Kitchen Fire? You Should Know What to Do | SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties

12/4/2023 (Permalink)

Fire damage can devastate your home. SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties is here to help clean up the mess once the flames are out.

Are you a self-appointed chef or do you spend as little time in the kitchen as possible? No matter how advanced your cooking skills are, we all need to eat. The risk of suffering from a house fire is always present, but it does increase when you are actively using heat in the kitchen to make your food. 

A single kitchen mishap could lead to serious structural damage not only in your kitchen but throughout your entire house! Knowing what to do to reduce your risk of starting a kitchen fire is essential to your safety. 

Kitchen Tips

The first thing you should always do while you are cooking is stay close by your pan or in the kitchen while you are making your food. Even just stepping away for a moment to take a call or check on something is enough time for a grease bubble to pop or a kitchen towel to catch fire after it was placed too close to a burner.

If you don’t already have a fire extinguisher located in your kitchen, now is a good time to either purchase one or move yours into an accessible location in your kitchen. Everyone in your family should know where it is and how to use it. 

Stopping a Fire From Spreading
If a fire flares up while you are close by, you can take action immediately. Throw a lid on top of a burning pan or use your fire extinguisher to smother the flames. Remember, you should never use water on a grease fire, as it can make the situation much worse. 

If the fire starts in your oven, do not open the oven door. Simply turn off the oven and keep the door shut until the fire has consumed all of the available oxygen and burns out.

Taking control of small fires is one thing, but if the fire ever gets out of hand or grows to a size that you are not comfortable fighting, you are always encouraged to back away and get out of your home as quickly as possible. House fires can consume entire homes in minutes, so get out and stay out while you call 911. 

SERVPRO’s Fire Damage Restoration 

No matter how large or destructive the fire got, suffering a house fire is always an emotional and frustrating experience. Fires almost always cause some level of damage, and it can be overwhelming to think about where to start.

Call SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties as soon as the fire has been put out. We will arrive quickly to remove damaged debris, address smoke odors and tackle repairs. We can even tear down damaged walls or sections of your home and rebuild them to your complete satisfaction. Let us help you recover faster and more thoroughly after a house fire.

Don’t delay. Call SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties for immediate assistance after a house fire. 

Hope in Tragedy

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

As humans, we experience tragedy and loss on a daily basis. We watch as those around us
deal with some sort of catastrophe. As much as we are there for someone for their loss,
nothing ever quite prepares us for when WE are the ones experiencing it. A fire brings
warmth and comfort, but when not controlled it brings chaos, danger and even damage. One
minute you're sitting around the table with family and the next you're literally watching all the
memories you've cherished over the years be covered with smoke and soot. Thankfully, this
doesn't have to be how the story ends. At SERVPRO, while we deal with people during their
most trying times, we have a unique opportunity to step in when needed and bring what was
thought to be “dead”, back to life. Our company has unique ways of cleaning what would
typically be seen as impossible to clean. From the wide range of SERVPRO made products and
a skilled and trained staff, we are poised to help you in your time of need. We take pride in
salvaging what some would deem as impossible to clean or save. As the premiere fire
remediation company, we are ready to serve you, whatever the damage. Not all heroes wear
capes, ours just happen to wear green.

What To Do After A Fire

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

Are you aware of the proper steps to take after a fir? If not, we are here to help. If a fire damage takes over your home follow the steps below to help get your home back as soon as possible.  

Tips:

1. Alert your insurance provider and discuss with them if filing a claim is warranted. Also make sure to note any personal items that were damaged.
2. Contact your local fire department and make sure they have rendered the structure safe to enter.
3. Locate valuables and important documents and gather them together.
4. Be sure to save any receipts you get from the time of the loss forward until the completion of the restoration/reconstruction of the structure. Insurance providers may reimburse you for things such as hotels, food, gas, and other expenditures.
5. Contact your mortgage company and explain to them that you have had a fire loss.

Should you have a fire loss, contact SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount to assist you in the restoration process. 

Fire, Smoke, Soot, OH MY!

12/27/2021 (Permalink)

The complexity of property loss or destruction due to a fire damage is largely due to smoke's unique behavior. Smoke can penetrate any porous material inside and outside the home, which can also include cavities of the structure, which can cause hidden damage and odor.

Having a SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties professional inspect and assess your home after fire damage before beginning the cleaning process saves time. It can prevent the loss of essential items or keepsakes as we can  help put a plan in place for you as you await insurance approval or for the fire department to complete their investigation. 

For a more detailed look on the behavior of smoke, the risk of hidden damage, and how we at SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties can help, please check out our other blog posts. We have several blogs about fires/smoke/soot. 

We are always here to help- so call us today!

Fire Extinguishers

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

As handy as fire extinguisher canisters can be in your home or business for small flare-ups, this suppression system gets designed to put out flames quickly and not to limit the mess that it can make. Often homeowners find that putting out a small fire causes more damage and need for cleanup than the fire itself did. Our professionals can help with all stages of fire recovery from debris removal to cleaning up the residue that extinguishing foam can leave on structural elements and contents of your property.

A fire can stay contained to a small area when you utilize fire extinguishers quickly in your home. The suppression chemicals inside these canisters get designed to smother the fire before it can get out of control, but this protection does not come without a need for extensive cleanup and evaluation of structural integrity. Our SERVPRO Franchise professionals respond to your fire emergency can assess the full scope of the damage and determine the restorative actions that your property requires to return to pre-fire condition.

Cleanup of residue from the extinguisher happens both through conventional cleaning approaches with wet and dry sponges on accessible surfaces, but also requires specialized equipment designed to reach inaccessible areas more easily. It is our focus to provide efficient and effective fire damage cleanup so that you can return to normal life seamlessly.

Carpeted areas often require focused attention as well when cleaning up extinguisher residue. If the carpet has managed to come through the fire unscathed, it still requires our premier cleaning services including steam vacuuming and dry cleaning to pull the chemical residue and any soot or smoke particulates from the fibers of the flooring.

As Summer Comes To An End, Keep Fire Safety In Mind

8/18/2021 (Permalink)

Summer is starting to slowly wind down, and school is about to start for many students. While you're getting those last minute BBQ parties in, there are several safety tips to keep in mind.

According to a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 11,900 Americans were injured by fireworks in 2015, with the majority happening in the month surrounding the Fourth of July. Another 8,700 are injured by charcoal/wood-burning and propane grill fires. A grill should always be supervised when in use. Keep children and pets a safe distance from the grilling area to prevent accidental burns or tipping of the grill. 

Grills also cause an average of 8,900 home structure or outdoor fires. "These fires caused an annual average of 50 civilian injuries and $2 million in direct property damage," according to the National Protection Association (NFPA). 

Summer is a time to enjoy the great outdoors, but it is also important to keep safety in mind. Consider the following tips, provided by the National Fire Protection Association, to keep you and your family safe all summer long.

• When using a charcoal grill, only use starter fluids designed for barbecue grills; do not add fluid after coals have been lit.
• When using a gas grill, ensure the hose connection is tight; check hoses for leaks. Applying soapy water to the hoses will easily and safely reveal any leaks. 
• When camping, always use a flame-retardant tent and set up camp far away from the campfire.
• Always build a campfire downwind from the tent area. Clear vegetation and dig a pit before building your fire. Extinguish the fire before going to sleep or leaving the campsite.
• Store liquid fire starter (not gasoline) away from your tent and campfire and only use dry kindling to freshen a campfire.

If you enjoy lounging by the pool or going for a boat ride to cool off for the summer sun, make sure you exercise caution, especially when children are present. Only swim in approved areas and supervise children at all times when near the water. 

Don't Forget About Dryer Vents!

8/17/2021 (Permalink)

Dryers come equipped with a lint trap to catch and collect the lint and tiny threads that come off of clothing when residents in Fort Collins do their laundry. Over time, larger items, such as broken zippers, can wear tiny holes into the trap. These holes can permit lint to pass through the trap and into the duct. When clogs develop in the interior of the duct, heat can build up and result in a fire.
 
When a home suffers a fire damage because of a clogged duct or exterior vent, fire damage can occur. This is not the only way that a fire can occur, though, and clothing that ignites while in the dryer causes almost as many fires. Our technicians can help you undo the damage and restore your home.
 
Just like we remove charred materials like burnt drywall sections, wooden trim, and destroyed personal belongings, we also remove and replace ducts and vents. SERVPRO helps homeowners prevent such fires by cleaning out ductwork and all related vents. A fire can start in other ducts, unrelated to the dryer, and we can reduce the risk in these areas, also.
 
Cleaning up and removing any destroyed materials makes it much easier for repair work to happen. Doing so also removes any dangers present that could harm you or your children. Pets can also end up injured when they wander into areas that contain fire damage. A fire, no matter how small, can cause a family to experience enough stress without the added crisis of an injury.
 
Sorting through the laundry, both unwashed and already laundered, reveals which items suffer from fire-related defects. We can often remove smoke damage on unique or one-of-a-kind clothing items. The fire's heat can also cause other problems to items in the immediate area. Drying racks and shelves can become unsightly messes, but the small endeavor of installing new ones can help make everything "Like it never even happened."
 
SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties serves the residents of our beautiful city and the surrounding areas when any fire damage adversely affects a home.