Post Fire: What Next for your Fayetteville home?

6/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is the leader in water and fire mitigation and restoration!

If you are like most people, when you think of fire damage, it conjures up pictures of flames and smoke. Images of charred furniture and walls.  Clothing and linens may have to be replaced or professionally cleaned.  And then you may start to think about the odor that accompanies a residential fire or smoke event. But what are we missing here? When there’s fire, there’s….well, there’s going to be water.  Lots of water. 

If your home or business is equipped with a fire sprinkler system, such a system can release as much as 24 gallons of Water PER MINUTE. Since we are on the subject of Fire Sprinkler Systems (FSS), here are some facts and myths:

According to Tufts Public & Environmental Safety

• Water from a FSS causes more damage vs. the fire itself. False. The damage that the fire leaves behind is much greater than the damage caused by the FSS.
• When the FSS kicks in, every sprinkler head is activated. False. Sprinkler heads are activated on an individual base by temperatures greater than 155 degrees. Fires in residential properties are typically extinguished or controlled by 1 sprinkler head. A study put together during an 80 year period of fire sprinkler use revealed 82% of fires were controlled by 2 or fewer sprinkler heads. Additionally, it was found that 6 or fewer heads controlled 90% of all fires.

What about the fireman’s hose? Also according to the Tufts University research, 80-125 gallons of water is released per minute from the fire hose.

Again, where there’s fire, there will be lots of water. So, what to do about all this water? Here are some simple steps:

• Safety is first and foremost. You can rest assured, when your local fire department is involved, they will communicate to you when your property is safe.
• As soon as you can, call your insurance agent or their claims hot line. Don’t wait on this step because waiting on mitigation will increase the risk of additional damage. And insurance companies do not like that.
• Call SERVPRO! Your insurance carrier (agent or claims representative) may suggest a restoration company and many recommend SERVPRO. However, if they do not, you can still choose SERVPRO. Rest assured, your local SERVPRO franchise will hold the proper licenses and certifications. SERVPRO is properly certified by the IICRC and will evaluate the damage and will coordinate with your insurance companies’ claims department.

Here are some things to avoid:

• DO NOT use electric appliances or anything electronic until your premises is dry.
• DO NOT use a vacuum to remove water. A sump pump is fine.
• DO NOT enter your premise or any room that is not structural sound.

Remember, the damage does not end with the fire itself. And a fire can be overwhelming and obviously devastating. So, call the company who is trained, certified and truly cares about making your Fire Emergency “Like it never even happened.”  

SERVPRO of Fayetteville/Springdale should be your first choice for any residential or commercial restoration needs. Our team of professionals is trained to assess the damage and potential threats, extract and contain the affected area, dry, and restore your property to preloss condition. 

SERVPRO of Fayetteville/Springdale is available 24/7 by calling 479-318-6774.

To learn more about our IICRC certifications, click here.

For more about SERVPRO of Fayetteville/Springdale, click here.