Fire Safety: Protect Your Home from Smoke Damage

12/11/2024 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage inside a house.

Minimizing Smoke Damage:

A house fire can be a devastating event, causing significant property damage and potential loss of life. While it's impossible to completely eliminate the risk of fire, there are solutions to minimize damage.

Even with the best precautions, fires can still occur. Here are some tips to minimize smoke damage:

• Ventilation: Open windows and doors to allow smoke to escape.
• Cleaning: Thoroughly clean all surfaces, including walls, ceilings, and furniture, to remove soot and smoke odors.
• Professional Cleaning: Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to handle severe smoke damage.

By following these fire safety tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of fire and protect your home and family. Remember, prevention is key.

Call Today - 724-473-0745

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County

Fire Damage in Sarver, PA

10/23/2023 (Permalink)

This family’s Sarver home suffered from fire and smoke caused by an electric fan.  SERVPRO of Southern Butler County worked hard to recover the structure and the contents.  We removed the soot, inventoried and packed-out content for storage in our warehouse, clean all affected rooms, seal painted areas as required, and eliminated the smoke smell.  We also determined which items were not salvageable and recorded those.   Our goal is always to make your home “Like it never happened.”

 What to Expect:

When we visit your home after a fire loss, we will scope the affected areas to determine the extent of the loss. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your home from fire and smoke damage. If fire or smoke has damaged your home, please call us right away at 724-473-0745. We will treat you and your family with empathy and respect and treat your property with the utmost care.

Smoke and soot facts:

Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.

• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• They type of smoke may affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke:

There are two different types of smoke, wet and dry.  As a result, these leave several types of smoke residue after a fire.  We at SERVPRO of Southern Butler County will evaluate the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred.  The cleaning process will then be based on this information.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services:

Since each smoke and fire damage case is a little different, each requires a unique solution tailored to the specific conditions.  We at SERVPRO of Southern Butler County, have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.

Need assistance with fire, smoke or soot damage?   Call Us Today at 724-473-0745.

How Many Fire Detectors Do You Need?

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

Not having enough smoke detectors in a house can be a serious risk.

When it comes to smoke alarms, many homeowners do not realize that most homes require more than just a couple of alarms in order to properly give a warning in an emergency scenario. Here are a few things to keep in mind when figuring out how many smoke alarms your home will need.

The safest smoke alarms are ones that are hardwired and interconnected. This means that when one alarm goes off, they all go off. This is important because you may not hear an alarm go off in a different area of your house if you are too far away or behind closed doors. If your home has interconnected smoke alarms, you can still add battery-powered stand-alone alarms as well for additional safety.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, your home should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home including the basement. Additionally, there should be one in every bedroom and outside of every sleeping area. For example, a two-story home, with two bedrooms and a basement should have a minimum of five smoke alarms. One on each floor, and one in each bedroom. Another thing to consider is their placement, for example, if your smoke alarm is in your kitchen, you should place it at least ten feet from the cooking appliances like the stove and oven to help mitigate false alarms. You can also use a photoelectric type of alarm in your kitchen to further mitigate the chance of false alarms.

Smoke alarms don’t prevent fires, but they are the first line of defense for your family in an emergency. Properly functioning fire alarms are a crucial part of your home safety. You should check them once a month to ensure proper function and replace the batteries twice a year, usually, people use switching the clocks for daylight savings time as a reminder of when to change the batteries. Additionally, smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years.

While we hope you won’t ever have to call us, if you should find yourself in need of a professional fire restoration company SERVPRO of Southern Butler County is here to help.

Thank you for reading our blog post on fire damage problems. If you need any assistance with fire-related problems call SERVPRO of Southern Butler County today! We are here to help. Call SERVPRO of Southern Butler at 724-473-0745 and we can get to work immediately!

Recovering form a Fire with SERVPRO

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team

Any sort of house disaster can be overwhelming and hard to fully understand in the aftermath. If you are a homeowner, you certainly understand that worry! House fires in particular can be especially destructive and can make a large impact on your family’s lives.

Dealing with the cleanup and restoration on your own can be hard, but thankfully you don’t have to do that! Your SERVPRO of Southern Butler County team is here for you to help guide you through the process and take over the restoration for you.

Our Initial Contact

During and immediately following a fire, prioritize making sure that your family is safe. Once you are sure that your loved ones are OK, it’s time to turn to us for help with the cleanup.

The first phone call you make to us will include many questions, just to ensure we fully understand the extent of the fire. This allows us to pack up the right gear and tools for your unique situation. Once the trucks are packed and a team is assembled, we are out the door and on our way to you.

The First Cleaning

Once we arrive, we do a full walkthrough to better understand your home’s layout and the damage. Next, we secure areas of your home that are vulnerable to further damage, like boarding up windows and doors or laying tarps over exposed areas.

Now that your home is secure, we start by removing all of the debris and giving your home a deep-clean to remove residual soot and smoke. This also includes removing fragile possessions to avoid damaging anything else in your home! After the surface damage has been cleaned up, we sanitize the entire area and use our odor-removing techniques to remove any lingering smoke smells from your carpets, furniture and walls.

The Restoration

Now comes the best part! Our restoration process involves full structural repairs to minor ones, and we can rebuild entire sections of your home, lay new carpet or hang new drywall for you.

We have the tools necessary for whatever your project requires, so you can rest easy knowing that when we are through, you would never know a fire tore through your home. Call us at SERVPRO of Southern Butler County! We are ready to help you recover today.

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County specializes in housing restoration

Thank you for reading our blog post on fire damage problems. If you need any assistance with water-related problems call SERVPRO of Southern Butler County today! We are here to help. Call SERVPRO of Southern Butler immediately at 724-473-0745 and we can get to work immediately!

How Many Fire Detectors Do You Need?

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

Not having enough smoke detectors in a house can be a serious risk.

When it comes to smoke alarms, many homeowners do not realize that most homes require more than just a couple of alarms in order to properly give a warning in an emergency scenario. Here are a few things to keep in mind when figuring out how many smoke alarms your home will need.

The safest smoke alarms are ones that are hardwired and interconnected. This means that when one alarm goes off, they all go off. This is important because you may not hear an alarm go off in a different area of your house if you are too far away or behind closed doors. If your home has interconnected smoke alarms, you can still add battery-powered stand-alone alarms as well for additional safety.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, your home should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home including the basement. Additionally, there should be one in every bedroom and outside of every sleeping area. For example, a two-story home, with two bedrooms and a basement should have a minimum of five smoke alarms. One on each floor, and one in each bedroom. Another thing to consider is their placement, for example, if your smoke alarm is in your kitchen, you should place it at least ten feet from the cooking appliances like the stove and oven to help mitigate false alarms. You can also use a photoelectric type of alarm in your kitchen to further mitigate the chance of false alarms.

Smoke alarms don’t prevent fires, but they are the first line of defense for your family in an emergency. Properly functioning fire alarms are a crucial part of your home safety. You should check them once a month to ensure proper function and replace the batteries twice a year, usually, people use switching the clocks for daylight savings time as a reminder of when to change the batteries. Additionally, smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years.

While we hope you won’t ever have to call us, if you should find yourself in need of a professional fire restoration company SERVPRO of Southern Butler County is here to help.

Thank you for reading our blog post on fire damage problems. If you need any assistance with fire-related problems call SERVPRO of Southern Butler County today! We are here to help. Call SERVPRO of Southern Butler at 724-473-0745 and we can get to work immediately!

How to Respond to a House Fire: The Most Effective Strategies

2/2/2023 (Permalink)

No matter how serious the property damage is, SERVPRO of Southern Butler County has the crew and the expertise to restore your home after a fire.

It's that time of year again - fire season. Between the months of February and May, the weather gets hotter and drier, while the risk of house fires goes up. A fire can start from any number of sources: a faulty wire, an overloaded outlet, a kitchen accident, or a bonfire left unattended. If your home catches fire, it's important to know how to respond quickly and effectively. In this blog post, we will discuss the most effective strategies for responding to a house fire. Stay safe!

If a Fire Starts, Here Is What You Need To Know:

The first line of defense against a fire is to know how to safely use the right fire extinguisher for a house fire. This simple step can save lives and tens of thousands in property damages. If the fire loses control, immediately get out and stay out, then call 9-1-1. Leave all your things where they are and save yourself.

If your clothing catches on fire, remember the old phrase: Stop, Drop, and Roll.

If you live in a building with elevators, it is important to use the stairs in case of a fire. A fire can short out the elevator electrical system, and the shaft can act like a chimney and rapidly fill up with dangerous smoke.

Understanding how to use doors to your advantage during a fire can mean the difference between life and death. If the door or handle is warm, do not open it. If you can't escape through the primary way, find another way out. Do not open any doors that are warm to the touch.

If some, heat, or flames block your exits, close any doors around you, place a wet towel under the doors and call the fire department or 9-1-1. Tell them exactly where you are so they know where to find you.

If you're near a window that you can't use as an escape, open it and wave a brightly colored cloth or use your phone flashlight to signal for help.

What To Do After a Fire

After a fire, it is important to contact a professional fire damage restoration company such as SERVPRO of Southern Butler County. We have the training, experience, and equipment to properly restore your home - "Like it never even happened."

If you try to clean up the fire damage yourself, you could end up making the situation worse both in your home and with your insurance company's process.

Thank you for reading our blog post on fire damage. If you need any assistance with fire damage  SERVPRO of Southern Butler County today! We are here to help.

CALL SERVPRO SOUTHERN BUTLER COUNTY @ (724) 473-0745 OPEN 24 HOURS

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Knows The Perils of Fire Damage and Smoke Destruction.

12/29/2022 (Permalink)

Therefore, You should call us when you have a fire in your home or commercial building.

No one expects a fire will ever be in their home, and they pray their home will never be engulfed or destroyed by fire, but the reality is fires are not uncommon. Fires can start in the house from a wood-burning stove or fireplace, from an unattended candle, from burning wires, or in older structures, from short-circuited breakers. Fires can destroy a house, but they can also cause smoke damage when the actual fire damage is minimal.

A fire in your home impacts the air, penetrates the pores of soft surfaces, and causes a stench that you will never forget. Many people become very emotional when their belongings have a smoke odor. As with all damages to your home, the sooner you get someone out there who practices restoring homes.

The smoke from a single fire can cause odor for the life of that object. Stuffed animals, clothing, and bedclothes are all items that provide for the absorption of the smoke odor. You need to take steps inside of the home, such as installing smoke detectors and C02 monitors to help keep the air quality good and to be alerted if a fire or smoke is found anywhere in the home or structure.

Walk around the walls and touch the surface, looking for wild places. Then, turn off the main breaker to your house and immediately get someone out there to look at the wiring and see if something is heating up inside the wall.

While burning candles, keep the wicks trimmed down, so the flames often get higher. Too much doesn’t reach any above surface, such as a countertop or curtain. Candles can cause tremendous damage when left unattended.

The best way to protect against fire damage is to keep at it with the inspections of your home and the things you do with fire inside the house.

Call SERVPRO of Southern Butler at 724-473-0745, and we can get to work immediately!

SERVPRO Southern Butler Restores Items Damaged From a Fire

12/13/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Southern Butler Restores Items Damaged From a Fire

Did you just experience a fire or smoke event ?  If so, contact the professionals at SERVPRO of Southern Butler.  Most items can be restored and cleaned, and even deodorized.  

The professionals of SERVPRO Southern Butler will be able to restore your home after a fire.  It is important to contact the professionals to understand the scope of what can be salvaged vs. what may not be.   Keep in mind, it is not only the flames from a fire that cause damage as the smoke and soot can also damage a home and its electrical and heating systems.

Smoke can be behind the walls of homes. Also inside HVAC systems and refrigerator. Smoke can go all over the home. 

SERVPRO Southern Butler can clean and restore upholstery, curtains, bedding, and clothing. 

If you have had a fire and have questions about our services and how we can help call us today at (724) 473-0745

or visit 

https://www.SERVPROsouthernbutlercounty.com

What to Do If A Fire Starts in Your Home

12/13/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO Southern Butler, when you experience a fire. But what should you do before the SERVPRO arrives.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments responded to a fire every 23 seconds in 2020 in the United States. Their 2021 Home Structure Fires report also showed that house fires caused an average of 2,620 civilian deaths and $7.3 billion in direct property damage.

The leading cause of fires at home are cooking, heating, electrical, and lighting equipment.

The first thing you should you do, when a fire starts,  is to stop the fire. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your home. First pull the pin, aim low, squeeze, and sweep the nozzle. 

Make sure everyone in the home is notified that there is a fire and to vacate immediately. 

Stay close to the ground when you are vacating your home.

Check the door knobs and then leave.

It is very important to not go back into your home. 

For information, please visit https://www.SERVPROsouthernbutlercounty.com

How you can prevent Fire or Smoke Damage

12/31/2021 (Permalink)

Your primary focus should always be safety when protecting your home. You want to make sure it is safe to stay in your home after a fire. Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns. 

Only complete activities that are safe for you to perform and remember wet materials can be very dangerous and heavy to work with. After the fire you may ask yourself; what can I do now to further protect my home? With the help of SERVPRO here are some options to help you with that protection. 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. Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil. Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves. Change HVAC filter and tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

Call SERVPRO Butler today at (724) 473-0745 

What is considered Smoke Damage?

12/16/2021 (Permalink)

What is considered Smoke Damage? 

Understanding what is smoke damage is very important. Hiring the pros at SERVPRO of Southern Butler County will help you navigate the type of damage that occurred in your home or business.

SERVPRO smoke damage repair specialists help

remove smoke odors from your home either from fire or cigarettes 

As experts in deodorization, professionals are trained to identify and eliminate offensive odors. These odors can come from a number of sources both inside and outside a structure. 

SERVPRO Southern Butler County has the training and equipment to identify and eliminate these offensive odors. By identifying the cause of the odor and determining the conditions in which it contacts any surfaces, the odor can often be removed over time without a trace. 

The science of identifying and eliminating odors can be a tricky thing, so leave the restoration to us.

Call SERVPRO Southern Butler County @ (724) 473-0745 

SERVPRO Fire Odor Removal & Deodorization

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Fire Odor Removal & Deodorization 

As experts in deodorization, SERVPRO of South Butler is trained to identify and eliminate offensive odors. These odors can come from a number of sources both inside and outside a structure. SERVPRO teaches IICRC technical classes in the proper removal of odors. Masking and other shortcuts don't work when your odor problem is serious or persistent.

We have the training and equipment to identify and eliminate these offensive odors. By identifying the cause of the odor, and determining the conditions where it contacts surfaces, the odor can often be removed over time without a trace. Our technicians have access to several odor removal products capable of penetrating surfaces to neutralize an unpleasant odor thoroughly. The science of identifying and eliminating odors can be a tricky thing, so give us a call, and leave the restoration to us. Here are some tips to remove odor. 

Step 1- Removal and proper disposal of all burned and charred materials. 

Step 2- Installation of air filtration device, equipped with a carbon activated system. 

Step 3- Thoroughly clean all affected and surrounding areas

Step 4- Spray deodorizers throughout the affected area.

SERVPRO smoke damage repair specialists help homeowners identify what to include in their fire damage claim

12/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO smoke damage repair specialists help homeowners identify what to include in their fire damage claim  

What is considered Smoke Damage? 

Listen to the Pros at SERVPRO Southern Butler County

If your home has recently suffered from a fire loss, you may wonder what is considered smoke damage for insurance purposes.Insurance companies have a strict set of protocols and documentation they require to qualify for coverage. Five types of smoke damage can affect your walls and ceilings after a home fire. Smoke damage repair crews offer services to clean the following type of residues:

1. Wet smoke residues. Wet smoke residues result from smoldering fires with low heat. This type has residues that are incredibly sticky, smeary, and possess pungent odors. 
2. Dry smoke residues. Dry smoke residues come from scorching fires. This type of smoke residue is often dry, powdery, and small. 
3. Protein residues. Protein residues are notorious for discoloring the paint and wallpaper on your walls. Protein residues leave an extremely pungent odor. 
4. Fuel oil soot. The best example of fuel oil soot is a furnace puff back. This type of smoke damage takes the form of thick black smoke filled with particles–these particles are the soot. 
5. Smoke webs. Smoke webs are residues from plastics and other synthetic materials. They form long chains of ionized smoke particles that stick to the walls and ceilings of your home.

Phone: (724) 473-0745

How to protect your home from home related fires

10/13/2020 (Permalink)

How to protect your home from home related fires 

Your primary focus should always be safety when protecting your home. You want to make sure it is safe to stay in your home after a fire. Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns. Only complete activities that are safe for you to perform and remember wet materials can be very dangerous and heavy to work with. After the fire you may ask yourself; what can I do now to further protect my home? With the help of SERVPRO here are some options to help you with that protection. 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. Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil. Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves. Change HVAC filter and tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers. Contact us today at www.SERVPROsouthernbutlercounty.com

Butler Fire Causes Destruction

3/2/2020 (Permalink)

Accidental Fires are a part of life. When a fire occurs call SERVPRO of Southern Butler. One of those types of fires happened in a vacant apartment building. It caught on fire in Butler, affecting five other apartments. The fire department got involved and is dealing with the situation. The water and gas have been turned off. If SERVPRO of Southern Butler County had been called, SERVPRO would’ve handled all the fire damage effectively. SERVPRO responds within the hour and has 24/7 service. Their specialty is damage done by fire, water, mold, etc. Call SERVPRO of Southern Butler whenever you need fire damage repairs.

The perils of fire damage and smoke destruction.

6/13/2019 (Permalink)

No one expects a fire will ever be seen in their home, and they pray their home will never be engulfed or destroyed by fire, but the reality is, fires are not uncommon. Fires can start in the home from a wood burning stove or fireplace, from an unattended candle, from burning wires, or in older structures, from short-circuited breakers. Fires can totally destroy a structure, but they can also cause smoke damage when the actual fire damage was minimal. 

When a fire has been in your home, it impacts the air, penetrates the pores of soft surfaces, and causes a stench that you will never forget. Many people become very emotional when their belongings are penetrated with smoke odor. As with all damages to your home, the sooner you can get someone out there who has practice in reversing fire and smoke damage, the more likely your valuables can be restored. 

The smoke from a single fire, can cause odor for the life of that object. Stuffed animals, clothing and bed clothes are all items that provide for the absorption of smoke odor. You need to take steps inside of the home such as installing smoke detectors and C02 monitors to help keep the air quality good and to be alerted if a fire or smoke is found anywhere in the home or structure. 

If you suspect a wire fire, you can smell something odd inside of the house. Melting or burning wire has a unique smell. You may have experienced it during a previous fire. The odor is unmistakable. Walk around the walls and touch the surface looking for heated places, turn off the main breaker to your house and immediately get someone out there to look at the wiring and see if there is something heating up inside the wall. 

While burning candles, but sure to keep the wicks trimmed down so the flames that often get higher when a candle has been burned too much, don’t reach any above surface such as a counter top or curtain. Candles can cause tremendous damage when left unattended. 

The best way to protect against fire damage is to keep at it with the inspections of your home and the things you do with fire inside of the home. 

Fire Damage

3/7/2019 (Permalink)

Fire Damage

While fire damage can be a total loss to the structure of your home or office, the damage that causes the most anguish is smoke damage. As a fire begins to burn inside of a structure, whether it is from a storm, someone leaving the oven on, or a candle jar busting, fire is fire.

The flames start the first set of damage by charring the surface. With this charring impact, smoke will begin to billow. Always pay attention to things that could cause fire, because fire can start in hiding. Wiring that is faulty can cause an electrical fire thus consuming the structure from inside of the wall. If there is a fire due to faulty wiring, you will often smell a most unique odor that seems to be coming from a vent. Don’t overlook this.

A wire fire will burn inside of the walls with no flame, just heat that starts to melt the wires. Once a flame does appear, you are more that likely to endure serious and total destruction. Smoke damage from a wiring fire causes blankets, clothes and even paper to have a lingering odor long after the fire is put out.

Fire damage has a wide range of potential damage to the structure.

When damage occurs from an ember that shot out of a fireplace, the smoke damage is a bit different. Now you have smoke that is black and thick and will penetrate the pours of almost any cloth surface. So, the fire is out, but the smoke damage remains. The mitigation of smoke damage starts with you calling a professional smoke damage specialist who can come quickly to your home to start the restoration process to your furniture and more.

Fire Damage: Smoke Odor Lingers for Years or a Lifetime

1/5/2019 (Permalink)

Fire Damage: Smoke Odor Lingers for Years or a Lifetime

One of the worst complaints after a fire, even to items not damaged by flame, is the lingering smell of smoke. This odor can linger for a lifetime, even after being washed and cleaned. There is a different odor associated with smoke damage when a home has sustained fire damage than the smell that comes from smoke from a campfire, or wood fire outdoors. The combination of wire burning, paint melting and carpet smoldering makes for a downright disgusting smell that can last forever without proper remediation.

After a home has sustained fire, especially inside of the walls, most all belongings will have a lingering odor. This is a time when it’s very important to start thinking about restoration or replacement. While a professional smoke remediation expert knows how to remove most all odors, sometimes, it’s not possible.

When a fire in your home begins, it starts to consume and eat away at everything it touches, and the remnants of the fire are all in the smoke the fire produces. Insulation causes a different bad odor than wood does, and if there are other chemicals in the house that has sustained fire damage, those also blend with the odor and penetrate everything from cloth to wood.

You will experience this odor immediately. It smells like a combination of tires burning and wood smoldering. It can make you sneeze and can make you ill. Remember that this is the most common reason to replace as opposed to restore; which is our motto and mission. You must decide if it’s tolerable or if it’s not. 

Fire Damage is Devastating

12/3/2018 (Permalink)

Fire Damage is Devastating

The worse feeling in the world, is to see your home go up in flames. Even a small fire can cause tremendous damage emotionally and physically to the property. Fire doesn’t play when it gets ready to spread. So many homeowners lose everything because they have not take the proper measures to protect their home from fire.

One of the first things that happens during a house fire, is that the smoke starts to bellow and penetrates everything in its path. Even if you put out the fire, the smoke will have taken hold of everything with pours, such as pillows, carpet and clothing.

The best way to avoid the consequences of fire damage is to be prepared with smoke detectors that you keep updated, and by doing periodic wire inspections to ensure you are code ready.

Many older homes have fuse boxes rather than breaker boxes, and the fuses can circuit out causing fires. Many newer homes have weak wiring as well, leaving the spaces in the attack vulnerable to the smallest amount of heat.

To protect yourself when you home catches fire, don’t try to stay inside. Call the fire department, grab what you can, and get out of the house.

Keep a record of belongings in a steal box or offsite so, in the event of a fire, you have a record of your belongings to give to the insurance company. Remember, if you have damage to your home, and your home is not totally destroyed by fire, you can save your valuables if you get to a professional fire damage professional fast enough.

Fire Damage and Smoke Destruction

10/23/2018 (Permalink)

Fire Damage and Smoke Destruction

No one expects a fire will ever be seen in their home, and they pray their home will never be engulfed or destroyed by fire, but the reality is, fires are not uncommon. Fires can start in the home from a wood burning stove or fireplace, from an unattended candle, from burning wires, or in older structures, from short-circuited breakers. Fires can totally destroy a structure, but they can also cause smoke damage when the actual fire damage was minimal.

When a fire has been in your home, it impacts the air, penetrates the pores of soft surfaces, and causes a stench that you will never forget. Many people become very emotional when their belongings are penetrated with smoke odor. As with all damages to your home, the sooner you can get someone out there who has practice in reversing fire and smoke damage, the more likely your valuables can be restored.

The smoke from a single fire, can cause odor for the life of that object. Stuffed animals, clothing and bed clothes are all items that provide for the absorption of smoke odor. You need to take steps inside of the home such as installing smoke detectors and C02 monitors to help keep the air quality good and to be alerted if a fire or smoke is found anywhere in the home or structure.

If you suspect a wire fire, you can smell something odd inside of the house. Walk around the walls and touch the surface looking for heated places, turn off the main breaker to your house and immediately get someone out there to look at the wiring and see if there is something heating up inside the wall.

While burning candles, but sure to keep the wicks trimmed down so the flames that often get higher when a candle has been burned too much, don’t reach any above surface such as a counter top or curtain. Candles can cause tremendous damage when left unattended.

The best way to protect against fire damage is to keep at it with the inspections of your home and the things you do with fire inside of the home.

When you have had a small fire and think there is no damage, there really is.

10/2/2018 (Permalink)

When you have had a small fire and think there is no damage, there really is.

One of the most over-looked form of damage is fire damage because small fires can cause problems that are not visible. But, you can certainly smell them. When your home has had a small fire such as a candle or cigarette burning a rug, then getting stomped out, or fried chicken overheating and causing a fire in the kitchen, you may think that it’s ok and there is no damage.

However, smoke damage can be just as devastating in some cases, because it penetrates everything. Fire combusts for many reasons and so many homes are impacted each year by smaller indoor fires caused by candle burning, cigarettes, or food being forgotten about. Grease fires are started when hot oil hits a stove eye. Most people will start to put out these small fires the wrong way, thus making the fire worse.

Allowing candles to burn out too close to cloth is another reason for small fires inside of the home that may only burn a cloth or piece of furniture, but the residue and odor remain. Small fires have a lot of odor and the smoke does its own damage to everything around the fire’s location.

Remediation is always the word to think about when you have had a small fire in your home. To protect your valuables, you must take action asap to get the odor out of your cloth and porous furniture. This smell can linger for years and actually become grounds for throwing your valuable away. Old photos can hold the aroma of a fire, for the remainder of their lifetime.

The best way to handle fire damage is to call a specialist asap and get the small smoke damage taken care of. The whole mission of fire damage repair is to avoid you losing special items such as baby books, photo albums and memories that can’t be replaced. The sooner you call an expert, the faster you can feel assured that your valuables are as safe and clean as can be after your small house fire.

Please check out our website at http://www.SERVPROsouthernbutlercounty.com for more information.

Fire Damage and the Smell of Smoke

8/30/2018 (Permalink)

Fire Damage and the Smell of Smoke

One of the worst complaints after a fire, even to items not damaged by flame, is the lingering smell of smoke. There is a different odor associated with smoke damage when a home has sustained fire damage than the smell that comes from smoke from a campfire, or wood fire outdoors. The combination of wire burning, paint melting and carpet smoldering makes for a downright disgusting smell that can last forever without proper remediation.

After a home has sustained fire, especially inside of the walls, most all belongings will have a lingering odor. This is a time when it’s very important to start thinking about restoration or replacement. While a professional smoke remediation expert knows how to remove most all odors, sometimes, it’s not possible.

When a fire in your home begins, it starts to consume and eat away at everything it touches, and the remnants of the fire are all in the smoke the fire produces. Insulation causes a different bad odor than wood does, and if there are other chemicals in the house that has sustained fire damage, those also blend with the odor and penetrate everything from cloth to wood.

You will experience this odor immediately. It smells like a combination of tires burning and wood smoldering. It can make you sneeze and can make you ill. Remember that this is the most common reason to replace as opposed to restore; which is our motto and mission. You must decide if it’s tolerable or if it’s not.

If you decide to restore, you need to know that even the best expert may only be able to completely remove ½ or less of the lingering odor and you will need to take steps to treat the items several times. Think about the value of the item to you on a personal level, then decide if you want a professional to assist.

There are many household products you can use to get out the odor that a specialist cannot but again, it’s up to you to decide the personal value that the objects hold for you.

When you can let go, you should replace. If letting go hurts too bad, you should attempt to restore.

Not all Fires Blaze – Some Hide

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

Preventing Total Loss of Property or Life

There are millions of house and business fires every year. When a fire breaks out, it is simply a matter of time before the fire consumes the entire property. However, if your home or business is exposed to a fire, there are steps to take to ensure that anything that can be saved – is saved. While you first may think of fire damage as an all-consuming event that results in a pile of ashes, there are many types of fire damage from small to massive. Knowing the depth of each type of fire damage can give you guidance on how to deal with the damage to your home or office.

If you experience a fire, or have ever been in a fire, you know the smell; burning, ashy and sickening.

“When my house burned in the early 1980’s I was just a small girl. I can remember the smell of smoke the next day even though my things were not actually enflamed. The smell can be recalled at anytime because it was so horrible.” – Carla

Even though a fire starts in one place, the smoke can penetrate all places and spaces. However, let’s say you are smelling something burning but have no idea what you are looking for. The best way to ease the worry is to do a walkaround inside of your house and try to get as close to the smell as possible. Also, put your hand on the walls everywhere to see if you feel a hot spot. If you feel a hot spot and you smell smoke, you may have an electrical fire getting ready to start. This is the time to call 911. If you get a trained smoke analyst to your property before the fire starts, you may be able to prevent the fire.

Fires are not to be played with or taken lightly. The forest fires of 2016 in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina consumed over 1000 acres of National Forest while consuming hotels, lodges and vacation cabins on its path. The authorities delayed evacuation because they thought the timeline of the fires would be later on. In reality, the wind took a mighty shift and started to accelerate the blaze. Consumer businesses and residential properties alike suffered both fire and water damage. Smoke from the mountain fires was seen in the air as far as 300 miles South of the actual blaze.

To be sure you are safe, always be alert to what you smell, hear and feel. These preventative measures could save your life and your property. If your home or office sustains any fire or water damage, you need to quickly call an expert in fire and water damage to help you save what you can, but your life is the most important thing to save in case of a fire.

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Reports: Dangers of Fire Extinguisher Dust and Propellant

9/28/2017 (Permalink)

In this photo you can see just how much fire extinguisher dust and propellant remain to be professionally cleaned!

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Reports:

So, you had a small kitchen fire or a small fire in a room in your home that you put out using a fire extinguisher.   Now, not only does your home smell like the smoke and soot from the fire, but you see a thin white layer of fire extinguisher dust everywhere and your nose and throat burn....

What do you do?  If the answer is call SERVPRO of Southern Butler PA then you are correct!

Call 724-473-0745 and we will immediately dispatch a first responder to your home or business!

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Reports: What are Fire Restoration Services

9/20/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Reports:

Fire accidents are more common for residential homeowners than you may think. Nobody wants to experience a fire but their reality can't be avoided. Some of your friends or family may have already encountered fire accidents. After their house has been razed and damaged by fire and the emergency vehicles are gone, the homeowners are left with the cleaning and restoring their house back to its former look.

Fire damage cleanup is a tough task for the untrained homeowner. Hiring SERVPRO of Southern Butler County is the best way to restore your home.

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Treats Smoke Damage & Hazardous Fumes

9/20/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Treats Smoke Damage & Hazardous Fumes

After these kinds of accidents, there's also the possibility that some airborne toxins mixed with dust, soot, smoke and hazard fumes will be left in the atmosphere and inhaling these particles together with abrasive cleaning chemicals can harm the skin and lungs . Trained smoke damage experts at SERVPRO of Southern Butler County are aware of the hazards a fire restoration project offers since they are experienced with this kind of job.

Fire damage cleanup specialists have water extraction equipment which can help with restoring your property.

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Reports: Importance of Hiring a Fire Damage Specialist

9/6/2017 (Permalink)

This kitchen cabinet contains a few items that can actually be restored and saved !!

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Reports:

Importance of Hiring Fire Damage Cleanup Specialist

Fire accidents are more common for residential homeowners than you may think. Nobody wants to experience a fire but their reality can't be avoided. Some of your friends or family may have already encountered fire accidents. After their house has been razed and damaged by fire and the emergency vehicles are gone, the homeowners are left with the cleaning and restoring their house back to its former look.

Fire damage cleanup is a tough task for the untrained homeowner. Hiring SERVPRO of Southern Butler County is the best way to restore your home.

SERVPRO of Souther Butler County Reports: Beware of Self-Cleaning Ovens !

9/6/2017 (Permalink)

This oven caught fire during a self-cleaning process. SERVPRO of Southern Butler County thoroughly cleaned for soot and extinguisher dust !

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Reports:

Self-Cleaning ovens are extremely convenient, but sometimes they can also be extremely dangerous. Our fire production team was dispatched to a house in Mars, PA to deal with a house fire that was started by a self-cleaning oven. Our response time was only 42 minutes from phone call to arrival!

When we arrived to the house we were shocked to discover that the oven that started the fire was barely dirty! Most oven fires are started by grease or food particles that catch fire during the self-cleaning process. The oven we inspected should not have been an issue, which proves that all ovens in self-cleaning mode should be closely monitored.

We understand it is common practice to start the self-cleaning mode, but beware of doing this if you are not able to actively monitor the oven for safety. Don't use the self cleaning feature before you go to sleep at night, and do not leave the home unattended while the oven is in self-cleaning mode.

Most importantly, if your home or business suffers a fire loss, call SERVPRO of Southern Butler County!