3 Tips For Salvaging Photos After A Fire

25 June 2016
 Categories: , Blog


After a house fire, many items that are lost to the flames and smoke damage can be replaced. Some items -- such as family photographs -- cannot be replaced at all, however. Luckily, it is sometimes possible to save photographs that have been in a fire. These are a few tips to remember if you want to try to salvage your important pictures.

1. Don't Try to Pull Them Apart

The heat of the fire can cause photographs to melt together, particularly if they were stacked or otherwise stored closely to one another. Your first instinct might be to try to pull them apart, but doing so can cause permanent damage. Instead, you will want to soak the pictures in a basin of cool, clear water. Then, the pictures can be allowed to gently come apart on their own, which can make them easier to salvage.

2. Allow Them to Dry Completely

Once the photographs have come apart on their own, you will need to dry them completely. Even though it might be tempting to use a towel or a paper towel to wipe them dry, doing so can cause smudges and other permanent damage. Instead, you'll want to hold each picture gently by the corner and allow the water to run off, into a bowl or sink below. Then, carefully lay them out somewhere hard and flat where they can sit until they have finished drying, such as on a clean, dry counter top. Make sure that the pictures dry completely before you take any further action; if you attempt to put them away while they are still wet, you have to worry about them becoming moldy or mildewy, which can make it even harder for them to be restored.

3. Hire a Pro

After being able to soak and then dry, many of your photographs may be saved. After all, the water will help remove any soot or smoke residue. If some of your pictures are still in poor condition, however, you may want to work with a photograph technician, who may be able to save them. Bring along the pictures and any negatives that you might have -- even if they were damaged in the fire, too -- too see what can be done.

As you can see, all is not necessarily lost if your photographs have been damaged in a fire. If you follow these three tips, you may be able to salvage them. You may also want to work with a fire damage services company after your house fire to see what else in your home can be saved, since you may be surprised by the items that can be salvaged, even after smoke and fire have damaged them.  


Share