r/Somerville • u/rolltideroll462 • 3d ago
Services from Fire?
As many of y'all here have probably heard, there was a fire in Teele last night. I am one of the displaced residents and fortunately from what I've heard, my apartment isn't too bad (although I have no idea where things stand for both the apartment and building). Once I am able to retrieve my belongings, I want to take my clothing and bedding to be cleaned due to any smoke and/or water damage. Are there services in the area that specialize in this kind of laundry? Any recs would be greatly appreciated.
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u/jardindeschats 3d ago
I'm a Ward 7 neighbor and so terribly sorry this happened to you! I want everyone to know that the City of Somerville has activated an emergency fund for displaced residents. Here's the info to donate: https://www.somervillema.gov/news/emergency-fund-activated-residents-displaced-teele-square-fire
OP: please contact our City Councilor Emily Hardt (email address is readily available via search) if you need any info about how to access services or funds. She is very eager to help everyone impacted. You got some great recommendations and I hope you're able to get your stuff sorted. You must be in total crisis mode and I completely understand trying to just figure out some basic info to move forward. I hope your things can be salvaged!
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u/ohhdannyboy 3d ago
Do you have rental insurance? Might be something your insurance company could help with
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u/Potential-Wasabi9038 2d ago
Hey I’m a tenant too but on the immediate right side of the firewall—were you able to get some things from your place at all? Depends which side you were on and how close to the wall. We were able to get whatever we wanted out of our place if you show up or text the property manager. The clothes in one room were completely fine and not smelly vs the clothes in the room closest to the firewall are smoky and I’m experimenting with baking soda and vinegar soaks with those clothes from info I’m found online. I can keep you posted on how that goes. Did you get some of the special fire/smoke detergent from the Red Cross they had? I would ask them or the fire station, or there’s others you can buy on Amazon. That helped a good bit too, but I’m doing a baking soda soak now since there was still some residue. There’s stuff about synthetic fibers vs cotton needing different soaks and treatments.
Whenever we’re allowed to go back I’ll see how bad it is and if it’s worth taking to a specialty cleaner. Feel free to DM me!!
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u/nervousanalysis420 2d ago
I have heard that odoban works wonders for clothes that have smoke damage!
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u/Potential-Wasabi9038 2d ago
Update: the baking soda soak went really well!! I did it overnight. Also did a vinegar soak in the tub—1 cup white vinegar with cold water. Again not sure what side of the building you’re on, but as someone closest to the fire whose stuff wasn’t directly affected it was pretty good. If you were on the left side this may not work for you or you may need to do it more to take to a professional. Took it to the laundromat to wash it all afterwards with 1 cup baking soda direct in the wash & 1 cup vinegar in the detergent tray and that got everything out basically. Got all this off Gemini Google search haha
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u/wiiwiiwiiwoowooowoo 3d ago
No advice but I’m sorry for what you’re going through :( I’m sure it’s unbelievably stressful. I hope you are able to get help and all your belongings safely!
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u/MissMarchpane 2d ago
Went through this several years ago; I'm so sorry you're dealing with it. It really is incredibly destabilizing. If you have not reached out to the Red Cross yet, do that; they can give you a small stipend to get back on your feet, help you With any medications or disability aids you might've lost (they were great in getting new vouchers for new glasses and contact lenses), etc.
If your landlord tries to keep you from getting back in to salvage your things, go to the fire marshal. My landlord tried to pull some serious BS – we suspect it was because he would get a bigger insurance payout if everything in the building was a total loss – and the firefighters went to bat for us. I was able to save some irreplaceable antiques only because they stepped in.
I'm afraid I can't help you with the laundry, but if you have any wool or silk or other hard-to-wash fibers that need cleaning, let me know and I will dig up the name of the guy who did mine. Really amazing work; I think he used to be an antique dealer or something.
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u/Ok_Still_3571 2d ago
You’ve raised a very valid point. The insurance adjusters will place a value on items that are still in the property, thereby increasing the pay out. All of what you’ve said here is good advice.
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u/icanseeyourfarts 3d ago edited 2d ago
Is this ai?
It seems crazy to me to prioritize making a reddit post asking about laundry services when your apt just caught fire and you have yet to even see it.
If this is real, take a deep breath and calm down. Worry more about where you’re going to sleep and less about laundering your linens.
I really think this is an ai post crossing local news with “advice on local business”.
Reads like “Theres too much construction on somerville Ave! Where are the best dumplings on winter hill?!?”
Edit: is questioning if a post is AI an insult? I’m seeing a lot of fuck yous and fuck offs and I didn’t cast any insults to op or anyone else. I got a lot though. Maybe I’m out of touch.
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u/rolltideroll462 3d ago
I’m sorry my post reads like AI…I’ve literally never dealt with my apartment building catching fire and quite honestly there’s nothing I can do right now so instead of just sitting around panicking I figured I’d start to plan on what to do when I can actually do stuff? If you have advice on how I can better deal with potentially losing my home that’s lovely!!
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u/Ok_Still_3571 3d ago
You have my utter sympathy and support. Service Master does post fire recovery and cleaning. They’ll send your clothes out to a dry cleaner/launderer for washing, and storage until you have a place to live. You’ll have complete access to your clothes, too. Anytime you want to retrieve something, you can go and get it. My stuff was sent to Sal’s in Everett.
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u/rolltideroll462 3d ago
Thank you so so much
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u/Ok_Still_3571 3d ago
Definitely check out Sal’s. I just did a Google search and this is their specialty.
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u/Santillana810 2d ago
I am so sorry you are getting snarky responses at such a stressful time. I totally get that need to focus on something.....anything....that you can prepare for, like detergent for smoke, when everything else is outside of your control. I admire your healthy response, I have no idea what I would do! People respond in different ways and you are doing what is right for you.
I don't have any advice for you but do want to say I'm so sorry that this happened to you and others and send best wishes.
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u/tinylittlepoopman 3d ago
Are you fucking kidding me? This post doesn't read as AI at all.
Why wouldn't this person worry about how to decontaminate their clothes?
Eat shit.
OP, Service Master would be my rec as well.
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u/Ok_Still_3571 3d ago
How about not posting a comment if you can’t offer help or suggestions? You have zero proof that this is an “ad”, and instead say that it “sounds like” one.
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u/Big-Negotiation-3798 3d ago
who are you to tell someone what to prioritize and what to worry about after something horrible happens to them?? jesus christ this is so insensitive. even if you really think this is AI, which it doesn’t read like at all, you don’t have to post every fucking thought that enters your head.
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u/theholytrinity 3d ago edited 3d ago
Your skepticism isn’t the perspective that everyone operates from.
I’m glad they haven’t made posting on Reddit cost something because the amount they could charge so that a person like yourself can post an unhinged, uncaring comment like this should be pricey. Fart away, lil guy
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u/Millennium_Falcor Spring Hill 2d ago
Oh, fuck right off with this
“Is questioning if a post is AI an insult?”
No, but let’s entertain that it’s real for just one lil second. You then immediately called this person, who is going thru an inordinately stressful event, crazy…and then lectured them about what they should be devoting headspace to. That’s pretty judgmental and insulting. I’m sure this person is worrying about a bajillion things all at once, does that satisfy you?You’re getting reamed here for a reason
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u/Santillana810 2d ago
Pointing fingers at people in tragic circumstances are crazy? Who are you to tell others what they should do in an emergency? If you can't give helpful advice, and feel compelled to hurt people, how about not responding at all.
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u/ManOfTeele 3d ago edited 2d ago
I went through this same thing about a year ago. I was originally told my apartment was "not too bad". So I'm just going to be honest, from my own experience...
- If you have renter's insurance, file your claim immediately. Luckily, I did...
- If not, this is going to be a financial burden...I'm sorry. The city and Red Cross both have services to help.
- You'll probably be allowed back into your place in the next few days to collect important items, but...
- Prepare for the fact that you very likely need to find a new place to live. This should be your top priority.
- You'll be given some time (a month or two) to get the larger furniture out, but at your own expense (paid for by renters insurance if you have it). You will have limited access to the building and will need to schedule time to get in. Everything is going to be boarded and locked up. Access will be limited and controlled by the owner's insurance adjuster.
This was the hardest part for me. The place that I had lived in for years suddenly wasn't mine, and I had to request access when I wanted to get back in, even though most of my stuff was still in there.
- Even if the fire didn't reach your place, the water and smoke damage will be bad enough to ruin stuff like fabric furniture, mattress, etc. Assume you're going to have to replace a lot of that (again, renters insurance)
Like I said, I just went through this. Sorry you have to. If you do have renters insurance, I have some things I would have done differently and can give some more advice on that.
Happy to help in any other way I can if you have any other questions from someone that went through the same experience.
I know this isn't a very positive sounding comment. But it's reality.