Fire Resources

Salvaging Fire-Damaged Items

If your home or institution has been impacted by fire, the resources below can help support safe handling and recovery of your objects and collections. It is important to remember that fire-damaged objects may be affected by ash and soot, which can be toxic. It is best to start with our First 48 Hours tip sheets and the Health and Safety video.

For further assistance:

Institutions may contact our National Heritage Responders 24/7 hotline at 202.661.8068 to speak with a conservator or collections specialist.

Individuals may reach us at NHRPublicHelpline@culturalheritage.org.

Not urgent? Contact us at emergencies@culturalheritage.org. 

Resources for the First 48 Hours

Go!

Hand holding a stopwatch

Dark photo of woman wearing a mask and showing thumbs up.

Health and Safety

Video: After the Fires: Health and Safety (19:55)

Photos laid out in a grid next to a bucket of water.

Object Salvage

Video: After the Fires: Object Salvage (1:08:44)

Fire Damaged Media Guide (web) from the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

Mitigating Smoke in Your Home (web) from the University of Colorado Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)

Initial Response & Recovery for Historic Structures (PDF) Download

Image showing front of fire truck covered in soot.
Photo courtesy of the Superior Historical Commission.

Soot and Ash

Fire Smoke Soot Recovery Tips (PDF, 207.59 KB)

Quick Links

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