After everyone is safe and the fire department has extinguished the flames, the aftermath of a fire and smoke damaged home or business can be traumatic and overwhelming; especially, if the next steps of mitigation and restoration are unknown.  Every year, thousands of home and business owners experience a fire loss and the SERVPRO franchises are there to assist them in the process of making it "Like it never even happened.”  The #1 thing to remember after experiencing a fire is that time is of the essence when it comes to mitigating your loss. 

Key actions to take:

• Call your insurance carrier and file a claim
• Get approval for a restoration company to perform emergency services

Your insurance carrier will be able to answer questions you may have, start the claims process, and give authorization for emergency restoration services to be performed to prevent further damage to the property and its contents.  The insurance carrier will also assign an insurance adjuster to work with you and your restoration company in determining what is salvageable and what needs to be replaced.  

As a business owner, you should be informed about fire extinguisher requirements to keep you and your team safe. You need to have the right kind of Fire Extinguishers as there are a few different types of fire extinguishers and each is designed for use based on the kind of fire. These extinguishers need to be inspected regularly since they expire and need recharging. If you have questions regarding fire safety in your building reach out to have an ERP plan created or contact your local fire department for assistance. 

“National Pet Fire Safety Day” Tips to Keep Pets Safe from House Fires:

Extinguish Open Flames – Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.

Pet Proof the Home – Take a walk around your home and look for areas where pets might start fires inadvertently, such as the stove knobs, loose wires and other potential hazards.

Secure Young Pets – Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home.

Keep Pets Near Entrances – When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.

Practicing Escape Routes with Pets – Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet or firefighters need to rescue your pet.

Since Pets Left Alone Can’t Escape a Burning Home – Use monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center, providing an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.

Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. You can obtain a free window cling at AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days events. Details are available at www.akc.org.

Keep Your Information Updated – Firefighters are familiar with pet alert window clings so keep the number of pets listed on them updated. Knowing the accurate number of pets in the house aids rescuers in finding all of your pets.

AKC Communications. 2018. July 15 Declared National Pet Fire Safety Day to Help Protect Pets from Home Fires. (March 2018). Read Full Article Here!

Our SERVPRO autumn acronym is full of fire safety tips to keep you and your family safe this season.

• Asses Smoke Alarms & Change Batteries
• Use Caution with Space Heaters
• Teach Kids About Fireplace Safety
• Use Caution with Lit Candles
• Make and Appointment to Service your Furnace
• Never Burn Leaves to Dispose

For more information, call us today, (919) 596-1242.

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.