12 Fire, Smoke, & Soot Damage Tips

10/29/2018 (Permalink)

Preparation and knowledge reduce your risk of fire damage

If you’ve never experienced a fire you may think the flames cause most or all of the damage. But smoke, soot, and water sometimes are just as damaging. Smoke kills more people than flames. Soot can ruin prized possessions. And the water fire fighters used to put out the flames can damage your property or create more cleanup concerns. Here are 12 important things to know about fires, smoke, and soot.

1. According to Fire Rescue 1, Every year more than 3,800 people die fire related deaths in the U.S. Approximately 18,300 people are injured every year in fires. Most of these fires could have been prevented by practicing proper fire safety and having fire alarms.

2. More people die from inhaling smoke than from the flames. Never think that if you avoid the flames you are safe. Fire can suck all of the oxygen from a room and replace it with poisonous smoke and gases before flames even reach a room. Many times people die from lack of oxygen before the fire reaches their room.

The Dangers of Soot

3. A coating of fine, black dust, soot, is created when wood, coal, or oil-based substances are burned. These carbon particles float into the air and settle anywhere. Inhaling soot can cause severe lung deficiencies or even death.

4. If soot contaminates items in your home or business, a fire restoration service provider like SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield should assess the damage to see if restoration is possible.

For Fire Restoration Services Call SERVPRO Of Glastonbury/Wethersfield At (860) 633-8791

5. Soot produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are responsible for gene mutation for particular groups of genes. They can cause birth defects and increase the chances of getting cancer.

Fire Alarms Save Lives

6. Approximately two-thirds of all fire deaths happen in homes where there’s no working fire alarms. Your chance of dying in a home fire is cut in half if you have working smoke alarms.

7. Spraying water on a typical home fire is a great way to extinguish the flames but the water itself can cause great damage. Make sure, after the fire is out, that your home or business is completely dried. If you don’t, mold, mildew, and other consequences will lead to further damage and loss. This is one reason why SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield uses industrial dehumidifiers and air movers to dry saturated carpets, padding, furniture, and any other wet items.

8. Mold colonies can begin to grow just 48 hours after water damage occurs. The combination of fire, water, and mold damage to your commercial property or home could result in a complete loss if not handled properly.

9. Be careful if you decide to do some cleanup after a fire by yourself. Wear heavy-duty gloves, safety goggles, and a face mask. Carefully cover your nose and make sure your safety glasses have no place for dust or soot to get into your eyes. Be sure your local fire department authorities say it’s safe for you to go into the house or structure.

Our Heroes: Firefighters

10. Firefighters are heroes. But before to save people and houses they often have to break windows and cut holes in roofs. As a fire burns, the fire moves up and down and across, growing quickly. Firefighters break windows and cut holes in roofs to provide ventilation that slows the fire’s growth. Ventilation also helps get rid of dark smoke that makes it hard for firefighters to see where they’re going. The holes and broken windows help firefighters fight the fire more quickly.  

For Fire Restoration Services Call SERVPRO Of Glastonbury/Wethersfield At (860) 633-8791

11. Firefighters sometimes have to cut holes in walls, too. That’s necessary for the fire department to be certain the fire is completely out. Fire departments don’t want to risk leaving a fire that’s not visible but is still active inside the walls or in other hidden places.

12. If you have a fire, get a copy of the fire report. In most areas, a fire report is a public document. Ask for it at the fire department or fire marshal’s office. The fire report will help you with information that your insurance company and other official offices may request.

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home you may have as little as two minutes to escape? For more, see Home Fire Safety on the American Red Cross website.

Questions?
Call SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield to discuss. Call 860.633.8791. We’re water damage remediation and fire damage remediation professionals serving homeowners and business owners in Glastonbury, Marlborough, Portland, Rocky Hill, and Wethersfield.

SERVPRO of Glastonbury/Wethersfield
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.633.8791
Fax 860.216.2762
24-hour emergency service