A fire leaves much destruction in its wake, but the unsightly damage is only the beginning. Your health can also suffer if you don’t seek out fire restoration quickly. There are several hazards caused by a blaze that can make you sick and even physically put you in harm’s way.

The most immediate and drastic danger is from structural damage. Fire can leave tripping hazards, caving roofs, and walls that can’t support their load. If a home or business has been sufficiently gutted, it may not even be safe to enter until professionals assess and repair these issues.

Even if the damage isn’t quite this serious, it can have gradual and insidious effects on your health. The fumes and ash from smoke linger and cling long after the fire has been extinguished. Breathing in this smoke may lead to coughing and even respiratory conditions that may need treatment. Fire restoration professionals can clear out the smoke and return your air quality to a safe state.

One more issue that many people overlook is the water damage that may have been caused when the fire was put out. Fire hoses unleash massive amounts of water into a space, which can lead to mold and mildew growth. Like smoke damage, these affect your air and can impair your breathing. Mold removal will be needed to make the room or building safe again.

While these possibilities may be scary, skilled fire restoration professionals know how to tend to the wreckage and get things back to normal. The sooner you schedule work, the sooner you can breathe easy.

Hudepohl Restoration provides around-the-clock emergency restoration to the Louisville, KY, and Cincinnati, OH, areas. Their website has more details on their fire restoration services, as well as their work fixing water damage, storm damage, and mold. You can reach their Cincinnati office at (513) 398-9691 or their Louisville location at (502) 873-5744. Hudepohl Restoration regularly shares restoration and remodeling tips on their Facebook and Twitter pages.