After The Fire
Fire prevention week is officially over, but the dangers of fire to buildings increase as winter sets in.
Heating systems, fireplaces, wood stoves and Christmas tree decorations all heighten the possibilites of fire in homes and businesses.
view and print the press release
——————————————————————————–
Clean Up
Different types of fires require different clean-up methods. To the untrained, there is little difference between one fire and another. But what was burned plays a role in determining what can be restored and what must be replaced.
——————————————————————————–
What Type of Fire Was It?
Electrical fires cause smoke damage and a distinct odor that will permeate all porous surfaces.
Kitchen fires are usually caused by burning foods, plastic ware, walls or cabinets. A fire of this sort results in heavy soot and heat damage in the kitchen, and a lighter soot throughout the rest of the house. In some cases, there will be a greasy film on surfaces.
Grease fires cause smoke damage and a greasy film distributed through the surrounding area.
Wood stove fires have a distinctive odor and distribute smoke and soot throughout the structure.
Fires from kerosene heaters usually result in smoke damage and a greasy film on metal surfaces.
Furnace puff-backs are common in some parts of the country. A malfunctioning furnace blows a greasy soot throughout a building, covering walls and furniture evenly.
Although rare, lightning fires on a structure can cause electrical and smoke damage ranging from light to very heavy.
If you need another reason to quit smoking, cigarette fires cause the most damage to furniture. In addition, heavy smoke damage results from the flammable stuffing and padding.
——————————————————————————–
Lingering Psychological Odors
“Deodorization after a fire may be part science and part psychology, but we’re prepared to deal with the whole issue.”
- Corey Massaro, Servpro of North Worcester
Deodorization after a fire is an important step in the restoration process. Getting odors back to normal is important so that the occupants can get back to a normal life.
Psychological odors are tough, but not impossible to eliminate. Restoration experts use a step-by-step approach. First, the source of the odor (soot on walls for example) is removed, and the surface are cleaned.
A masking agent is applied to cover odors and disinfectants are used to kill bacteria. If odors persist, the entire interior is fogged with a deodorizer. Finally, all surfaces are sealed.