Fireproof bags, are they with it?
Posted by Fogomos@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 39 comments
I live far away from my family, and I was thinking that "natural" fires are more often than before. They live in the countryside and if they have to run, probably will forget the savings.
Would you recommend fire bags for cash and documents? Like most old school people they don't trust the banks, and although the security system is good, there's not too much to do against a big fire to prevent your house burning down. Any insight I should consider?
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BlackMaineHeart@reddit
Helpful to know - house fires burn at 1500-2000 f typically. Remember, that heat rises so your attic will become the hottest area of your home the fastest. That's part of why crawling out of a burning house is best (the other reason is also the smoke, obvi) - it's cooler down by the floor. So keep that in mind when selecting your hiding spot.
wtfredditacct@reddit
This is going to sound crazy, but bury it in the backyard. If you've got something like cash you're worried about, the odds of it surviving a wild fire like they just had in SoCal is slim to none, even in a good "fireproof" safe.
Really though, you could also use a floor safe in the house lined with a kiln blanket. Anyone who tells you an above ground safe or fireproof bag is only thinking of a small fire that gets put out early.
Soft-Ad-8821@reddit
As someone who lived through a couple big fires If one is in the area set up sprinklers and keep them on
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
Is really on the country side, water is s problem there so sprinklers are not an option
Soft-Ad-8821@reddit
Fire wrap then it looks like thich aluminum foil
theokayestbeard@reddit
I have a gun safe, and inside that I have a fireproof bag with important documents, and then inside that I have a small fireproof bag with my cash that I keep on hand in it. May be pointless but it makes me feel better.
Soft-Ad-8821@reddit
If you have a dirt crawl space burry it under your house
Melkor7410@reddit
Usually fire bags, safes, etc. are rated for up to a certain temperature for up to a certain amount of time. There's very little that's actually fire proof. The concept being, the fire department will come out and put the fire out within that time window and before the temperature rises above what it's rated for. This would not apply for wild fires in a lot of cases. It's a risk, riskier than banks. If someone learns they keep this amount of cash in the house, a fire bag won't protect from a B&E for them to steal it too.
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
I know, although it's not a big amount. I'm just trying to help with the current conditions and sitting solutions to what they will it will not accept
Actual_Hunt4963@reddit
Most cheap safes sold for "unbreakable" have more fire insulation than high grade steel so yes fire bags will help but a good safe does better at less cost than a "gun" safe.
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
Yes, I've never seen anyone with a safe in my country but someone should sell them
Eeyor-90@reddit
They can help keep everything together so it is easy to grab. They are fire resistant for a specific time and temperature (each has different ratings). They are water-tight. You might be able to increase the fire-survivalability by storing the fire bag in the freezer.
There are many inexpensive options available. Is it better than a folder in a filing cabinet?…Yes. Is it a fail-safe option that is guaranteed to keep your valuables safe?..No. I think they can be worth the small investment if only for the convenience of having everything easy to grab in a water-tight bag.
-rwsr-xr-x@reddit
Remember your thermal coefficient as well. Fireproof safes are not 'melt proof' for their contents. It's often the case that your paperwork is fine, but your backup DVDs, hard drives, precious jewelry, watches, credit cards, passport photos, etc.
redduif@reddit
You’d need media fireproof rating.
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
Yes, I've seeing that comment and also in some videos
humidsputh@reddit
Paper autoignites at temps between 450-500°F / 230-260C. I would wrap whatever was valuable in a carbon fiber welding blanket and put it in a fire envelope.
They used to do videos showing a torch melting a copper penny on top of a carbon blanket, with an unmelted ice cube underneath. I didn't believe it, until I replicated that myself...
redduif@reddit
I put carbon fiber blankets in a pelicase.
It has no fire rating but it’s protective somewhat, plus fire often means debris and water. Fire safes aren’t portable nor submersible, splashproof at best.
plsobeytrafficlights@reddit
i dont believe my giant fireproof safe is likely to protect anything paper inside for a real housefire. however, if they had a sunken box, like a safe in the ground, then they might eventually get their money back.
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
That's a really good idea.. hope so you protect it from the humidity on the ground?
stream_inspector@reddit
From what I've read - any of the "fireproof" items you can buy will only work if the fire is put out quickly. Any sustained house fire will ruin whatever is inside (guns, coins, documents, cash, etc). Better off burying it, probably...
Or use a safe deposit box.
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
Do you think a small basement could be useful in this case?
stream_inspector@reddit
I like that idea. You'd have to put some kind of reinforcement on part of the ceiling, so the wood/furniture from upstairs doesn't just colapse into that piece of basement and ruin your stash.
A slightly offset basement would be ideal.
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
I was thinking the same... Any basement would be a new construction because we don't have it... So maybe it's better to do a small space next/away from existing constructions
SlappyHandstrong@reddit
I know someone who’s safe deposit box was destroyed in the latest So Cal fire.
suzaii@reddit
Consider having a bag, inside a prepaid mailer envelope. Grab it in the event of an emergency, put it in your vehicle or bug out bag, and mail it when you can to someone you trust.
Thoth-long-bill@reddit
Put the storage in a location where the fire burn thru quickly. Not in the basement where the house collapses on top of it and smolders for hours keeping the temp up and for longer. A big lesson from ca.
StructuralGeek@reddit
It's not just the flames that are a threat to cash and documents - just sitting in a box immune from the fire but at high temperatures can result in anything from discoloration, charring, or even self-ignition. Firearms routinely have their heat treatments ruined and metal parts warped even if they visually survive a fire in a safe.
Ultimately, surviving a house fire isn't a thing. The only safe place for important stuff is away from the fire entirely.
ExtremeIncident5949@reddit
You might get more time if it’s inside another safe but I’m not sure it would hold indefinitely. I’ve got ours inside a bigger fire proof bag inside a safe but I don’t think it would hold through a wild fire like California. I would call a fire station. Mine says 7200 degrees.
Fit_Acanthisitta_475@reddit
Big fire safe with a small fire proof box maybe ok.
hoardac@reddit
Handy tip keep any lock boxes locked not just shut. Had a friend who had his life savings (six figures) in several fireproof boxes when his house burnt, they fell into the cellar and opened, most of his savings was burnt completely. He was close to 80 no way to start over at that point.
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
That's actually something important I haven't considered
longhairedcountryboy@reddit
The bag might help INSIDE a safe. I have a gun safe with a small firebox inside it.
Fogomos@reddit (OP)
I'll check the options, not sure what's available in their country
Beebjank@reddit
This is what I do for documents. Gun safes are rated for X temperature for Y hours. Most house fires can burn hotter than their ratings. Doubling up heat countermeasures like that of a firebox will give the most protection against valuables.
NewEnglandPrepper3@reddit
Absolutely for important documents.
texasveteran4@reddit
Def with it
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
In small ones often the documents are charred