Have you ever roasted a marshmallow over a campfire, looked away for a few seconds, only to discover that your beautiful white marshmallow was aflame? In the short moments it takes for you to blow it out, your marshmallow is damaged beyond repair.

1. Fighting the Flames
Have you ever roasted a marshmallow over a campfire,
looked away for a few seconds, only to discover that your
beautiful white marshmallow was aflame? In the short
moments it takes for you to blow it out, your marshmallow is
damaged beyond repair.
Damage from fire can have just as bad an affect to personal
property with just as little notice. Unattended curling irons,
ovens and stoves can spark fires that can weaken the integrity
of your home.
Flames weaken beam supports and melt everyday household items, making them fire hazards. These
items include home appliances, electrical outlets and water pipes.
Areas that have been affected by damage from fire should be carefully inspected by professionals to
identify unstable areas. House supports are perhaps the scariest victim to consider.
Spider Flames
Fires thrive off of wood. It’s an easy resource to sustain their life for an extended amount of time.
Consequently, when the flames find the support beams in your home, they latch on like a spider to its
prey. The damage sustained from such an encounter often weakens the core structure, leaving your
structure susceptible to collapse.
Damage from fire can also cause extreme damage to your home appliances. As their shapes liquidate
and reform, the appliances become useless.
Burned electrical outlets become hazards in and of themselves; long after the disaster has ended. Wire
casings melt, exposing the wires to the outside elements and increasing your risk of sparking another
fire.
Check Your Home
An unchecked weakened water pipe could lead to
leaks inside the house. Depending on the size of
the leak, your home can suffer from flooding or
internal rot.
Smaller leaks will not have the power to force its
way through roofing, or walls, but they will rot
your home slowly from the inside out. The cool
environment combined with the moisture is a

2. breeding ground for mold and decay.
House supports, home appliances, electrical outlets and water pipes are often just a few of the many
casualties that come from damage from fire. More often than not, precious family heirlooms are lost to
the flames.
Home owners would be advised to keep their most sacred heirlooms and memories in a safe box. Such
boxes can be as small as a briefcase, or as large as a home safe.
The total size of your treasures will help you determine what size safe to get. Just make sure that what
you purchase is guaranteed to be flame resistant.
Smoke Damage
Smoke is a health hazard to be careful of as well. Inhaling too much smoke can cause permanent
damage to your lungs, including inducing asthma to one who has never suffered from such an ailment.
Smoke damage can also leave a permanent scar in the fragrance of your home. People entering your
home might thing everyone just got back from a campfire because the fumes stick to the structure and
furniture for a very long time.
The important thing to do in every case is to ensure trained professionals examine your home almost
immediately after the flames have been extinguished. Structural damage is no small thing to be trifled
with and can endanger the lives and health of yourself and your family.
Photo Credit: slworking2, Today is a good day