SERVPRO's October Focus: Elevating Fire Safety Awareness and Preparedness

10/11/2023 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO, we understand that fire safety is a year-round concern, but dedicating October to this critical cause allows us to amplify our message and inspire a heightened sense of urgency. Fires can strike unexpectedly, and their consequences can be devastating. Our goal for this month is to empower you with knowledge, equip you with preventive strategies, and ensure that you and your home are prepared to face the unexpected.

Fire Prevention Tips for Common Causes of Home Fire Damage

What to expect from our SERVPRO professional fire damage restoration process across Long Island 

Every year, there are between 350,000 and 400,000 home fires in the U.S. (according to the National Fire Protection Association). Any building is at risk of catching fire for a variety of reasons, knowing the most common reasons for residential fire damage can be important to fire prevention. SERVPRO of Medford has been providing property disaster cleanup and restoration service to fire damage victims for nearly 30 years, our IICRC certified fire damage restoration specialists arrive ready to rescue and recover your home and property following a fire, “Like it never even happened.”

OUR SWIFT RESPONSE:

Fires can strike suddenly, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. In a recent fire emergency, our SERVPRO team displayed unmatched agility, containing the afflicted areas with remarkable speed, preventing the perilous spread of hazardous soot, smoke, and toxins. We've earned our reputation as trusted leaders in the restoration industry, armed with the latest training and cutting-edge equipment, so you can rest assured that your property is in the capable hands of dedicated and competent restoration professionals.

SERVPRO of Medford responds quickly to your fire damage emergency with skilled technicians to your home, our team’s primary goal is to mitigate additional damages with preventative procedures and neutralize and recover sustained damages using expert skill, experience, and equipment.

SIMULTANEOUS RECOVERY OPERATIONS:

Fire restoration is a multi-faceted endeavor, with several recovery operations unfolding in tandem. While some of our crew members focus on water extraction and demolition, others are meticulously inventorying and packing up items, relocating them to prevent further damage from exposure to contaminated areas. Smoke and soot, minuscule but relentless, infiltrate building materials, furniture, and porous possessions. Our industrial-strength air scrubbers and vacuums, featuring HEPA filters, come to the rescue, capturing soot, purifying the air, and neutralizing odors. In addition to fire damage, we provide restoration and rebuilding services for water and mold damage, facilitated by our highly qualified construction team. This not only ensures a smooth and hassle-free recovery process but can also minimize costs and shorten the timeline for completion.

KEY STEPS TO FIRE RESTORATION:

Isolate Fire-Damaged Areas:
Commencing with containment, we restrict odors and debris from permeating the air throughout your home, containing the damage at the source of the fire and the affected sections of your residence.

Water Damage Remediation:
The fire suppression process entails a substantial volume of water, which can be as destructive to your home as the fire itself. Our SERVPRO professionals prioritize water extraction to minimize this secondary damage.

Pack-Out for Contents:
An integral facet of effective fire damage mitigation is the relocation of your furnishings and personal possessions to safeguard them from sustained exposure to contaminated air and debris. Our innovative contents claim inventory service generates a digital record of affected property, streamlining interactions with your insurance provider. Our specialized contents technicians evaluate the items earmarked for relocation, devising and implementing efficient strategies for cleaning, drying, deodorizing, and disinfecting.

Customized Soot Removal:
Smoke and soot infiltrate virtually every nook and cranny of your residential property, extending far beyond the fire's point of origin. The residues from the fire travel through the air, coating surfaces with insidious soot particles. Our experts assess the soot to ascertain the specific type of smoke damage incurred, thereby tailoring our cleaning procedures accordingly. Swift action is paramount to curtail the damage since soot must be eradicated before it begins etching, distorting, discoloring, and disintegrating wood, carpeting, fabric, drywall, plastic, metal, and glass.

COMMON CAUSES OF RESIDENTIAL FIRE PROPERTY DAMAGE DISASTERS:

• Cooking:
  An alarming majority of house fires stem from cooking-related incidents, particularly when individuals leave a hot oven or stove unattended. Fire prevention strategies include vigilance, the use of timers, and the removal of flammable objects and materials from cooking areas and surfaces.
• Heating:
  Space heaters, both portable and stationary, account for 32% of these fires, many of which result from homeowners neglecting to clean heating equipment or chimneys. Fire prevention measures encompass annual cleaning and inspection of heating equipment to ensure proper functioning. Additionally, when using space heaters, position them away from combustible objects and turn them off when leaving home.
• Electrical Systems:
  Lighting sources are the culprits in most electrical fires, causing over $1 billion in property losses annually. Proper fire prevention necessitates the engagement of qualified electricians for all electrical projects. Furthermore, many fires arise from improper installations by homeowners. To prevent such disasters, replace frayed or damaged cords, avoid overloading outlets, and use bulbs of the correct wattage for lamps.
• Candles:
  Candles contribute to 5% of home fire fatalities, with an average of 35 home fires caused by candles reported daily in the United States. Preventing such incidents requires a simple yet crucial rule: never leave burning candles unattended and extinguish them before retiring for the night.

Fires cause massive amounts of damage to a residential property; the flames, soot and smoke can destroy structural materials, interior and exterior items, and personal processions. The aftermath of a fire brings a massive amount of water damage, toxic chemicals, harmful soot pollution and unhealthy smoke levels. First responders often extinguish the flames quickly, but soot and smoke move even more rapidly, spreading damage throughout the entire property. Even a minor fire can bring significant smoke and soot damage throughout your home. We can provide property damage restoration service near you, SERVPRO is here to help with highly trained IICRC certified fire damage restoration experts and advanced technology and equipment to restore your home and possessions and provide knowledge and experience when you need it most.