Keeping food safe after a fire.
Fires are dangerous, even after they are extinguished. Heat, smoke, fumes, chemicals used to fight fire, and water damage can make food unhealthy to eat. Follow these steps to make sure you and your customers are protected.
Be sure to document the type and amount of food thrown away. You may be able to file an insurance claim. Consider hiring a professional cleaning or fire restoration service.
After a fire
- Close immediately and stop preparing all food!
- Contact our Food Safety Program at (253) 649-1417 for assistance.
Before reopening
Contact us at (253) 649-1417.
Your facility must stay closed until approved to reopen. In some cases, plan review may be required.
Discard.
Heat from the fire, smoke fumes, chemicals used to fight fire, and water damage can make food unhealthy to eat. Consider hiring a professional cleaning or fire restoration service.
Document the type and amount of food thrown away. You may be able to file an insurance claim
Items you may need to discard:
We will help you figure out what needs to be thrown away.
- Open food, dry food, and spices.
- Ice, fryer oil, and shake and ice cream mixes.
- Food stored in refrigerators and freezers. Equipment is not airtight.
- Food with permeable packaging such as cardboard, plastic wrap, and screw cap jars and bottles.
- Single service items like cups, to-go containers, napkins, and straws.
- Canned food exposed to heat. You may be able to save canned food not exposed to heat. Remove the label, wash, rinse, and sanitize cans, then relabel.
When in doubt, throw it out!
Wash, rinse and sanitize all surfaces and equipment.
- Food contact surfaces including utensils, silverware, dishware, pots and pans, food preparation equipment, and sinks.
- Floors, walls, ceilings, vent hood, exposed pipes, and floor drains.
- Dining area tables, chairs, menus, and restrooms.
Make sure hot and cold running water is available. for handwashing and dishwashing.
Clean water is essential when running a food business.
Make sure all equipment works correctly.
This includes refrigeration, cooking, hot holding, and ventilation equipment.
When you’re ready to reopen
- Get approval from the fire department, city building department, and any other assisting agencies.
- Contact us at (253) 649-1417 to schedule a pre-opening inspection.
We are here to help.
Our Food Safety Program can help answer questions or provide technical assistance. Contact us at food@tpchd.org or (253) 649-1417.
View our fires in food establishments handout
