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🔥 Fireproof Storage and Document Safety Guide

Created by House Fire Solutions – Protect What Matters Most Before, During, and After a Fire

When a fire strikes, your memories, identity, and financial security can disappear in minutes.
This guide helps you safeguard critical documents, valuables, and irreplaceable records — before disaster happens.

Use this checklist to organize, secure, and protect everything essential to your home and family.

🧱 1. Start with an Inventory of What to Protect

☐ Create a list of all vital documents, valuables, and sentimental items.
☐ Separate items into categories: legal, financial, medical, identification, property, digital, sentimental.
☐ Note where each document is stored currently (drawer, safe, file cabinet, or digital).
☐ Identify which items need physical protection and which can be digitized safely.
☐ Keep both a printed and digital copy of your inventory list.

💡 Tip: Your inventory itself should be stored in a fireproof location or cloud backup.

🧾 2. Important Documents to Protect

☐ Birth certificates, marriage licenses, and adoption papers
☐ Social Security cards and passports
☐ Driver’s licenses and state IDs
☐ Property deeds, titles, and mortgage papers
☐ Vehicle titles and registrations
☐ Homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies
☐ Health, dental, and life insurance documents
☐ Wills, trusts, and power of attorney papers
☐ Tax returns and financial statements
☐ Bank, credit card, and loan documents
☐ Business licenses, contracts, or permits
☐ Employment and income records
☐ Medical records and prescriptions
☐ Investment and retirement account details
☐ Education diplomas and certificates

💡 Tip: Make digital copies of everything and store them in an encrypted online drive.

🗃️ 3. Choose Fireproof Storage Solutions

☐ Select a UL-rated fireproof safe (rated for at least 1 hour at 1700°F).
☐ Ensure the safe is water-resistant for post-fire sprinkler or flooding protection.
☐ Anchor safes to the floor or wall to prevent theft.
☐ Choose a safe large enough for file folders and document envelopes.
☐ Opt for safes with combination or digital locks, not keys (keys can melt or be lost).
☐ Store the safe in a central, accessible location — not in the attic or basement.
☐ Label the outside discreetly (never mark it “SAFE” or “VALUABLES”).

💡 Tip: Safes rated “Class 350” protect paper documents from combustion; for digital media, use “Class 125.”

💾 4. Protect Digital Files and Data

☐ Scan and digitize all essential documents.
☐ Save digital copies to an encrypted cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox).
☐ Back up files regularly to a fireproof external hard drive or USB stored in a safe.
☐ Protect drives and devices in fireproof and waterproof pouches.
☐ Encrypt sensitive files (financial, legal, medical) with strong passwords.
☐ Maintain a written backup password list — sealed and stored in your fireproof safe.

💡 Tip: Use at least two backup methods — one physical (safe) and one digital (cloud).

🧍‍♂️ 5. Assign a Trusted Contact or Executor

☐ Choose one family member or trusted friend to know where important items are stored.
☐ Provide them with emergency access instructions and safe combinations.
☐ Make sure your executor or power of attorney knows the location of legal documents.
☐ Review this information with them annually or after major life changes.

💡 Tip: Don’t share your safe code via text or email — use a sealed envelope or secure note system.

🏠 6. Create a Fireproof Document Binder

☐ Use a fire-resistant document pouch or binder rated for 1800°F or higher.
☐ Store key papers like IDs, policies, and medical info in sheet protectors.
☐ Label sections by category (Identification, Financial, Property, Insurance, etc.).
☐ Keep a printed contact list for insurance, banks, and family members.
☐ Add USB drives or memory cards in fireproof sleeves within the binder.
☐ Place the binder inside your fireproof safe for double protection.

💡 Tip: This binder should be light enough to grab quickly during evacuation.

💳 7. Secure Financial and Insurance Information

☐ Store bank account information, passwords, and contact numbers securely.
☐ Keep copies of insurance declarations and claim contact sheets.
☐ Document policy numbers for home, auto, life, and health insurance.
☐ Store a photo of each card (insurance, ID, debit, etc.) in an encrypted file.
☐ Review and update policies annually.

💡 Tip: Having your insurance documents fireproofed speeds up recovery after a disaster.

💍 8. Protect Valuables and Sentimental Items

☐ Keep small valuables (jewelry, watches, heirlooms) in a fireproof safe or lockbox.
☐ Use fireproof pouches for photos, USB drives, or small collectibles.
☐ Store irreplaceable family photos in both digital and physical formats.
☐ Photograph or video all valuables for proof of ownership.
☐ Record serial numbers and appraisals for jewelry and antiques.

💡 Tip: Store heirloom items separately from daily-use safes — in a long-term protection box.

📦 9. Off-Site and Cloud Storage Options

☐ Consider a safe deposit box at a bank for originals (wills, deeds, birth certificates).
☐ Keep duplicates at home for quick access.
☐ Store digital files with two providers (e.g., Google Drive + external hard drive).
☐ Share read-only access to cloud backups with trusted contacts.
☐ Regularly test your digital backups for file corruption.

💡 Tip: Use encrypted naming for files to protect privacy if your cloud is ever compromised.

📅 10. Maintenance & Review Schedule

☐ Review your fireproof storage every 6–12 months.
☐ Update expired documents or outdated information.
☐ Test digital backups and password access quarterly.
☐ Replace fireproof pouches or safes if damaged or moisture-compromised.
☐ Confirm all trusted contacts still have accurate access information.
☐ Rehearse where your fireproof binder and safe are during fire drills.

💡 Tip: Add this checkup to your annual home safety calendar.

🔁 11. After a Fire: What to Do if Documents Are Damaged

☐ Do not throw away partially burned or wet documents — some can be restored.
☐ Place wet papers in plastic bags and freeze them to prevent mold.
☐ Contact a document restoration company for recovery.
☐ Request replacement copies from issuing agencies (DMV, banks, IRS, etc.).
☐ Photograph all damaged items for insurance claims.
☐ File a “proof of loss” form with your insurance provider including document replacement costs.

💡 Tip: Keep digital photos of damaged items — insurers often approve claims faster.

🧠 12. Final Notes for Homeowners

☐ Store all replacements (new IDs, titles, or deeds) in your fireproof binder.
☐ Back up your new records digitally within 24 hours
☐ Share updates with your insurance agent or recovery advisor
.☐ Keep yourHouse Fire Solutions™ Recovery Folder current and accessible.
☐ Remember: Protecting documents protects your recovery timeline and peace of mind.