Concerns That Might Surprise You After Fire Damages Your Maricopa Home

8/26/2018 (Permalink)

Fires can start in many places and damage can spread quickly throughout your home. Contact SERVPRO to put our experienced technicians to work for you.

Team SERVPRO Understands the Major Issues Affecting Your Home After a Fire

Common sense seems to dictate that the aftermath of a fire in your Maricopa home primarily presents as burned wood and other structural components followed by an abundance of soot. Although these issues are typical during fire restorations, they are far from the only problems posed by a residential fire. Hiring a full-service restoration company capable of addressing the whole spectrum of damages you might face is critical.

Before the restoration crew turns its focus to soot cleanup and restoration of charred building materials, the first Maricopa fire damage task needing completion for your home is water removal and structural drying. Firefighting can use hundreds or more gallons of water to knock down the flames that otherwise might consume the entirety of a residence. Water damage is as much if not more destructive than the harm caused by fire. Failure to remove standing water and the residual moisture within 24 to 48 hours risks mold damage and progressive deterioration of porous building materials.

The flooding caused by firefighting also creates slip and fall risks and the threat of electrical shock when SERVPRO’s crews are at work. Our management team assesses the danger before beginning the water remediation. Our fully-stocked service vehicles provide portable power generation for pumps and water extractors if the electricity is shut down for safety purposes.

As the water concerns recede, SERVPRO technicians begin investigating the extent of the fire damage. We use IICRC best practices when pairing fire damage cleanup challenges with the appropriate professional remediation products and tools. In addition to crafting a plan to clear away smoke and soot residues, we also evaluate the safety of retaining food found in cabinets, pantries, refrigerators, and freezers.

The heat of the fire can raise the temperature of canned and bottled goods, supporting the growth of hazardous organisms. Soot can be fine enough to work its way into jarred food by moving up the threads under the cap. Bulk and boxed foods are prone to soot, water, or firefighting chemicals tainting their contents. Even if food containers appear unblemished, SERVPRO experts often advise discarding the potentially contaminated food.   

If the power is even temporarily knocked out during the fire, food in refrigerators and freezers are potentially ruined for human consumption. Although the seal might seem tight, soot again often finds its way into these appliances. Consult with the SERVPRO crew to make the smart and safe decision between on retaining the frozen and chilled food or discarding it.

The fire damage suffered by your home and contents can be wide-ranging and impossible for a layperson to assess thoroughly. Contact SERVPRO of Casa Grande at (520) 421-1894 for reliable assistance to protect your home’s integrity and the health and safety of you and your family.

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