CONTENTS

• What shall I do first?
• What documents do I need?
• Safety
• Accommodation
• Security
• Chimney Fires
• Drying out and Cleaning up
• Cleaning the Kitchen
• Insurance
• Welfare
• Contact Us

Other Safety Advice

• Arson Prevention
• Babysitters
• Boat Safety
• Candles
• Caravan/Mobile Home
• Car Fires
• Care Homes
• Chimney Fires
• Close That Door
• Cooking Fires
• Domestic Sprinklers
• Electrical Safety
• Fire Action Plan
• Fire Extinguishers
• Fire Extinguisher Guide
• Fire Safety Outdoors
• Firesetters
• Firework Safety
• Heater Safety
• High Rise Fire Safety
• Hoax Calls
• Kitchen Safety
• Shared Housing
• Smoke Alarm Maintenance
• Smoke Alarm Provision
• Thatch Fires
• Unwanted False Alarms


British Red Cross -
Fire Victim Support Service

The FVSS is designed to meet the needs of people who have suffered damage to their home following a fire, flood or other similar incident.

What type of support is
available?

• Immediate temporary shelter in the FVSS vehicle
• Help in seeking temporary accommodation
• Emotional Support
• Support with the care of children and pets
• Use of shower and toilet facilities
• Provision of toiletries, clothing and light refreshments
• Use of a telephone
• Use of a camera to assist with insurance claims
• First aid
• Assistance in contacting insurers

The Fire Victim Support Service is delivered by trained British Red Cross volunteers who work in co-operation with the Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.

The volunteers will attend the scene of a fire or similar incident only in response to a request from the Fire & Rescue Service.

The Fire Victim Support Service is free to the people receiving the service. All costs are met by voluntary donations to the British Red Cross Society.

5 - Insurance
• Inform your insurers of the situation as soon as possible.
• Arrange for a claim form to be completed.
• Find out what you can do before your claim is processed.



Documents can be easily damaged, lost or destroyed in fire, flood or storm. Locating the following papers can help speed up the process of disaster recovery. Citizen's Advice Bureau can often give advice and assistance..

Insurance
• Contact the local or head office of the insurance company.

Certificates of birth, death & marriage
• Contact issuing Registrar's Office or Head Office, Southport.

Vehicle Documents
• Contact (All Licenses)

Passports
• Contact the:

Pension Books
• Contact your local area office of the Department of Social Security. This organisation may be able to help with immediate financial needs, also

Divorce Papers
• Contact the court office where the decree was made. They assist you with a replacement.

Property Title, Wills etc.
• Contact your solicitor who will have the documents reconstructed.

Stocks and Bonds
• Your stockbroker may have details of shares you hold.
• Your solicitor may be required to legally construct them.
• Enquiries regarding Post Office National Savings Bonds can be dealt with by your local Post Office.

Travel Documents
• Contact the travel agent who made the original bookings, or the carrier if transport documents were lost.

Medical Records
• Original documents will be held at your doctor's surgery, local hospital or the District Health Authority Offices.

• Payment Books
Master records are kept by the organisation paid.

• Warranties
Registration cards or documents are held by manufacturers, or contact the retailer where you bought the goods for duplicate receipts.

• Tax Records
Your local tax office will hold all tax information and will help with any required information. Your employer will know which tax office to contact.

1 - Service and Supplies
• Don't be tempted to switch any gas, electrical or water supply on if we have turned it off.
• Get affected power supplies checked and repaired by qualified persons.
• Contacts for electricians can be found in:

• British Gas

2 - Building Safety
If the building is considered unsafe by the emergency services:

• The public access may be fenced off and building repair left to you, or
• Emergeny shoring-up or demolition undertaken to avoid danger to the public.
• You may get advice at any time from your local authority Building Control Officer.

Animals
• Emergency assistance for animal accommodation can be obtained from the RSPCA.

Children
• Any help needed relating to care and accommodation of children can be given by social services.

Costs and Charges
• Charges may be made for the provision of bed and breakfast or other similar temporary accommodation arranged for you or your pets. If you are covered by insurance, these costs are likely to be reclaimed from your insurer.




Once you have dealt with the emergency, you are responsible for the security of your property. Your insurers will expect you to make adequate arrangements for the continued security of the property and contents.

1 - Weather Proofing
• If the Fire & Rescue Service cannot leave your roof weatherproof, contact a builder operating 24 hours service, who will sheet it up for you.

2 - Doors and Windows
• Opening in the property should be securely covered.
• If a council tenant, your housing department will help.
• Out of hours police can contact them for you.
• If an owner or private tenant, you can contact a 24 hour glazier to attend.

3 - Leaving the Property
• If you have to leave the property before it is secured, inform the Police, explaining any arrangements you have made with contractors.

4 - Valuables
• You should remove any valuables from the property if it is safe to do so. If you cannot, inform the Police of the valuables in the house and they may be able to retrieve them for you, or ensure its security.

5 - Costs and Charges
• Fire & Rescue Service weather sheets are only loaned free of charge for 7 days to help you make other arrangements.
• The use of builders, glaziers and other services will incur charges which are usually claimable through your insurer.

1. After the fire, the chimney may remain hot for several hours.
2. Don't be alarmed at creaking noises after the fire - they are caused by the chimney cooling down.
3. Put a non-combustible container in the fireplace, and half fill with water. This will catch any hot debris falling from the chimney.
4. Put a fireguard around the fireplace.
5. Don't relight the fire for 24 hours and have the chimney swept as soon as possible.
6. Thereafter get it swept once a year - twice a year if you burn peat or wood.
7. Have any metal flues checked by an installer before re-use.
8. If a very old house or thatched cottage, the Fire & Rescue Service will have taken extra precautions because of the chance of the fire spreading to hidden beams etc...

If you have any cause to think that you still have a problem call 999 again.





Whether you have experienced damage from fire, flood or storm, the process of cleaning up will not be easy, but some of the information below may help.

Remember
• Use professionals where their costs are covered by your insurance.
• Use dehumidifiers to dry out - not paraffin or gas heaters.
• Dry thoroughly using warm, dry air.

Carpets and Rugs

FITTED CARPETS
• Use wet/dry vacuum or carpet cleaner to extract water.
• Final rinse with very weak vinegar / water solution.
• Final extraction, and allow to dry naturally.

LOOSE RUGS OR CARPETS
• Lay flat on dry surface.
• Expose to warm, dry air until base of pile is dry.
• Sweep or vacuum, followed by carpet shampoo.
• Allow to dry naturally.