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No business is immune to the possibility of a devastating fire, which can result in lost property and damaged documents. It is an unfortunate fact that more than 75 percent of businesses end up closing up shop within 3 years of experiencing a fire disaster. However, if a company takes steps to prepare for such a disaster, the loss doesn’t necessarily have to mean the end of the business. In order to prevent flames from shutting you down completely, here are some tips for safeguarding your business in the event of a fire:

On Nov. 7, 1898, the New York Times reported that an enormous explosion had rocked the Capitol Building. A subterranean room exploded after a gas line had been left open. The damage was extensive. Even on upper stories, windows were blown out. Doors were knocked off their hinges. And water, smoke and fire damaged countless historical documents. One badly hit area: the library of the Supreme Court, where about 20,000 legal volumes were housed. Moreover, the records of the Supreme Court from 1792 to 1832 were rendered completely useless. As the Times reported, “The loss on the library and the records can scarcely be estimated in dollars and cents. A million dollars could not replace them, because many of them have no duplicates in existence.”

It is essential that businesses, museums, libraries, schools, and other such institutions properly store their most valuable and important business and historical archives. Imagine a world in which all documented information was lost every time an institution experienced a flood, fire, or mold outbreak! Historical texts and other valuable books and documents would never get passed down for future generations to learn from and enjoy. History would have to be constantly rewritten, and society as a whole wouldn’t have progressed as it has. The best way for institutions to prevent document and archive loss is to implement storage techniques that will protect valuable articles against such catastrophes as flood or mold outbreaks.

It’s one thing to prepare your home and property for a wildfire. It’s entirely different to deal with a fire as it occurs. Just because your land is physically prepared does not mean that a fire will not threaten your home, and in moments of panic people often lose common sense and make potentially fatal mistakes. However, you and your household can easily avoid injury if you simply remain calm and remember a few simple fire damage preparation and evacuation techniques.

Smoke damage can be one of the most frustrating pitfalls a business owner or homeowner can face. Damage can be done by either the smoke’s gases or soot, and different types of damage require different cleaning and restoration techniques. Smoke damage is especially difficult to deal with when it has occurred to books, photos, or important paper documents. Before deciding on a restoration technique, however, it is important to determine the type and extent of damage that has occurred.