After a Fire

If you have suffered a fire in your home then you know it is a traumatic and damaging thing to happen. The advice on this page may be useful to you at this difficult time.

If you start to feel unwell after a fire then you should contact your doctor or visit a hospital immediately to ensure that you are not suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

If your home is badly damaged by fire you may need to stay somewhere else whilst repairs are made. You can contact your local housing or social services department to get help with finding somewhere for you and your family to stay.

Keep Your Home Safe Whilst Empty

If you have to leave your home in an insecure condition then you should make sure you do the following:

Utility Supplies

If your electricity supply has been damaged then a qualified electrician must check and repair it before it can be reconnected by your power supplier. Do not attempt to reconnect the power supply yourself.

Your Gas supply may be disconnected by the Fire Service or your gas supplier in the case of a problem. If this happens it must be checked and repaired if neccesary by your gas supplier or an approved gas installer.

If your water supply is affected by the fire then it must be checked and repaired if neccesary by a qualified plumber before reconnection.

Your Insurance

You should contact your insurance company at the nearest oppurtunity and be aware that they may want to inspect your property before anything is moved. Once you receive a claims form you should complete it as soon as possible and send it back.

If you live in rented property you should also contact your landlord to see if any further arrangements are required.

Any money that was burnt in the fire can be replaced if you take the partially burnt cash to a bank.

Cleaning Up

This can be a difficult task depending on how bad the fire in your home was. It may be advisable to have professional cleaners do some of the work for you.

Carpets and upholstered furniture can be cleaned with carpet shampoo and a wet vacuum cleaner.

Wallpaper cannot be washed properly but standard walls and washable wallpaper can be cleaned with soapy water and rinsed with clean water. It is best to do a small area at a time with this method.

All food (especially any fresh food) should be thrown out if contaminated by smoke. Any tins that are broken or bulging have been subjected to high temperatures and should also be thrown out.

Support

The Fire Victim Support Service is designed to meet the needs of people who have suffered damaged to their home following a fire, flood or similar incident.

This free service is delivered by specially trained British Red Cross volunteers, who work in co-operation with the Local Fire And Rescue Service. They use an adapted vehicle to assist them in providing practical and emotional support to the victims of the incident. They will arrive at the scene within 90 minutes of being called by the Fire and Rescue Service.

They offer the following services:

The Fire Victim Support Service relies upon the generosity of the local community. If you would like to support the service by making a donation or becoming a volunteer, or want more information, please contact you local British Red Cross Branch.

In an Emergency

If the worst ever happens everyone should be prepared. Knowing how to escape danger and make an emergency call are vital.

Knowing what to do in an emergency can mean the difference between a near miss and a tragedy.

Reading this information could save your life.

Community Protection

The Community Protection section of Humberside Fire and Rescue Service work in many areas of the Humberside community to educate and improve safety.

This video shows some of the work that the Community Protection section perform.