It seems like a weird question, but an important one. Can you live in a house after a fire? Just because the house catches on fire, doesn’t mean the entire house is burned down. Sometimes, the fire is contained in a small area of the house. Would you think the house is still livable?
The answer is NO, you CANNOT live in a house after a fire.
Even if it was contained in just one room or one part of the house, it is ultimately risky to live in a house that was just on fire. You can see remains of the fire such as scorch marks and everything that has been burned down. You can also see the ash and soot that the smoke left everywhere within its reach. It is not what you have to worry about though. The main reason why you cannot live in a house is about what you can’t see.
A house that has been on fire obviously has fire damage and smoke damage but let’s talk about the underlying issues and why they are dangerous.
Fire Damage
Fire can cause a great deal of damage to a house or any property. Although, there may be several things you might not be thinking about such as the fire could have damaged the house structure. If there was structural damage present it certainly makes your house a high risk and staying inside it is very dangerous. Structural damage can cause structural collapses, more often without any warnings.
Even if the fire didn’t cause any damage to the structure of the house, there are other things that you should consider, one that you probably haven’t thought of. Fire can cause the release of chemicals such as lead paint or asbestos and leave residues that can be harmful to one’s health. Closing the area off is useless because it is airborne. Don’t risk your and your loved ones’ health by ignoring this precaution.
Smoke Damage
Smoke damage leaves behind ash and soot that covers everything they can. However, that isn’t all the damage smoke does. An average house fire produces hundreds of chemicals within the smoke. Everything that catches on fire and burns, releases different chemicals into the smoke, another hazard to your and your loved one’s health.
Smoke causes damage to your appliances and other tech stuff too, where it can get into your AC units, insulation, electric outlets, etc. Moreover, inhaling too much smoke can also be hard on your body. Some of the signs of inhaling too much smoke include:
- Coughing
- Headaches
- Shortness Of Breath
- Mental Confusion
- Red Eyes
- Wheezing
- Difficulty Breathing
The effects of fire and smoke damage make it NOT safe for you to live in a house that has been on fire. Certain precautions should be taken to ensure that you and your family go back to your house safely.
In the event of fire and smoke damage, a professional fire restoration company can provide you comfort during this difficult situation, guiding you in every step of the restoration process and get your property in a normal or better condition.
If you had smoke damage in your home contact us today for a free consultation at (305) 671-3226
