Advice and benefits > Emergencies >

Securing premises after incidents

If you have doubts about the suitability of your accommodation after a fire, contact your local Housing and Social Services regarding alternative accommodation, or your local Police who will endeavour to make contact on your behalf.

Close all doors and windows as these are an open invitation to thieves.

Should windows or doors require boarding up, a contractor can be contacted through Yellow Pages to fulfil this service. As insurance policies differ widely, it is impossible to state definitely whether this will be covered by your policy. If you are a council tenant and require a "boarding-up service", please contact the Council who will carry out the services.

Contact your local Police. Ensure that they know your property is empty and insecure and remove cash and valuables.

The Fire Brigade may use large sheets to protect your property. This is a temporary measure only and you should arrange to have them replaced within a reasonable length of time.

At the earliest date...

• contact your insurance company, inform them of the incident, obtain and complete a claims form.
• they may wish to inspect your property before anything is moved.
• return the form to the address shown on the claims form.
• if you are uninsured, you may be able to get financial help or furniture, from your local Social Security Office.
• if you have money that is partially burned, it can be taken to a bank for replacement.
• if you rent or lease the property, you may be required to contact the landlord or his agent.

If your internal supply has been affected, your Electricity Board will have to re-connect the supply after a qualified electrician has repaired it (even if only a temporary circuit) and notified the Board of completion. Do not attempt to reconnect or turn on the supply yourself.

If any of your gas appliances have been affected by fire, the Fire Service or British Gas will turn off or disconnect your supply. It is important that either British Gas or an approved installer inspects and rectifies any problems in the system before any attempt is made to re-connect or turn on the supply.

A plumber will be required if your water supply has been affected. Do not attempt to turn on your water until your system has been attended by the plumber.

Temporary lighting or heating units are potentially dangerous, especially if they have been unused or stored for some time. Do not forget to have these units checked by the manufacturer or qualified dealer before use. If you are unsure of the precautions to take when positioning or filling these appliances, contact the Fire Prevention Officer at your local Fire Station. Don't forget when using these appliances to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Carpets and Rugs

A wet/dry vacuum or water extractor cleaning machine is excellent for this job. It can be rented from various shops - look at the Yellow Pages. Allow them to dry out thoroughly.

Always read the label. If the clothing can withstand bleaching it can be treated with the following mixture: half a cup or domestic ammonia to 2 gallons of water. Rinse in vinegar (wear kitchen gloves). If the clothes require dry cleaning - contact a specialist shop for advice.

This is a complex problem due to the materials used in the home and those which have been involved in the fire. Contact a specialist cleaning company, or for less severe smells, use a room deodorising product.

Unpapered walls may be washed down using a mild soap or detergent. Wash a small area at a time. Rinse with clean water immediately. Wallpaper cannot be effectively cleaned unless it is washable. Use a cloth soaked in a mild detergent and wrung out. Clean with water and repaste edges of paper if necessary.

For upholstered furniture, a wet/dry vacuum can be used or contact a specialist cleaning company from Yellow Pages. White spots on wood may be removed by turpentine or ammonia, then dry and polish.

If in doubt - throw it out. Fresh food should generally be thrown out if contaminated by smoke. Food in glass jars should be discarded if the jar is cracked and has been subjected to heat. Tinned food should be thrown out if the tin has bulged or been subjected to heat.