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Fire DAMAGE Restoration

We get to work fast to get things back to normal fast.

Policyholders lose more than possessions when a fire strikes their home; they lose previous peace-of-mind. And they often turn to you to restore both, which is why you turn to ServiceMaster Restore fire damage cleanup.

What are the common types of fires?

  • Protein Fire. Food from teh oven or stove has burned, leaving strong burnt food odors and smoke residue on contents and surfaces.
  • Complex Fire. Multiple natural and synthetic items inside your home have burned causing black smoke residue on contents and surfaces and synthetic smoke odors
  • Natural Fire. Trees, shrubs, and bushes have burned and smoke has penetrated the structure from outside, so smoke residue and odor are present.
  • Furnace Malfunctrion. Heating appliances, toaster ovens, convection ovens, or other appliances powered by electricity have malfunctioned and caused smoke to be distributed throughout the property.

FIRE DAMAGE CLEANUP

Fire can cause large amounts of damage on your property. However, there are other damages that can seriously affect the building as well. Smoke odor invades building materials and personal belongings of every kind. Smoke soot damages walls that have not been burned by flames.

Experiencing a fire can be devastating, and ServiceMaster Restore DCS fire damage cleanup staff understands that your cherished possessions and memories are at stake. As restoration experts, we specialize in fire, soot, and, smoke damage.

If your home is damaged by fire, it is critical to contact a company that specializes in the fire and smoke restoration process as soon as possible to prevent additional damage. ServiceMaster Restore DCS fire damage cleanup is available 24/7 to help minimize the cost of fire and smoke damage to your home.

Hidden Dangers of Soot: The Damage You Can Smell

As if dealing with house fire and smoke damage wasn’t enough, once the initial danger has passed, you also have to contend with the resulting soot that may have spread throughout your home. You’ll quickly discover that soot is an eyesore that’s very tough to clean, but you may not have considered the hidden dangers of soot.

Learn more about the basic science of soot, its physical properties and the hazards poor clean-up can pose so you can fully protect your home and family in the aftermath of a fire.

What is Soot?
The black residue that sticks around after a fire, a.k.a. soot, is the result of incomplete fossil fuel combustion. When coal, oil, wood or other fuels are burned, the residual material, comprised mostly of carbon, can travel through the air and settle into the surrounding environment.

While soot-producing fuels are o.en burned for industrial uses, manufacturing and operating vehicles, you may also come across residential sources of soot, too. House fires and insufficient ventilation in the fireplace are some of the most common causes of soot within the home.

What Does Soot Look and Smell Like?
Do you know how to identify soot in your own home? You can spot accumulated soot by looking for dark black residue accumulated fire damaged areas, but individual soot particles are nearly microscopic – even smaller than dust! Soot particles can turn up in areas far away from the original source of the fire and can even travel from room to room through your ventilation system.

In addition to looking for black particles, you can rely on your nose to sniff out the soot. If you’ve recently experienced a fire or furnace or fireplace puffback and you can still smell smoky, ashy or just plain stinky odors, you may be detecting hints of soot.

Is Soot Harmful?
Simply put, yes. During a common house fire, both natural and synthetic materials burn. The resulting soot particles can contain acids, chemicals, metals, dust and other hazardous materials. These toxic particles then stick to surrounding surfaces, like walls and ceilings, leaving you and your home exposed to the harmful effects.

Environmental Risks of Soot

When fossil fuels are burned for industrial purposes, the chemical compounds of soot are released into the environment and affect multiple aspects of our ecosystem. Soot contamination in your home acts similarly, impacting indoor air quality, in addition to leaving foul odors and stains behind.

Health Risks of Soot

If it goes untreated or improperly cleaned, tiny particles of soot can be inhaled deep into the lungs. These toxic particles can cause breathing issues, including aggravated asthma, bronchitis and more severe respiratory illnesses that can restrict your ability to carry out normal activities.

To avoid health risks and restore your home to its former stain- and odor-free glory, focus on achieving complete, thorough and proper cleaning of all soot-affected areas.

Soot Clean-up
Because of its microscopic particle size, ability to travel through the air and tendency to stick to hard surfaces, soot contamination is very challenging to clean up. In fact, improper attempts at cleaning can cause the soot to spread and absorb, further damaging your home and belongings. While you can attempt to remove soot from your walls and ceilings on your own, you should always follow strict safety precautions and make sure you thoroughly clean the areas with proper procedures and great attention to detail.

To ensure your safety and avoid permanent damage to your home and belongings, we recommend leaving soot cleanup to the professionals. Contact the experts at ServiceMaster Restore® to provide thorough soot and smoke odor removal services so you can enjoy your home and breathe easy again.

SERVICEMASTER RESTORE DCS FIRE DAMAGE CLEANUP SERVICES

ServiceMaster Restore DCS is always there for you with 24/7 emergency services. Whatever the cause of the fire damage in your home or business, we offer a full menu of service options to restore your property, including:

  • 24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICES
  • DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
  • EMERGENCY BOARD-UP AND STRUCTURAL STABILIZATION
  • SMOKE ODOR REMOVAL, SANITATION AND AIR PURIFICATION
  • ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY METHODS FOR CLEANING SOOT AND OTHER RESIDUES
  • REMOVAL AND SECURING OF DAMAGED HOUSEHOLDS GOODS FOR CLEANING AND RESTORATION
  • REMOVAL OF WATER RESULTING FROM FIRE EXTINGUISHING EFFORTS
  • DISINFECTANTS AND ANTIMICROBIALS USED TO PREVENT MOLD AND MILDEW
  • RECONSTRUCTION OF AFFECTED AREAS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS​

HOW LONG WILL THE FIRE DAMAGE CLEANUP PROCESS TAKE?

Because there are many variables and many services involved in fire and smoke restoration, it is difficult to predict exactly how long the complete restoration will take. Consult with your ServiceMaster Restore Restoration Technician on the estimated dates and phases of your restoration project.

CAN I CLEAN IT MYSELF?

We suggest that you do not attempt any “do-it-yourself” cleaning methods without consulting your ServiceMaster Restore Restoration Technician. Pretesting, using the right cleaning agent for the particular item, mixing deodorizing agents with cleaning solutions and using correct dilution rates are just some of the ways a fire restoration technician expertly controls the results.

Professional cleaning systems and products used by experienced, trained ServiceMaster Restore Restoration Technicians give you the best chance for complete restoration of your belongings.

WHAT ARE SOME SAFETY CONCERNS?

At ServiceMaster Restore, occupant and worker safety is top priority. During the initial inspection, safety hazards are identified and addressed, including debris removal, air quality, electrical hazards, slip and trip hazards, etc.

Burnt electrical cords and appliances are separated out for disposal, and questionable electrical appliances are unplugged and tagged for evaluation of safe operation. Electrical power may be turned off and kept off until evaluation by a licensed electrician.

CAN I TURN ON MY HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT?

We recommend that you not turn on your furnace or air conditioning unit without clearance from the HVAC contractor.

WHAT ITEMS DO I KEEP IN MY POSSESSION?

  • Cash
  • Medications
  • Valuable jewelry
  • Checkbooks
  • Personal documents
  • Valuable paintings
  • Flammables
  • Pets
  • Weapons and ammunition
  • Gasoline cans
  • Stamp and/or coin collections

HOW DO I KEEP TRACK OF NON-RESTORABLE ITEMS?

We recommend you make a list of items (including food items) deemed nonrestorable. Use a format like the sample below, or obtain a similar form from your insurance company. Make a copy for your insurance company and keep one for yourself.

DO I NEED TO MOVE OUT OF MY PROPERTIES DURING THE FIRE DAMAGE CLEANUP PROCESS?

This is ultimately your decision. Some things you may want to consider are safety concerns, odors, electricity, noise from equipment, etc. If vacating your premises for any length of time consider the following: forward your mail to your temporary residence; stop newspaper and other deliveries; notify utility company, cable company, etc., of temporary suspension of services.

DO I NEED GENERAL CONTRACTORS?

There are some items that may require general contractors such as drywall/painting; electrical; plumbing; roofing; framing/finish carpentry; flooring/carpet; installation of doors, windows, cabinets, postconstruction cleanup, etc.

DO MY BELONGINGS NEED TO BE MOVED AWAY FROM THE PREMISES?

Depending on the source, nature and extent of the fire, it may be best to remove all belongings to a secure facility for cleaning, storage and to make room for restoration or construction. ServiceMaster Restore® will work with you and your insurance claims representative to manage this process.

WILL I HAVE ACCESS TO MY BELONGINGS WHILE THEY ARE IN STORAGE?

Yes, with advance notice we can schedule time for a ServiceMaster Restore Restoration Technician to meet with you and provide access to your requested items. A service charge may apply.

WHAT ABOUT SPECIAL ITEMS? ARTWORK, CHINA, HEIRLOOMS, ETC.

Some high-value items require restoration by a specialist. Working with your insurance claims representative, we can help you identify these and locate a qualified restorer.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE SERVICE?

Ultimately you, the property owner, are responsible for payment and will need to sign a form authorizing payment for the restoration services. If this is an insurance claim, ServiceMaster Restore fire damage cleanup generally collects only the deductible (co-payment) amount from you and bills the balance to your insurance provider as a service to you.

If you have a large loss, your mortgage company may be included as a payee on the payment from your insurance company, and you may need to obtain a signature from them as well. If your claim is not covered by insurance or you decide not to file a claim, you will be expected to pay in full.