Wildfires can expose a safe to extreme heat for hours or even days, creating conditions far beyond a typical house fire. After opening dozens of fire-damaged safes in the Spokane area, our NW Safe team saw firsthand what worked, what failed, and what owners can do to improve protection. From safe construction and placement to interior storage and fast recovery, these lessons can help give firearms, precious metals, documents, and other valuables a better chance of surviving a serious fire.
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Episode 67 Topics
00:27 – Extreme Wildfires Push Safes Beyond Normal Limits
04:12 – Add Another Layer of Protection Inside Your Safe
07:00 – Get Your Safe Off the Pallet
09:07 – Time Matters After the Fire
11:03 – Safe Construction Matters More Than the Brand Name
20:11 – Modern Fire Protection Has Come a Long Way
21:38 – Be Careful When Opening a Fire-Damaged Safe
24:12 – Think Carefully About Safe Placement
27:59 – Small Changes Can Improve Your Chances
30:30 – Helping Wildfire Victims Recover Their Valuables
Episode 67 Discussion Synopsis
00:27 – Extreme Wildfires Push Safes Beyond Normal Limits
After the devastating Spokane-area wildfires, we sent our master safe technician, Jeff Snope, to help owners recover their valuables. In about one week, he opened roughly 24 fire-damaged safes. Precious metals generally survived, but only two safes contained firearms that remained in good, usable condition.
That does not mean fire protection does not work. These fires created conditions far beyond a normal house fire. Based on melted aluminum and other metals, temperatures may have reached 1,700 to 1,900 degrees. Some safes also remained surrounded by extreme heat for days.
04:12 – Add Another Layer of Protection Inside Your Safe
One surprising lesson involved how firearms were stored. We normally warn against leaving guns in foam cases because they can trap moisture. However, several cases created an extra barrier against heat, smoke, and soot.
In one safe, 12 handguns stored in cases survived with little damage. Guns sitting uncovered on shelves suffered smoke, soot, and damaged grips. Even a firearm stored inside a cardboard box survived, although a plastic bag inside melted onto it.
For everyday storage, we prefer cotton gun socks treated to help control moisture. Avoid materials such as neoprene and polyester that may melt under extreme heat. The safe provides the first layer of protection, but properly chosen storage inside can provide another.
Sack-Ups are Silicone treated to prevent rust and to wick moisture away from your firearm. They provide protection for your firearm in the field or in storage and prevent dings and scratches. Keeps your firearm looking as new as it did the day that you bought it.
07:00 – Get Your Safe Off the Pallet
Where a safe sits can also affect its performance. One safe was left elevated on a steel pallet. Burning debris collected underneath it, causing serious heat damage near the bottom. Another safe at the same location sat directly on the ground and performed better, despite having a lower fire rating.
Whenever possible, we recommend removing a safe from its shipping pallet, leveling it, and bolting it to the floor. Keeping it close to concrete can help prevent burning debris from collecting underneath. Bolting also provides added protection against theft.
09:07 – Time Matters After the Fire
A safe can continue absorbing heat long after the flames are gone. The longer it remains buried in hot debris, the greater the risk to everything inside.
Once it is safe and authorities allow access, getting the safe opened quickly can make a major difference. Fire insulation can release moisture inside the safe. Smoke, chemicals, and other materials may also settle on firearms and valuables.
Even when a safe performs well, corrosion can begin quickly. Firearms should be removed, cleaned, wiped down, and oiled as soon as possible.
11:03 – Safe Construction Matters More Than the Brand Name
We often hear people ask which safe brand survived a fire. The better question is how that particular safe was built. Manufacturers may offer several product lines with very different levels of steel, insulation, welding, and overall construction.
Continuous welds are especially important during extreme fires. With spot or stitch welds, gaps between welds can open as steel heats and expands. That can allow intense heat into the safe. Heavier steel, strong welds, and substantial fire insulation create a stronger box that is less likely to warp or separate.
The value of what you protect should help determine the level of safe you buy. Entry-level protection may make sense for modest valuables. When protecting firearms, collectibles, precious metals, or items worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, stronger construction becomes much more important.
20:11 – Modern Fire Protection Has Come a Long Way
Safe fire protection has changed greatly over the past 30 years. We have seen manufacturers add more insulation and improve how their safes handle heat. A high-end safe from the mid-1990s was difficult for our technician to open, but its contents were still mostly destroyed. A newer version of that same safe could have two to three times more fire insulation.
This is an important reminder for owners of older safes. A safe may still provide excellent burglary protection, but its fire protection may not match what newer models offer.
Fire-resistant safes offer peace of mind by safeguarding essentials against raging temperatures and delayed response times.
21:38 – Be Careful When Opening a Fire-Damaged Safe
How a safe is opened after a fire can determine whether its contents survive. Cutting through the side with tools that create sparks can ignite carpet, paper, and other materials inside.
We saw one safe that appeared to survive the original fire. However, sparks from cutting into the body likely started a second fire inside, destroying paper items that had survived.
Large pry bars can also create problems. In one case, several people bent the safe's boltwork while trying to force it open. That made our technician's job much harder. Professional safe technicians know where and how to enter while reducing the risk of sparks and damage to the contents.
24:12 – Think Carefully About Safe Placement
Convenience still matters when choosing where to install a safe, but fire risks should also be considered. Safes near gasoline, vehicles, chemicals, batteries, propane, or furnaces may face more intense heat during a fire.
Basements can create another challenge. When a home burns, debris may fall into the basement and surround the safe with hot material.
Once authorities determine that an area is safe to enter, cooling the debris around the safe may help. Water can be directed around the body, back, and sides to reduce the heat. The goal is to cool the area and have the safe professionally opened as soon as possible.
27:59 – Small Changes Can Improve Your Chances
There are simple ways to improve protection inside an existing safe. Heat-sensitive valuables should generally be stored lower in the safe and farther away from the door. The upper area near the door can be one of the toughest places for contents during a serious fire.
Adding another protective layer can also help. Gun socks, cases, smaller fire-resistant containers, and other forms of interior storage may provide an extra barrier against heat, smoke, and soot.
The area around the safe can provide another layer of protection. When planning a dedicated safe nook, additional fire-resistant materials around the safe may help shield it from heat.
Even small layers of fire protection can mean the difference between total loss and salvaged security.
30:30 – Helping Wildfire Victims Recover Their Valuables
One of the strongest images from these fires was seeing safes standing after nearly everything else around them had disappeared. Homes, furniture, and even large objects were reduced to debris, while many safe bodies remained standing.
Our biggest takeaway is that there is no single feature that guarantees survival. Start with a well-built safe, choose its location carefully, organize sensitive valuables wisely, and add extra layers of protection when possible.
NW Safe is continuing to help people affected by these fires. Our team wants owners to provide photos and information before technicians arrive whenever possible. This allows us to identify the safe, plan the safest opening method, and recover the contents as quickly as possible.