When dealing with the aftermath of a house fire, it’s easy to feel defeated. Many homeowners may need help knowing where to start or what to do with all the damage. This is why calling a professional water and fire restoration company can help get your home back on track. These companies have certified technicians who can assess the repairs needed. They will use water extraction, cleaning, and debris removal processes along with smoke odor elimination techniques to restore your home to its former state pre-fire. They also specialize in attic fire restoration and board-ups, which help maintain the structural integrity of your property while awaiting repair. So don’t let the anxiety of a house fire become too overwhelming – turn to an experienced water and fire damage restoration company for help.
House fires are a serious threat that can have devastating consequences for life and property. Unbelievably, there were over 350,000 home fires across the United States in 2018 – that’s roughly one fire every 63 seconds. There is no single cause of most house blazes; anything from careless cooking to faulty wiring or even a child playing with matches could be responsible for starting them. Prevention should always take priority as it only takes moments for these small sparks to turn into destructive flames endangering both lives and homes alike.
Types Of House Fires
House fires are an unfortunate occurrence that can cause a great deal of damage, not just financially but also emotionally. Although there are multiple causes for a house fire, such as faulty wiring and carelessness when smoking, the three main types of house fires are grease, electrical, and trash can fires.
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Grease fires occur when oil reaches its flash point, and the fire ignites in contact with air or oxygen. Electrical fires often start in overloaded circuits due to wires overheating or short-circuiting when exposed to too much energy. Finally, trash can fires start with improper disposal of items such as cigarettes or matches that may have smoldered unrecognized before bursting into flame. It is important to understand the potential dangers so you can take measures to prevent these types of house fires from occurring.
SMOKE DAMAGE RESTORATION
Putting Out A Grease Fire
Although common in the kitchen, grease fires can cause serious harm if left unchecked. To put out a grease fire safely and effectively in your home while avoiding damage to property or personal health, it is important to remember the acronym S.L.O.C.K: Smother, Leave, Overhead, Cool, and Keep away.
Firstly, smother the fire by covering it with a metal lid or cookie sheet. Make sure that the lid or sheet covers the pan – and then leave the room immediately without lifting the lid off again until the fire has extinguished itself and all heat dissipates. Secondly, turn off any overhead exposure, such as vents or fans, to avoid any kindling material getting airborne and spreading the fire further. Cooler temperatures will also help douse more of an involuntary blaze caused by short-circuiting from heat generated by smoke detectors nearby.
Finally, ensure that you keep children and pets away from this area until you have extinguished the grease fire to avoid any potential escalation of flame due to human movements. With these tips for effective grease fire extinguishment in your home, you should be able to swiftly contain any flame-ups experienced in hopes of a safe end result.
Putting Out A Wood-Burning Fire
Taking all the necessary precautions when dealing with a fire can be stressful and overwhelming. Extinguishing a wood-burning fire in your home requires specific steps to ensure a safe and correct job. Before doing anything, you should make sure that all family members are outside and out of danger. You should never use water on a wood-burning fire because it will only make it worse, but instead, use a fire-resistant blanket. Cover up the entire ember or flame with one blanket and then stack at least two more blankets on top until the flames have completely gone out.
Once you’re confident that you have extinguished the flames and the ashes are cool enough to touch, you may use a vacuum cleaner or small hand-held shovel to remove any remaining hot coals from the area. Taking these precautions will protect your family from harm and help prevent the fire from spreading throughout your home.
Dealing With An Electrical Fire
Putting out an electrical fire in your home can be daunting, but it is important to remain calm and take the necessary steps for safety. The first step to mitigating electrical fires is identifying and unplugging any potential electronics that may be at fault. Once done, you can either evacuate the area or try to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher.
Be mindful of the fact that you should not use water on any electrical fire as they are incredibly dangerous, and further hazardous sparks could ignite. Instead, utilize an appropriate ABC dry chemical or CO2 class extinguisher. Contact the fire department immediately after an electrical fire. They will need to provide additional assistance in verifying safety before reintroducing electricity into the area of concern.
Putting Out A Gas Fire
In the event there is ever an accidental gas fire in your home, it’s important to know what to do. First and foremost, never use water or attempt to smother the blaze with a towel or other combustible materials. Instead, turn off the gas valve adjacent to the fire using a wrench on its round control knob or long-handled tongs. In some cases, you may have to manually lower the main line’s pressure if an emergency shutoff valve isn’t present.
Only when you are certain the flames are no longer being fueled should you try smothering it with an ABC-rated dry chemical extinguisher from a safe distance and douse combustible materials with sand or baking soda until you are sure you have extinguished the fire. Taking action quickly is crucial for preventing any further damage from occurring.
The Aftermath
Recovering from a home fire can be overwhelming, but Strongwater Restoration, your water and fire damage restoration company, is here to help. We are professional water and fire restoration experts with the skills and know-how needed to quickly evaluate the damage and plan an effective course of action for restoring your property to its pre-fire condition. So don’t hesitate; contact us immediately so we can get started on returning you peace of mind.
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