What to do after a fire in you Putnam County home

5/24/2023 (Permalink)

A house fire to your Putnam County home can completely interrupt your family’s lives. Whether the fire erupted in a single room or affected several bedrooms, it’s vital to take safety precautions before entering the home. These will yield the best results for fire restoration and ensure no one is injured in the process.

1. Schedule an Inspection

No matter how safe your home may seem, schedule an inspection first. SERVPROs fire restoration professionals will check that no live electrical components create a shock or other fire risk and will test gas piping for leaks. They’ll also look at structural damage to make sure the home is safe to enter. This crucial step will reduce the potential for injuries and also kickstart the recovery process.

2. Don’t Start Fire Restoration On Your Own

As tempting as it is to begin cleaning up, wait for the professionals. You can open windows, but avoid plugging in box fans or turning ceiling fans on. These may spark electrical problems or worsen the smoke smell and ash cover. Ideally, you shouldn’t use the electricity at all until an electrician has made necessary repairs. The best course of action is to stay off site until fire damage repair begins.

3. Stay Off Furniture

If you start clearing debris with professionals, stay off of furniture. Most pieces are salvageable if ash and soot don’t sink into the fibers. Sitting on a sofa or bed may press them in and embed a permanent ash smell. Professional fire restoration companies have the proper equipment that deep clean sofas, mattresses, chairs, and other furniture that is lined with fabric. SERVPRO will be able to wipe down the soot, deodorize the fire smell, and return your Putnam County home back to like it never even happened. 

Process of Fire Damage Restoration

2/3/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire, the smoke and fire damage are often paired with extensive water damage from firefighting efforts. Since every fire damage is a little different, at SERVPRO of Putnam County, we create unique solutions with a process that relatively stays the same. Check out the steps below to understand our process during a typical fire emergency:  

Step 1: Emergency Contact 

The restoration process begins when you call us. Our representative will ask questions regarding the fire damage event that will help us respond immediately with the appropriate equipment and resources.  

Step 2: Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment 

We carefully inspect and test adjoining rooms of your property to determine the extent of the fire, smoke, and soot damage. This step is crucial to developing a plan of action.  

Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof-Tarp Service 

Fire damage can often compromise windows, walls, and roofs. To maintain security and to protect against further damage, we can board up missing windows and walls and place tarps on damaged roofs.  

Step 4: Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present) 

The water removal process begins almost immediately and removes the majority of the water. We then use dehumidifiers and air movers to remove the remaining water and complete the drying process.  

Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces 

We use specialized equipment and techniques to remove smoke and soot from ceilings, walls, and other surfaces.  

Step 6: Cleaning and Sanitizing 

We clean, sanitize, and disinfect all of the restorable items and structures that were damaged by the fire. We use a variety of cleaning techniques to restore your belongings to pre-fire condition. We’re also trained to remove odors using industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment. 

Step 7: Restoration 

Restoration is the final step—getting your home or business to its pre-fire condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. 

Although our process stays mostly the same, we are prepared to restore your home or business with unique solutions, specific to your needs. If you have fire damage, give us a call at (386) 328-8660. SERVPRO of Putnam County will restore your home “Like it never even happened.” 

Cooking Fires

2/3/2022 (Permalink)

Cooking brings family and friends together, provides an outlet for creativity and can be relaxing. But did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries? By following a few safety tips, you can prevent these fires.  

“Cook with Caution” 

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol do not use the stove or stove top. 
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a brief period, turn off the stove. 
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking. 

• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains — away from your stove top. 

IF YOU HAVE A COOKING FIRE... 

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. 
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave. 
• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out. 

• Keep a lid nearby when you are cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. 
• For an oven fire turn off the heat and keep the door closed. 

Thanks to the National Fire Protection Agency for sharing these tips. 

If you have a fire in your home or business, call SERVPRO of Putnam County at (386) 328-8660.

What to do After a House Fire

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

Dealing with the aftermath of a fire in your home can be overwhelming. Let the professionals at SERVPRO of Putnam County handle it for you.

Do you know that a fire department in the United States responds to a fire every 24 seconds? Does it surprise you how frequently house fires occur? Hopefully your home will never have to endure a devastating house fire, but if it does end up happening to you, here is what you can do once the smoke has cleared and the fire department has left the scene.

• Don’t plan to immediately move back into the house. Even the parts of the house that weren’t damaged by the flames can be dangerous for people to inhabit. Smoke damage can cause soot and smoke to stick to the walls, floors, and furniture, which makes it dangerous for you to breathe. Fire can also cause electrical hazards and affect ducts and insulation in your walls, attic, and crawl space.
• Make sure cleanup is handled properly and promptly. Soot and ash discolor surfaces, and the longer you wait to clean it off of your belongings, the worse that discoloration will be, and the lower the likelihood will be that it can be returned to preloss condition. In fact, after just a few days, discoloration of walls and fabric items can become permanent. Left for weeks, the residue left behind by a house fire can corrode metal, permanently etch glass, and cause wood and vinyl surfaces to deteriorate to an irreparable degree.
• Call in the professionals. Cleaning up the damage left behind by fire requires meticulous care. If it isn’t handled with extreme caution, soot residue can contaminate the entire building. What’s more, fire restoration experts know what can and cannot be salvaged and have the equipment and products needed to comprehensively clean your home. Professionals also know how to work with insurance adjusters, and can often bill the insurance company directly, making the process much easier for you.
• Call your insurance company. Your homeowner’s insurance will cover damage to your home from a fire or smoke. This includes damage caused by a fire at a neighboring building, as well as damage caused by wildfires. The house, fences, driveway, sheds, and other structures on your property are also protected. Homeowner’s insurance also covers the cost of most personal items lost in a fire, and typically also covers additional living expenses, even for months at a time if necessary, while you regroup. Other people on your property at the time are also covered. The only time a homeowner’s policy will not cover damages from a fire is if you or someone else named on your policy caused the fire intentionally.

If you have suffered through a home fire and your property sustains fire damage, you don’t have to go it alone. Call SERVPRO of Putnam County for help with fire restoration. Our highly-trained restoration technicians have the experience and equipment to restore your Putnam County home back to normal. A trusted leader in the fire damage restoration service industry, we’ve served our community for more than 25 years. Call (386) 328-8660, to get the restoration care you deserve.

9 Things to Know About House Fires

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

Reviewing the following facts can help you and your family respond to and escape from a house fire more quickly.

1. Windows, Ensure that windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out, and security bars can be properly opened.
2. Escape Route, Find two ways to get out of each room (door or window).
3. Call 911, If you can't get to someone needing assistance, call 9-1-1 for help.
4. Seal Doors and Vents, If unable to evacuate, shelter in place, call 9-1-1 to report your location, seal doors or vents if possible.
5. Feel the Door for Heat, Feel the doorknob with the back of your hand; if hot, leave the door closed and use another way out.
6. Utilities, The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave.
7. Inventory Damages, Maintain an inventory of damaged property and items. Protect valuable documents and records.
8. Smoke Detectors. Make sure your home has smoke detectors and they are operational.
9. P.A.S.S., PASS is the acronym for how to operate a fire extinguisher. P, Pull out the pin. A, Aim the nozzle or horn low at the base of the fire. S, Squeeze the handle to release the agent. S, Sweep from side to side at the base until the fire is out.

Space Heater Safety

11/27/2018 (Permalink)

Cold Weather is Here

Cold weather is finally starting to arrive here in Northeast Florida! With that in mind SERVPRO of Putnam County is here with a few tips to keep you and your family safe if you plan on using a space heater to keep your home warm!

Selecting a Space Heater

When selecting your space heater, look for one that automatically shuts off if it gets too hot or if it tips over. These features are really helpful in households where there are active children or pets.

Placing the Heater

When placing your space heater in your home be sure to place it at least three feet away from anything that may be flammable. If anything flammable falls onto the heating element or a hot surface in the heater it will cause a fire. Also do not place the heater in an area that is wet or damp. doing so will increase the risk of electric shock.

Avoid Extension Cords

The safest way to use your space heater is to plug it directly into an outlet. If you must use and extension cord be sure to use one that is properly rated for the heater. Use of an inappropriate extension cord increases the risk of overheating, fire, and electric shock.

Always Watch

Never leave a running space heater unattended! Always turn off and unplug the heater when leaving the room or leaving your home!

Winter is upon us, so be safe and stay warm!

Christmas Tree Safety

11/27/2018 (Permalink)

Christmas tree are really a thing of beauty! They are wonderful to look at in your home, and they also add their beautiful pine aroma to the air. Real Christmas trees are also a fire hazard that is not to be taken lightly! From 2012-2016 US fire departments responded to an average of 170 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused and average of 4 deaths, 15 injuries, and $12 million in property damage. Follow these safety precautions to make sure your tree is as safe as can be!

• Always choose the freshest tree you can find. Look for the tree with vibrant, green needles that are hard to pluck. The tree should not be shedding needles readily.
• Place your tree away from all sources of ignition.
• Make sure your lights have been tested by UL for safety, and throw any damaged lights away.
• Keep the tree stand filled with water to help avoid the tree drying out.
• Always turn the tree lights off when leaving your home and before going to bed.

An artificial tree, while it does not provide that wonderful smell, is a great substitute for a real tree that does not have anywhere near the fire hazard potential. Whichever you choose to place in your home the team at SERVPRO of Putnam County want to wish you a safe and merry Christmas!