Safety after the fire: the restoration

Firefighters put their lives at risk every day to keep the rest of the community safe, but even they need to think about themselves every now and then. And that extends beyond the fire. After the event, they need to protect themselves during fire restorations as they clean up the debris and soot (among other things). You’ll read what we mean by that in this blog post.

The risks of a fire

The risks of a fire are obvious: incineration, burns, hypothermia… But the risks don’t go when the fire does. The debris laying around, the soot, and the wobbly structures can be very dangerous to those entering a post-fire site. 

Another thing to look out for is the chemicals released during or after a fire. Substances such as asbestos, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl, household chemicals and mould can be released during the fire or the cleanup, making it dangerous for anyone without respiratory protection. Especially since inhaling these can result in long-term health problems.

But the list of risks goes on: there are more direct dangers to consider, like active fires, hot surfaces, carbon monoxide poisoning or electrocution.

PPE suited for fire cleanup

Anyone entering a fire or post-fire site needs to be properly protected from the hazards that come with these places. First and foremost, you need to wear proper protection when performing your job as a firefighter, returning to your damaged home, or entering a dangerous site for any other reason. 

Personal Protective Equipment is a vital part of that. You need head-to-toe protection that is prepared to protect you from the very specific hazards at play on your site. If you want to learn more about protective clothing and equipment for firefighters, you can read our blog post about the requirements for firefighter gear.

Protocols 

Following protocol is something anyone entering these sites should do meticulously. But in order to do that, you need a protocol to follow – something the firefighters in charge should do. Assess your unique site and its dangers: the age and stability of buildings, the debris laying around, the (household) chemicals floating around… Based on that assessment, you can create safe routes people can take, designated areas where people can and cannot go, etc.

In addition to that, make sure you have a first aid kit and the right cleaning supplies on hand. If anyone gets dangerous substances on sensitive skin, in their eyes, or somewhere else, you can clean them as soon as possible.