Preventing Electrical Fires

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

The most common cause of a fire either at a residential home or a business is electrical. Electrical fires happen all of the time and out of all of the fires we have received in the last two years only one was not caused by electrical. One of the most common causes of electrical fires is either having too many things plugged into an outlet or not having an extension cord that has a breaker on it or can handle all of the wattage plugged into it. Ways to prevent electrical fires is to distribute your wattage in each room across different outlets if possible. Another thing to help is if you have to use an extension cord, use one that has a trigger system to power down the cord before the surge reaches the outlet.

First 48 Hours Post Fire

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

The first 48 hours after a fire can make the difference between restoring versus replacing your property and personal belongings. SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties professionals can help prevent fire damage from creating long-term problems. We provide timely response with mitigation services raning from fire, smoke and soot removal to contents claims inventory and document restoration. These services help ensure your property, belongings and memories are restored to preloss condition when possible. SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties are available any day and time and will always make the best effort in saving your belongings and memories.

Emotions of Fire Loss

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

No one expect to have a fire loss and no one really knows how to react after one. After a fire, customers have a backdraft of emotion sweep over them. Fear, uncertainty, stress and doubt about the future of the property can overwhelm the homeowner long after the flames have been extinguished. After the fire department leaves, call SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties to help restore your home and belongings. Our goal is to not only restore the home and belongings but restore the customers peace of mind as well. Do not attempt to clean anything on your own, you could further damage it or make it unsavable by doing so.

What Not To Do After a Fire

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire is put out and the fire department leaves, the homeowners first thought is more times than not is to go in and see the amount of damage as well as start moving things. Do not do those things. Contact SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties after the fire department leaves and let us do the rest. Here are more things to not do after a fire loss.

Dont:

1. Attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces.

2. Attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture.

3. Attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TB sets, radios, etc).

4. Consume any food or beverages that may have been stored sloe to fire, heat or water due to possible contamination.

5. Turn on any light fixtures or switches that was close to the loss or near water.

Waiting for Help to Arrive

7/1/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire the first instinct for most people would to first make sure everyone that was in the home is okay. The next thing would be to begin going through belongings and seeing how bad the damage is, but you should NOT do that. Here are some things that you should do before help arrives that will be helpful and not harmful. 

1. You should limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from spreading.

2. Coat chrome faucets, trim and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil.

3. Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet to protect your furniture if it is not charred or has soot on it.

4. Do not clean anything or attempt to wipe anything off until professionals arrive and give the okay.

Restoring vs Replacing

4/18/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire is put out and is safe to enter, the first thing you should do is go in and determine what is worth trying to save. It is crucial that you contact SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties as soon as possible for the best change at being able to save belongings such as clothes, furniture or anything like that. The first 48 hours after a fire can make the difference between being able to restore something and having to deem it as trash and having to replace it. Once you contact us, we will be there within an hour or two and can begin inventorying all belongings and start the restoration process.

First Things To Do

4/18/2022 (Permalink)

Fires are very stressful and can make home owners feel like they do not know what to do next. Before entering the home, make sure it is safe to go in by the fire department. Here are some things that you can do before SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties arrives.

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from spreading and additional damage from occurring.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs and high traffic areas and upholstery.
• Coat chrome faucets, trim and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.
• DO NOT wash any walls or painted surfaces
• DO NOT shampoo carpet or upholstery
• DO NOT clean any electrical equipment 
• DO NOT send clothing to a dry cleaner since improper cleaning may set smoke odor and make it not able to come out.

Those are just some helpful tips that you could go by if you are at a loss for what to do next. SERVPRO will be there within an hour of two of the initial call to begin work.

Large Facility Losses

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

Fires are every business or homeowners worst nightmare. They can happen in an instant and everything inside the structure could be gone just like that. Large facility fires can be catastrophic to both the employees and the account that has product inside. SERVPRO may not be able to replace what was loss, but what we can do is give the owner and employees peace of mind that we will do everything in our power to get them back inside as quickly and safely as possible. We will work diligently with the facility owner, owner of the products inside the facility and the insurance company to be sure to get everything covered and back up and running.

Portable Heaters

3/8/2022 (Permalink)

One of the most commons causes of fires in the winter time comes from portable heaters. It can be from being left on over night unattended or  just being overused. Although it is nice to walk into a room nice and warm, you should not leave a heater on while you are not present just in case there is some sort of malfunction and something goes wrong. Some tips for portable heaters would be to plug them into certain outlets that have breakers attached or plug them into a durable extension cord that also has an on/off switch or breakers. Also do not plug the heater into an outlet or extension cord that is cluttered with other things plugged in. 

Candle Wax Fires

2/28/2022 (Permalink)

Candles are a hot commodity year round but even more popular in the winter time. Although candles are nice to have around the house for fragrance and look, they can also be very dangerous and could cause a lot of damage if not taken care of properly. Something people may not know is water and wax do not mix and can cause a much larger flame. If wax inside the candle were to catch on fire, do not panic and throw water on it, put the lid of the candle back on it and the fire will eventually be out out due to not having oxygen. 

Process of a Fire Loss

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

A housefire is a homeowners worst nightmare and when they do happen, the process of getting your home back to where it was could take a while depending on the amount of damage. After the fire department leaves, SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties will go in and scope out the work that will be needed done. Fire departments can add on to the damage with the amount of water they have to use to put out the fire. Typically after a fire, we have to take out drywall and ceilings to get the wet insulation. We also take out all contents that the customer wants restored and put them in our ozone after wiping them down to get the soot and fire smell out. After demoing the home, we then put drywall back up, put carpet or hardwood down and begin painting. This process could take anywhere from 4 months to a year depending on permits needed and damage that was done. During this process, SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties will answer any questions that you may have and keep you informed on everything going on.

What's Next After FIre Deparment Leaves

8/13/2021 (Permalink)

One of the most commonly asked questions to us regarding fires is "What should we do when the fire department leaves before you guys get here"? The answer to that is nothing. Do not do anything in-between the time of the fire department leaves and we get there. If you attempt to clean anything whether it be knocking debris off furniture or attempting to get the soot off of clothes, furniture, electronics, it could do more damage. Without the proper equipment, soot can and will stay on anything it touches and that fire smell will stick with it. The only thing we would recommend doing is contacting your insurance to get that process going, other than that wait for SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties to arrive. We can and will answer any questions you might have.

How to Prevent Fire

8/10/2021 (Permalink)

When becoming a home or business owner, the biggest fear you have is the home or business catching on fire. Fires cause a lot of damage and usually you lose things that you cannot get back like pictures, kids artwork or anything like that. To help prevent fires, here are some things you can do to decrease the chance. 

1. Always be near an open flame in the house

2. Blow candles out before leaving or going to bed

3. Check to make sure oven is off and stove top is off as well before going to bed.

4. Do not have any heavy appliances like an AC unit plugged into a crowded outlet or extension cord.

What To Do Until Help Arrives

8/5/2021 (Permalink)

When something happens to someone's property, their first thought is that they need to get as much done as possible so either their bill will not be as high or because they are in shock with what had occurred and they want to know what is all damaged. SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties has some do's and dont's when it comes to fires and here are a few.

Do:

1. Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded.

2. If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and keep doors open to prevent odor.

3.Tape cloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system

Don't:

1. Attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting a SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties professional.

2. Attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV, Radios, Computers, etc) that may have been damaged.

3. Send clothing to a dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor that you are trying to eliminate.

Frequently Asked Questions

7/27/2021 (Permalink)

No one ever imagines anything bad happening to their home especially it catching on fire. Whenever we have a fire job, we are typically asked the same questions whether it be how long the owners will be out of a home or what will be covered and not covered. Those two are just examples of frequently asked questions. Answering those two examples can be tricky at times and every situation is different, but typically if a home catches on fire, the minimum amount of time that it could take to get the owners back in would be around four to five months. It can also take way longer than that depending on the severity. When it comes to coverage, if smoke or soot was anywhere near clothes, furniture, appliances or anything else, typically insurance companies will cover to replace or repair the damaged articles.

What To Do Before We Arive

3/11/2021 (Permalink)

In the case of any emergency, the main thing to focus on is to get yourself and your family to safety. A fire for example can leave you only minutes to get out before it traps you. The flames and smoke buildup can be fatal, so getting out of the business or home as quick as possible is crucial. After the fire is put out, and first responders have left, that is when SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties come in. Here are some do's and don'ts before we arrive.

Do:

1. Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being stuck in the carpet or upholstery.
2. If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator to make sure things do not go bad.
3. If it is winter time and the heat is now off, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks and tubs to avoid freezing pipes.
4. Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop harmful particles from getting in your HVAC system.

Don't:

1. Attempt to wash any walls, surface, carpets, furniture or anything else without contact SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties first.
2. Consume any food or beverage that may have been stored close to the fire. The food and beverage could be contaminated.
3. Turn on anything electrical whether it be ceiling fans, lights, or anything else that may cause a spark.
4. Send clothes to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning of clothes could cause the smoke odor to stick.

These helpful tips should help ease your mind of what to do or not to do before the professionals arrive. SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counties will be there as quick as possible to begin the process of getting your home or business taken care of. SERVPRO will also include you in anything they do to make sure you are always aware of what we are doing and where we are at in the process.

Fire Aftermath

3/4/2021 (Permalink)

One of the biggest fears for a homeowner is their house catching on fire. Fires can be caused by the smallest things such as a tiny spark from an electrical outlet or a small candle that was not blown out. Once the fire is put out, that is when SERVPRO comes in and determines the amount of damage to send the estimate to the adjuster. In some cases the adjuster will be at the home or business with us going over everything.

After SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton Counites does the initial inspection of everything and gets the okay from the adjuster if it is going through insurance, they will begin demoing everything that was affected by the fire. Fires are a tough time for a family or business owner, so we are there for them as well and will answer any questions they may have throughout the process.

We also do rebuilds after we get everything demolished if the customer wants us to do so. We will do whatever they are looking for and will do all the rebuild and installation of appliances. If you have a fire or any other emergency, do not hesitate to give SERVPRO of Boone & Clinton a call.

Preventing Office Fires

7/29/2020 (Permalink)

Threats to your business can come in all sorts of forms, which is something that business owners know all too well. However, have you thought about the threats that a fire could pose? While often underestimated, fires can cause extreme amounts of damage and can even prevent reopening in some cases—but being prepared can go a long way toward ensuring this does not happen.

When you increase your workplace fire safety, you are protecting your business and the people who show up to work for you every day. By training everyone on fire safety practices such as evacuations and making sure your business stays up to code, you can prevent a lot of headaches later on.

Fire Safety Tips for Business Owners

Follow code guidelines and inspection schedules. Knowing the fire safety codes that apply to your business is the smartest first step toward fire safety. Efforts such as regular equipment inspections and fire exit maintenance can do wonders for the overall safety of your building.

Identify your specific risks. The risk of fire can vary greatly depending on the industry of your business and even based on geographic location, so being aware of these discrepancies and planning for them is key. Take extra precautions where necessary regarding equipment, chemicals and any other fire risks you may face.

Create (and practice) a fire evacuation plan. It is much easier to keep employees safe if they are prepared ahead of time on the fire evacuation protocol. Hosting regular drills will let everyone know exactly what to expect in the event of a real fire scenario, so they can make a safe and swift escape from the building.

Have regular fire safety seminars with staff. Also making time for fire safety discussions with staff will help alleviate any other fire risks that have been missed in the previous steps. Things like noting the location of fire extinguishers and going over safety with breakroom cooking equipment can go a long way in preventing a fire from happening at all.

Contaminants

7/28/2020 (Permalink)

Mitigation companies such as SERVPRO of San Diego East often put containments to control the air quality when mold is present. Other times it is built to contain dust from demolition so it doesn’t enter the rest of the home or property. 

Production technicians build the containments, they measure the air or drywall to ensure the space of is accurate for testing. You are allowed to enter the containments, but we highly suggest no one aside from the specialist enter as they wear suits to avoid health issues.

Containments are made from thick plastic, professional tape, and zippers. The material used is very sturdy and is CDC approved - so you don’t have to worry about substances going into the main area. 

SERVPRO of Boone and Clinton Counties is a company with expertise in water damage and fire damage. If you are looking for an emergency restoration company in San Diego make sure to call (619) 280-2398 we are open 24 hours 7 days a week. We handle all types of emergencies such as: flood damage and restoration, water extraction, rain storms, groundwater, and fire damage repairs.

Fire Damage In Boone and Clinton Counties

7/28/2020 (Permalink)

Most Boone and Clinton County home fire damage does not cause major structural damage, but there is always some physical damage from heat and flames. Most homeowners have to deal with the common, secondary issue created by the local fire department when they extinguish the fire.
 
The goal of SERVPRO is not just to remediate fire damage in Boone and Clinton Counties, but also to reduce and hopefully prevent any secondary damage while cleaning up from the original disaster. Our response teams perform both sets of tasks concurrently to ensure we can return each home in its pre-fire condition to every owner as quickly as possible.
 
Our teams begin by removing structural and personal property to reduce the odors in the home and prevent further contamination from smoke and soot residues. This action includes any scorched items or anything heavily covered in soot and smoke residues. They dispose of all burned items and remove the rest to our offices where specialists use commercial-grade cleaning agents and sound wave generating immersion tanks to remove the extra thick layers of residues.
 
For items covered in only light-to-medium layers of residues, our technicians remove them to an unaffected area of the home and clean them in place. They can usually accomplish this using dry or wet sponges, and one of the milder cleaning agents in our inventory.
 
As the cleaning continues, a SERVPRO inspector examines the entry points, walls, and even the roof for damage. For broken windows and doors, team members cover them temporarily with plywood. Depending on the level of damage to the roof or walls, our specialists cover them with plywood or use tarps. Team members accomplish this to not only protect against inclement weather, but to also protect the interior of the home from the rodents, animals, and other pests native to Indiana.
 
After cleaning the home, our team then deodorizes it. Odors can linger for weeks and months after all other damage has been removed or remediated. Technicians can usually eliminate odors with a combination of deodorizing sprays, but if the odors deeply penetrated the wood framing, they use an ozone machine to generate a gas that penetrates to the same level as the original odor and eliminates it.
 
Stopping and preventing further fire damage is not a short task, but SERVPRO of Boone and Clinton Counties is here with you at every step of the process. If you have any lingering odors or other problems after a recent fire, call us at (765) 659-9600 to begin returning your home to its pre-fire condition and your family back to its normal state as well.

Fire Damage in Boone and Clinton Counties

7/10/2020 (Permalink)

It’s always devastating when a family experiences a house fire, but SERVPRO of Boone and Clinton County will always work hard to recover the structure and contents. Our goal is to remove the soot and even the smell of the smoke from the home, so that the a family returned to a safe, clean space. Our goal is always to make your home “Like it never even happened.” 

What To Expect: 

When we visit your home after a fire loss, we will scope the effected areas to determine the extent of the loss. We will always pretest affected surfaces to determine the type of smoke and which products will help us recover the area most effectively. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. If a fire has damaged your home, call us right away at (765) 659-9600. SERVPRO of Boone and Clinton Counties will treat you and your family with empathy and respect, and your property with care.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Boone and Clinton Counties will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (765) 659-9600