Recent Fire Damage Posts

Fire Damage & Odors & The Unexpected Aftermath Of a Fire Loss

12/1/2023 (Permalink)

technician cleaning fire soot in a house Cleaning Fire Soot with a Special Technique

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action. 

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.

The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Buckeye will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?

Call Us Today – (623) 248-1148

Cooktops Are Top Culprits in Cooking Fires

11/18/2021 (Permalink)

Stovetop Fire Stovetop Fire Aftermath

As the holiday season approaches, local SERVPRO fire restoration specialist offers stovetop safety tips for home cooks

From 2014 to 2018, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports* that U.S. fire departments were called to an estimated average of 172,900 home structure fires related to cooking each year. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the number of home fires caused by cooking peaks to an average of 470 fires each day.

“These fires are tragic because they result in property damage, displacement of families, injury, and even death,” says fire damage restoration specialist Nicholas Leier of SERVPRO of Buckeye & West Surprise/Wickenburg. “The thing that compounds the tragedy, though, is that there are some simple steps everyone can take to reduce the chance of a cooking fire.” Nicholas urges homeowners to consider these basic guidelines for cooking safety:

  1. Never leave food unattended on a range or cooktop. That’s where 61 percent of home cooking fires start.
  2. Never cook on the stove top when you are sleepy or intoxicated.
  3. Use a timer to remind yourself that you are cooking.
  4. Keep anything flammable – potholders, wooden utensils, towels, curtains, food wrapping – away from the stovetop.

If you must leave the kitchen for any period, turn off the stove.

Holiday parties and large family gatherings that were postponed last year because of COVID concerns are great to look forward to, but may add distraction in the kitchen, warns Nicholas. “Cooking is such a routine part of our days that it is easy to become complacent about these basic safety steps,” says Nicholas, “but the statistics show that unattended cooking is the number one cause of home cooking fires and casualties.

Whether you are cooking for the holidays or simply preparing an everyday meal, it is important to stay alert and focused on what’s happening on and around your stovetop.”

SERVPRO is an industry leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services. For more fire prevention and fire safety tips and information about fire and water damage restoration services, please visit www.SERVPRObuckeye.com, or find us on Facebook. For more information on SERVPRO of Buckeye & West surprise/ Wickenburg, please contact our office team at 623-248-1148