When a Fire Happens, SERVPRO® is Here For You 24/7/365

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

A fire in your residence can leave you unsure of how to save the contents of your home and preserve its structural integrity. Most homeowners can concede that restoring the damage to their home is simply too great a task to handle on their own and choose to seek out reputable and experienced restoration professionals instead.

Finding the right professionals to handle the fire damage in your residence boils down to which reputable company is willing to ensure that the job gets done safely, correctly, and above all else, efficiently. While there might be several options you can choose from, here are some considerations that might set our SERVPRO® team apart.

Rapid response times help to mitigate damages that your home experiences even after a fire have gotten extinguished. This pre-emptive effort helps to keep overall restoration costs down and limits the amount of time the process takes overall. One of our SERVPRO mottos is to be Faster To Any Size Disaster, which is more than just a catchphrase.

Another process that sets our restoration team apart from some of the other options that exist for you to choose is our commitment to the contents of your house. We work quickly to determine at-risk items and remove them from the affected areas of your home for faster and more concentrated restoration efforts, but also to keep further damages from occurring to the items themselves.

These items get cleaned and deodorized individually, along with closer inspection to determine their need for restoration. Once the project nears completion in your home, these cleaned and restored individual items removed from your house get returned to their original positions.

There are many companies that you can choose from when it comes to fire restoration in your home. Our crew works to provide the best quality service encompassing the work that we do in your home and our commitment to providing the best in customer consideration. If you experience a fire in your home, trust our SERVPRO team to help you get things back to pre-damage condition. Give SERVPRO a call!

Don’t wait until it’s too late to make your fire escape plan!

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes, it’s too late to plan and prepare; these things must happen well in advance. Though you, of course, hope to never need to spring a fire escape plan into action, having one in place can save lives. If you don’t have such a plan in your office, or if you haven’t reviewed yours in a while, make this a priority today.

How to Come up With an Effective Escape Plan

Meet Together

An emergency escape plan is at its best when it has input from several key people. This isn’t a plan you or someone else should come up with on a whim. It requires a group discussion and varying ideas.

• Consider selecting an emergency response committee.
• Meet regularly to review past plans and determine what improvements you should make.
• Open the group to your organization; invite people to participate who have experience or expertise in devising such plans.

Know Your Space

If a fire starts in your building, it’s vital that everyone exits in a calm and orderly manner. Employees must be swift, however, and this means they need to know how and where to properly exit. Identify all possible exits on each floor and in all areas of your building.

Assign Roles

You can’t have a mad rush for the stairs or the doors if you need to evacuate the building. You also want someone to sweep the building for stragglers and someone else to count people once you’re outside. Make sure someone is covering these important duties.

Practice Makes Perfect

No fire escape plan should be complete without holding consistent drills. At least annually, practice exiting the building and meeting at a designated spot in a safe location near your building.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to make your fire escape plan. Firefighters and restoration crews will do their jobs. Make sure you do yours too.

So give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are ready to put our expertise, experience and equipment to work for you! 

After A Fire - Now What?

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

Ever since people have owned their own land and built their own homes, proud property owners have sought to give their houses the recovery and restoration work that it needs when disasters strike. While many modern homeowners trust in the efficient response and powerful equipment and products available to our SERVPRO team, some still stay committed to DIY restoration for fire losses in their property. Even the initial tasks like fire debris removal can come with some hazards and risks if residents attempt it without any knowledge of what to expect.

As much as many might like them to, YouTube videos cannot tell you everything you need to know about fire damage in residences. With every situation being uniquely different from other fire loss incidents, it is no surprise why most property owners choose the experience and extensive training of our Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians accredited through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC.) Self-training might help you overcome specific effects in your home, but here are some things that you need to know to address fire debris removal in your damaged house.

Use the Proper PPE

Debris removal can generate considerable dust, spreading particulates and contaminants throughout the environment. Even elements like soot and smoke particles can circulate during controlled demolition tactics and shoveling debris and rubbish from the property. While our professionals can utilize tools like air scrubbers to reduce this threat, it is also recommended to wear appropriate protective equipment. Tyvek suits, safety glasses, respirators, and gloves are among the chief components of safe work attire for debris removal.

Tread Carefully

Appearances can be deceiving after a fire loss incident, especially regarding the structural integrity of specific areas of your home. Though you want to get the mitigation work completed as promptly as possible, be sure to carefully tread throughout affected areas to limit unexpected and injury-causing mishaps like structural collapses and failures.

From our licensed team of residential contractors (RCE-43137) to our restoration specialist that can help with both damage assessment and debris removal, our SERVPRO of Columbus team is here to help. Give us a call anytime! We are faster to your disaster and we will make things "Like it never even happened."

Your Business & Fire: What To Do If The Unthinkable Occurs

5/8/2022 (Permalink)

A house fire can be an upsetting experience. Beyond losing precious items, the aftermath of blazing fire can leave you unsettled and frightened. Once the fire is out, you may immediately think about calling commercial fire restoration and cleanup services, but before you do, consider these steps.

8 Steps to Follow After a Commercial Building Fire

1. Contact your insurance company and request a meeting. If possible, you may want an adjuster on-site during the first walkthrough. If the adjuster cannot visit the site immediately, take pictures.

2. Ask fire officials when it is safe to re-enter the building. The fire may be extinguished, but without knowing the amount of destruction to the structure, you may not be aware of where the safety zone is.

3. Request a copy of the fire report from the fire department. Not only can it have pertinent information for your insurance claim, but it may also have information to help you identify what data is still missing and possibly necessary for fire restoration specialists.

4. To prevent possible looting, or additional vandal destruction, secure the building. Most fire insurance specialists can offer information on how best to protect the structure.

5. Contact a commercial fire cleanup and restoration crew to assess the damage. Professional cleaners can help with water, soot, and smoke cleaning, as well as sanitizing the damaged areas.

6. If emergency personnel turned the electricity off, empty refrigerators and freezers. After emptying them, leave the doors open for air circulation. 

7. If water was used to put out the flames, the wiring might be damaged. Heat and water may also have damaged appliances. Before turning on lights, appliances, or HVAC systems, check with repair services.

8. If the damage is extensive, contact utility companies regarding service. Suspending utilities during restoration is often necessary.

Fire restoration can be a big operation whether it involves minor damage or extensive rebuilding. By following the above steps, you may find the process less stressful or overwhelming. You can also protect your building from additional damage.

If fire hits your Jackson or Jennings County Home, SERVPRO is here for you!

5/7/2022 (Permalink)

If you notice a smell similar to rotten eggs or hear a hissing noise in your home in Columbus then you likely have a gas leak on your hands. To prevent a gas fire from breaking out, quickly take the following three steps.

1. Turn Off the Gas Source

If the smell of gas is very faint, you should try to turn off the source of the leak to prevent a gas explosion. Many times, the leak is coming from a home appliance such as a gas stove, fireplace, water heater, or boiler. If you are certain the gas if coming from one of these, you can often stop the leak directly at the appliance. If you are unable to determine the source, you will need to find your home’s gas meter and turn off the main natural gas shut-off.

2. Ventilate The House

After you’ve successfully turned off the source, you need to ventilate any remaining gas by opening all the windows and doors in the house to allow fresh air in. Do not try to turn on fans, lights, or any other electronics during this process since this can start a gas fire. If necessary, grab a flashlight to help you.

3. Evacuate and Call for Help

If at any point the rotten egg smell seems very strong or you feel unsafe, exit your home immediately in case of a gas explosion. As soon as you are a good distance away from your house, call for help. You can call 911 or dial your utility company’s emergency number. If there is any sign of a fire, you also need to get in contact with a professional fire restoration company to deodorize your home and address any damage.
If you think you smell natural gas leaking in your home, always act quickly to avoid a gas fire. Whether you have time to shut off the gas or need to leave immediately, make sure to prioritize your safety.

If a disaster does strike you, give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to make things "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Asks? How Old Is Your Fire Extinguisher?

3/29/2022 (Permalink)

When was the last time you took time to check the fire extinguisher that sits under your kitchen sink? Or the one hanging from a dusty hook in your Columbus, Indiana garage? If you’re struggling to remember, it’s time to check it. Like any other piece of safety equipment, a home fire extinguisher should be inspected regularly to ensure it’s in proper working condition. A fire extinguisher in good working condition is your first line of defense when a home fire erupts.

Ideally, you should inspect your portable home fire extinguishers every month.

Tips for Performing a Monthly Fire Extinguisher Check

Check the label or tag.

Every fire extinguisher, whether disposable or rechargeable, has a manufacturer’s label or tag. Read the tag and follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance suggestions.

Check the tamper seal.

If the tamper seal has been broken or is cracked, a disposable fire extinguisher needs to be replaced. If it’s rechargeable, it needs to be serviced professionally. Check the locking or pull pin as well to make sure it’s in the correct position. If the pin missing, the fire extinguisher needs to be inspected or serviced by a professional.

Inspect for physical damage.

Physically inspect the fire extinguisher for obvious damage. This may include but is not limited to dents, corrosion, cracks and obvious leakage. If a fire extinguisher has leakage, it’s no longer under full pressure and may not work properly when you need it most. Check the fire extinguisher nozzle as well, to ensure it’s not clogged by grime, dust, bugs or leakage from the unit itself.

Check the pressure gauge.

Check that the pressure gauge needle indicates the fire extinguisher pressure is in the optimum operating range. Often the correct pressure range will be designated by green on the gauge.

Is the fire extinguisher full?

During your monthly check, lift the fire extinguisher and determine if it still feels full. If there has been a leak, it will feel light, and it won’t have the right amount of pressure to work correctly.

Shake it.

If you have a dry chemical fire extinguisher, it should be shaken once a month during your inspection. This helps prevent the chemical dousing agent from solidifying at the bottom of the unit.

Write inspection date on tag.

Keep track of every inspection date by writing it on the fire extinguisher tag.

Ensure easy access to your fire extinguisher.

Fire extinguishers should always be easy to access if there is an emergency. You don’t want to have to search for it once a fire breaks out. Don’t block fire extinguishers with furniture, boxes or any other items. Everyone who lives in the household should know where the closest fire extinguisher is located and how to use it in case of an emergency.

In the event of a fire emergency, first make sure to get people safely away, then call 911. A home fire extinguisher can be used to put out or control small fires, but it’s still safest to call professional fire fighters before you attempt to control a fire on your own. 

Four Steps To Help Reduce Space Heater Fires

3/24/2022 (Permalink)

Space heaters can be very convenient, especially if you have one room in your home that never seems to get enough heat from your central HVAC system. Whether you use a space heater regularly or you only pull it out on the coldest winter days, here are four important steps you should always take to prevent fire damage in Columbus, Indiana from a burned space heater.  1. Clean It Thoroughly
Before you use your space heater for the first time, make sure you clean all visible surfaces thoroughly. Dust and other small particles tend to build up on the heater’s surface and could potentially cause the unit to overheat or catch fire if not removed regularly. 
2. Leave Plenty of Empty Space Around Your Heater
Never put your heater up against a blanket, piece of furniture or any other item. If you do, you’re likely to have a burned space heater before long. Space heaters should always have at least three feet of empty space around them, free from furniture, carpets and other items. 
3. Keep Heaters Away From Kids
Don’t operate a space heater in an area where kids frequently play. To reduce the risk of fire if a child does accidentally knock over the heater, make sure you purchase one that has an emergency shut-off mechanism. You should also keep pets away from heaters whenever possible. 
4. Never Leave a Heater Unattended
Never leave a space heater unattended. If you plan to leave the room for a few minutes or a few hours, turn the space heater off beforehand. You can easily turn it back on when you return. 

Following these preventatives steps will minimize your chances of fire damage while warming your home. If you experience a burned space heater or fire damage even after taking these preventative steps, a fire damage restoration professional can help with your smoke cleanup and restoration needs. So give us a call today! We are faster to any disaster and are ready to help make things "Like it never even happened."