleaning and preserving carpets, call your carpet dealer or installer or a qualified carpet cleaning professional.

Leather and Books                                                                         

Wipe leather goods with a damp cloth, then a dry cloth. Stuff purses and shoes with newspaper to retain shape. Leave suitcases open. Leather goods should be dried away from heat and sun. When leather goods are dry, clean with saddle soap. Rinse leather and suede jackets in cold water and dry away from heat and sun.

Wet books and other paper material 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 will be a delay in locating such a freezer, and then place them in a normal freezer until a vacuum freezer can be located. A local librarian can also be a good resource of advice on where to obtain restoration services.

Locks and Hinges                                                                   

Locks (especially iron locks) should be taken apart and wiped with oil. If locks cannot be removed, squirt machine oil through a bolt opening or keyhole, and work the knob to distribute the oil. Hinges should also be thoroughly cleaned and oiled.      

Photographs

Preserving damaged photographs is often very important to victims of fires, floods and other disasters.  You can replace many items but you cannot replace photographs of loved ones who have passed away or recreate your children's baby pictures.  If photographs are not burned they can usually be saved. Never try to peel apart photographs that have stuck together. Always remember that photographs were originally developed in water solutions and then washed.  Soak the photos in clear, clean water and rinse carefully and thoroughly and let stuck photographs separate on their own.  If they stay damp they can be damaged by mold.  If you have quantities of wet photos, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them, then thaw them and wash them a few at a time.  After washing the photos, dry them image side up on a smooth hard surface like a glass table or kitchen counter. 

Additional Information on conserving art, photographs and books

There are many on-line resources to guide you in protecting and conserving valuables.  You can look at the web page of the National Institute for Conservation at http://www.heritagepreservation.org

 
Walls, Floors and Furniture

To remove soot and smoke from walls, furniture and floors, use a mild soap or detergent or mix together the following solution:

Ø     4 to 6 tbsp. Tri-Sodium Phosphate

Ø     1 cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach

Ø     1 gallon warm water

Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with this solution. Be sure to rinse your walls and furniture with clear warm water and dry thoroughly after washing them with this solution.

Wash a small area of wall at one time, working from the floor up. Then rinse the wall with clear water immediately. Ceilings should be washed last.  If the weather allows, open windows and use a fan to circulate air.

 Do not repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry.

Your wallpaper can also be repaired. Use a commercial paste to repaste a loose edge or section. Contact your wallpaper dealer or installer for information on wallpaper cleaners. Washable wallpaper can be cleansed like any ordinary wall, but care must be taken not to soak the paper. Work from bottom to top to prevent streaking.

Wood Furniture                                                                 

Ø     Do not dry your furniture in the sun. The wood will warp and twist out of shape.

Ø     Clear off mud and dirt.

Ø     Remove drawers. Let them dry thoroughly so there will be no sticking when you replace them.

Ø     Scrub wood furniture or fixtures with a stiff brush and a cleaning solution.

Ø     Wet wood can decay and mold, so dry thoroughly. Open doors and windows for good ventilation. Turn on your furnace or air conditioner, if necessary.

Ø     If mold forms, wipe the wood with a cloth soaked in a mixture of borax dissolved in hot water.

Ø     To remove white spots or film, rub the wood surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup household ammonia and 1/2 cup water. Then wipe the surface dry and polish with wax or rub the surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup turpentine and 1/2 cup linseed oil. Be careful - turpentine is combustible.

Please remember, oily rags can start fires by spontaneous combustion. You do not want another fire. Put all used rags in an airtight metal container like a paint can and place outside away from your home.

You can also rub the wood surface with a fine grade steel wool pad dripped in liquid polishing wax; clean the area with a soft cloth and then buff.

Money Replacement                                                        

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 (if half or more is still in tact), you can take the remainder to your regional Federal Reserve Bank for replacement. Ask your bank for the nearest one. Or you can mail the burned or torn money by "registered mail, return receipt requested" to:

Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Office of Currency Standards
P.O. Box 37048
Washington, DC  20013

Mutilated or melted coins can be taken to your regional Federal Reserve Bank or mailed by "registered mail, 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 mutilated, you must obtain Department of Treasury Form PD F 1048 (I) from your bank or www.ustreas.gov and mail to:

Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Public Debt
Saving Bonds Operations
P.O. Box 1328 Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328

Tax Information

Check with an accountant, tax consultant or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about special benefits for people with limited financial assets after a fire loss.