We understand the stress and trauma in after a fire affects your home or business in Eastchester, NY 10709
One of our great employees had a smoked ham for Easter one year, unexpectedly. That's after Mom left her oven mitt in the gas oven after basting the dinner. Needless to say, the gas stove caught the fabric on fire and smoke went everywhere. They saved the meal and their ham tasted "smoked" and "was the best they'd had in years."
That's a happy ending, but we have had tragedies, like my family's barn on a horse farm, when it burned down with generations of Model A and Model Ts inside.
Then, there are beloved pets that do not make it out of the fire and survive, and there we are, crying with our clients for their lost, furry loved ones.
Local firefighters saved this dog & got him breathing with their respirators! Love them!
Fires are never pretty and we always hope that no one is hurt. But, who are you going to call, "Ghost Busters??" After dialing 911 and once your local fire department saves your structure, we hope, who can help get your life and belongings back? We can often save flooring, carpets and rugs, even textiles -- like your clothing in a closed closet and sentimental items -- wedding dresses, etc.
Once the Fire Department pulls out and the American Red Cross, our national partners, arrive to help and take anyone to a hotel or place to rest, who do you call?
We are called Restoration companies because we are trained and certified for Fire & Water Cleanup after a fire and/or flood. Remember that most fires are "water suppressed" by fire hoses, then within days, you may have mold growth and mildew. Get help soon and don't wait for adjusters to fly in, as you can always assure your insurance company that you tool the right, timely steps save your structure, as noted in most of our insurance policies.
Fire departments save the roof of our burning business or home and are our heroes. However, it's a lot of water and they leave water top down, into lower levels that drained from above. They may have to break windows and leave glass and wood shards around, making sure that your fire is out.
You need professional help from background checked staff who work on these "dirty jobs" almost every day.
Here are some Do's and Don'ts until help arrive because it's natural to want to start cleaning a building and its contents after a fire.
Timely action can be a big help, but incorrect or delayed actions can do more harm than good to your rugs, flooring and belongings.
Wait for us to help and clean correctly. Call our 914- and your local, restoration company like ours in Westchester County. We can:
1) Board up the building and secure any open windows and doors!
2) start getting the water out and drying your structure (if the building department allows, but usually it's a day or so, to deal with the water and get clearance from your local Fire Marshall and Building Department officials, so we can enter the building with you and begin the real cleanup.
3) help begin the cleaning process, removing broken glass, soft materials and recovering sentimental belongings
-- that's after Eastchester's finest in the Fire Department saves your home, business and the roof. Our teams handle commercial Large Loss fire damages as well as helping homeowners!
NOTE: If the roof goes, usually the building is done. THANK your firefighters despite the mess they have to make to do save your structure.
What you can do until help arrives
After any fire damage situation, your primary focus should be safety:
- Is it safe to stay in the house? It's best to get outside, get some fresh air and wait for help!
- Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns, especially if you have a grease fire and slippery floors.
- Only do activities that are safe for you to perform, then call 911 and get out.
Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful, especially removing wet carpet. We dry flooring and carpet first, then we remove the dry materials safely, without any back or other injuries!
What To Do After A Fire
- Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
- Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
- Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
- If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.
- Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
- Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
- Change HVAC filter.
- Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.
What NOT To Do After A Fire
- Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting your SERVPRO Franchise Professional.
- Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
- Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water.
- Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
- Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.
For most of us, it's free to have our restoration company meet you at home or at your fire damaged business for a free estimate. We will get the property boarded up / sealed, to keep out the weather or intruders.
It's our job as a Restoration company that serves our Westchester community, where we live and own a business, to provide all the help needed to make the fire damage "Like it never even happened." We get you back to painted walls and floors and surfaces that are cleaner than before.
Call for help and just be careful of space heaters and unattended candles, as we weather this cold start to Spring 2016. Best of luck!
~ Hillary & all of us at Servpro of Scarsdale
Is it Spring yet??
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