Fire Damage Recovery Basics in Lebanon

12/8/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO knows all the basics for your fire damage in Lebanon.

SERVPRO knows all the basics for your fire damage in Lebanon.

Nothing can prepare you for the devastation of a fire in your Lebanon home. You would expect limited charring and a smoky smell near the ignition site, especially if the fire was doused quickly. But the widespread nature of residues and odors from even a supposedly minor fire can shock the uninitiated. In broad terms, you can expect the following response from our professional mitigation and remediation experts when responding to your request for help.

Safety Considerations And Water Removal  

The first phase of recovering from fire damage in Lebanon includes securing the premises and assessing the extent of the harm. Nearly every fire scene requires management of the now-contaminated water used to knock down the flames before other tasks are safe to complete. Anything from a water-slick surface to several inches of contaminated fluids creates slip and fall hazards and the risk of exposure to electrical shock, toxic substances, and hidden debris risks. Our full-spectrum disaster response capability permits our crews to complete the water containment and disposal phase safely and lawfully before transitioning to other cleanup needs.

Evaluating Residues 

Depending on the fuels the fire consumed, the availability of oxygen during the burn, the types of surfaces attracting the soot, and how firefighters extinguished the blaze, fire cleanup strategies differ. SERVPRO experts run through an evaluative protocol on each job:

• Find the residues
• Characterize the residues
• Consider the kind of surfaces affected
• Capture the residues 
• Remove the residues
• Dispose of the residues, adhering to best practices and local regulations

Choosing Appropriate Cleaning Methods

Some residues present as loose particles like ash. It is crucial to vacuum, dry sponge, or sweep up these dry residues quickly before the introduction of any wet cleaning agents. Moisture smears the dry debris, causing them to stain surfaces. Others are complex amalgams of incompletely combusted materials mixed with oil or water-based substances. These residues can adhere tightly to building materials, needing balancing of temperature, agitation, chemical actions, and dwell time to loosen and suspend in a solution for final rinsing and removal.

The highly-qualified team of managers and technicians from SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County are ready to clear your home of fire damage residues fast. Call (908) 788-8770 for an assessment as soon as the firefighters wind up their work.

To learn more about Lebanon, click here.