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Fire Damage Leads to Water Damage Leading to Mold Damage
6/7/2019 (Permalink)
Fire, Ash, Smoke and Soot Damage with Wet Contents?
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Firefighting efforts use water to extinguish the fire but also soaks home contents with wet ash, smoke and soot.
When water combines with toxic soot it produces an acidic chemical reaction within cellulose based wall coverings like wallpaper and particle board. Aluminum, Copper and Silver based contents like silverware, decorative vases can become pitted and damaged with long term surface exposure to slimy toxic soot. Finally, the high-pressure water from fire hoses, in fact any water, shot into the crevasses of interior spaces, attics, ceiling, behind walls and along floorboards and carpeting, if not removed and dried quickly will develop the additional and greater problem of toxic black mold.
The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certifies and sets the standards for the cleaning and restoration industries.
Our SERVPRO of North Shasta, Trinity & Greater Tehama Counties experts...
530-222-0200
...study IICRC standards and best practices in water restoration, fire restoration, mold remediation, carpet and upholstery cleaning, and other cleaning and restoration services.
Our on-site Project Manager and technicians bring to homeowners and businesses the following certifications.
- Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician
- Odor Control Technician
- Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning Technician
- Water Damage Restoration Technician
- Applied Structural Drying
- Health & Safety
Wildfire Preparedness - Preventative Steps to Protect your Property
Recognize that large flames don’t have to be close by to burn your home. Wind gusts can blow glowing embers long distances into attic vents, under shingles and into openings in storage sheds and under wood deck porches.
Read the very interesting Smithsonian Magazine article:
Untangling the Physics Behind Drifting Embers, ‘Firenadoes’ and Other Wildfire Phenomena
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides helpful fire preparedness material on key steps you can take to help protect your home and property. CalFire also provides helpful information here.
- Thin out heavy accumulations of flammable brush, trees and vegetation around your property by creating safety zones called “defensible space”. ( In fact, California law requires a 100 foot clearance around homes and structures. For more information read the article: Defensible space for wildfires: It’s the law in California, and it works.)
- Clear combustible materials away from your house, such as piles of firewood, propane tanks and gas grills.
- Use fire-resistant roofing material and shingles like fiberglass, slate, metal, clay and concrete tile.
- Check and enclose sundecks and porches, as well as eaves and overhangs. Remove leaves, trash and other fire hazards away from decks and patios. Especially accumulations of pine needles.
- Clean out rain gutters on a regular basis, since debris can be ignited by wind-blown embers. If used, gutter covers should be noncombustible.
- Cover house vents such as attic vents, soffit vents, or other openings with ¼ inch or smaller corrosion-resistant wire mesh. For chimneys and stovepipes, cover using 12-gauge spark arrestors or woven wire mesh.
- Use fire resistant house siding such as stucco, metal, brick and cement, concrete and rock. Treat wood siding with UL-approved fire-retardant chemicals.
- Treat windows to reduce fire risk. Recommended are dual or triple-paned thermal glass and fire-resistant shutters or drapes. Tempered glass windows and noncombustible awnings can also help reduce your risk.
SERVPRO of North Shasta, Trinity & Greater Tehama Counties is on-call 24/7 – 365 for you!
We are able to amass considerable resources carrying the weight of the known and trusted SERVPRO Franchise Brand and are able to rapidly scale to meet the needs of any disaster. This is why, again and again, insurance agents, real estate agents, facilities and property managers, home and business owners rely upon us as their trusted resource for water, fire, storm and mold cleanup and restoration emergencies.