Fire Damage ~ Cleaning homes & businesses in Eastchester NY 10709

Cleaning fire & soot damaged homes or businesses can mean staying in business in Eastchester, NY 10707

 

 HELPFUL FIRE SAFETY HINTS FROM HILLARY:  Everyone will have a least one fire or flood in their home or place of business in a lifetime.  See some important Do's & Don't below:

Hi Rainmakers -- writing about fire this week because we've been called to five tragic fire situations at homes and one business in the past week.  Most involved oil on old flammable rags or towels that basically and spontaneously combusted -- or, burst into flame. 

 

These fires ocurred in restaurants or home basements and garages, and allegedly were started because of flammables and our recent, extreme heat.  

So, throw your old refinishing or restoration project towels and rags away, preferably in a metal bin on your curb – AWAY from your property. 

 

Fire and soot damaged homes or businesses are not only stressful and horrifying, but it could mean that a business may not reopen, or a home may be condemned. These may be your friends, family or neighbors, or they are your favorite barber, spa, deli or Asian restaurant down the street.  

Many businesses do not survive after a significant fire damage, but they may if they call in restoration companies like ours that work quickly, so they can reopen.

 

After a home fire, a family may not survive, tragically, or their home may not be saved because it is structurally damaged and is “condemned.”  So, be sure EVERYONE you know has fire detectors near kitchens, and especially outside their bedroom door in a home or apartment.  Most fires occur overnight after we're asleep and may not be aware of the damage or danger.  

 

Earlier this year, an entire family was lost in a fire in Carmel, NY, except for the son, and this is just one of too many heartbreaking examples.  Even a minor kitchen fire can damage a family's lives for months, even years.  I assure you that fire victims will never smell a grill or campfire again in the same way, like my husband and I as well as all our local restoration techs, the smell just stays with you!

I was called to a fire underway in Mount Vernon, NY this month.  With an hour, I was walking blocks and passed through layered clouds of soot, to the "yellow line" of police tape that stopped people and traffic for a mile square.  After nearly three years of reaching out to home and business owners after their insurance agents' calls to fire sites, this was not new.  

But, believe me, you get home and jump right in a shower and get the soot smell OFF.  That lower Westchester County home was a total loss and condemned, but everyone made it out okay.  Now, we're trying to help neighbors with their soot covered clothing and damaged furnishings, on 8th Avenue in Mount Vernon, NY.

Damage to personal belongings or business essentials like computer data are just some of the concerns that these property owners and tenants may experience after a fire in their home or apartment, condo or coop.  Some of us even restore huge commercial properties after a fire or water damage.

They call companies like Forrest's and mine, to make it “Like it never even happened,” so we can help their family or business get back on track!

 

Do’s & Don’t below may help…along with a timely response and mitigation by fire and water cleanup teams.  They can alleviate stress after a damaging fire, but meantime please don’t make a bad situation worse in your home or business:

 

Do's ~ You should:

• limit movement in a fire damaged home or office, to prevent soot particles from spreading and causing additional damage -- it's also carginogenic, so you should not be there without a face mask and gloves, if at all possible.

• place clean towels or old linens on rugs and high traffic areas and upholstery -- NOT newspaper as the print may transfer, especially if the fire was "water suppressed."

• coat chrome faucets, trim and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil to prevent rusting until help arrives

• place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet or flooring.

 

DO NOT make it worse, and:

• attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces, or shampoo carpets or upholstery, without contacting your insurance pros or restoration companies like mine. 

• attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, extreme heat or water, without consulting an authroized repair service. 

• use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water. 

• turn on ceiling fixtures if your ceiling is wet because the wiring may be damaged.

• send your clothing and textiles to an ordinary dry cleaner. We have amazing restoration partners who work with us to clean and deodorize garments that can be saved.  Improper cleaning may set the smoke odor forever.

 

Cleaning fire & soot damaged homes or businesses can mean staying in business in Eastchester, NY 10707

 

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____________________________________________________________________________________

Hillary Sheperd

Vice President / Co-Owner, 

Servpro of Scarsdale /Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, NY  10550

914-669-5181

Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon

Flood, fire, mold remediation