Can I donate books that survived a house fire in Albuquerque?

House fire recovery is an NMLP scenario the operation handles directly. Most thrift channels reject anything from a fire-damaged home; NMLP doesn't.

What NMLP accepts from fire-damaged houses:

• Smoke-saturated books — even if they smell strongly. NMLP brings appropriate equipment and bagging materials.
• Soot-damaged covers and pages — accepted; salvageable copies clean up over time.
• Water-damaged from fire suppression — these need to be addressed quickly (within days) for any chance of salvage. NMLP can route through the regional commercial pulper if too damaged.
• Partially-burned books — accepted for recycling routing; some collector items can survive partial damage.
• Books from fire-adjacent rooms (smoke spread but not direct flame) — typically more salvageable than people expect.

Practical guidance: bag fire-damaged stacks separately if possible (heavy contractor bags, labeled "fire" or "smoke") so the warehouse can route them with appropriate care. Don't try to clean the books yourself — improper drying can make smoke smell worse. NMLP's three-track sort handles each book individually.

Free pickup, including from temporary housing or storage units where fire-damaged belongings end up. Call 702-496-4214. Mention "fire damage" so the schedule and equipment are ready.