Housefires and other calamitous events can result in untold damage to personal property—including assets of enormous financial value as well as those with outsized sentimental worth. For one Massachusetts couple, a housefire resulted not just in structural damage but in a cherished collection of ceramic figurines becoming compromised by soot and smoke. Though the collection initially seemed irredeemable, it was salvaged and given second life when the couple enlisted the services of 1-800-Packouts of Southeast Massachusetts.

The incident involved a couple from the Wareham area, whose house unexpectedly caught fire one night. For more than 40 years, the couple had amassed a huge collection of delicate ceramic figures, including a full ceramic Christmas village — each item in their set a cherished gift from a child, grandchild or close friend. These priceless treasures—and the memories attached to them—were initially thought to be lost to fire and smoke.

“These items weren't just holiday decorations, they were symbols of love and time spent through the years,” said Angie Celia, who co-owns the franchise with her husband, Joe. “When we received the ceramic figures, they smelled of smoke and were discolored by soot. We knew our mission wasn’t just to clean the items, but to preserve the memories attached to them.”

After removing the items to an external facility — preventing further infusion of smoke and soot — the 1-800-Packouts team began the process of inventorying the items, cleaning them and deodorizing them — ultimately taking items thought to be permanently ruined and restoring them to like-new condition.

“Memories matter, and following a fire or other catastrophe, that’s often what people most want to salvage and restore,” Joe Celia said. “We are grateful to play a part in that, and to be a source of comfort for homeowners experiencing crises.” 

To learn more about 1-800-Packouts, visit https://www.1800packouts.com/sema.  

About 1-800-Packouts

1-800-Packouts, the leader in property contents restoration, delivers expert inventory management, packing, cleaning, and climate-controlled storage services for homes and businesses during stressful times. Trusted by property owners and the largest insurance carriers to secure and protect valuable possessions when disasters happen, 1-800-Packouts is expanding rapidly to meet the growing demand for contents restoration services across North America. For more information, visit https://www.1800packouts.com.