Flood Response

24/7 Smoke Damage Cleanup
We are in the business of taking care of the tragic moments in life, such as having a fire. We will be on location in 1 hour or less. We are experts in: Smoke Damage Restoration and Soot Damage Cleaning. Fires often start small, but in a very short amount of time can spread to vast amounts of area. If not handled
right, this can often become a tragic and catastrophic event.

When you encounter a fire, you must think and act quickly. If it is a small fire, consider using your own fire extinguisher assuming you know how to use it. But if it's a larger fire, one you're not sure you can handle, then its best to call 911 and have them alert the fire department.

Fire Damage Safety Precautions
During a fire as there can be very toxic chemicals that can be produced as a result of various materials on the building catching fire. This is due to a breakdown reaction from different types of materials such as glues, solvents, and other harmful materials in the building.

It is best to contact somebody that can detect these chemicals and knows how to handle hazardous materials. The damage due to fire loss is tragic due mostly to the unusual behavior of smoke. It is best to have trained experts on location, and we here at Flood Response know how to deal with smoke damage remediation.

We can even have your property tested for toxic gas chemicals and toxic materials, and we can remove smoke odor and soot from inside the location. We can also have smoke odor and soot from artwork, books, machinery, documents, and computers removed.

Properties of Smoke
Smoke is attracted to cool areas and it likes to move up to the top level of a structure.
Smoke can also travel through the plumbing system, using the holes around the pipes to go up floor to floor.
All types of smoke will have a large affect on the process of restoration.

Determining Types of Smoke Damage.
Wet Smoke - wet smoke is associated with smoldering, pungent odor that is sticky and smeary.
Dry Smoke - dry smoke is fast burning, and occurs at high temperatures.
Protein - this is invisible, but it discolors paints and varnishes. It is a very pungent odor.
Fuel Oil Soot - when a furnace (heater) puffs back smoke, it can cause fuel oil soot.
Other Types - Fingerprint powder, tear gas, and even fire extinguisher residue are additional types
After we can determine the type of smoke, our next step in the appraisal the damage is pre testing. This helps us determine:

• What must be replaced and what can be restored
• The most effective cleaning method for the situation
• The condition of the property before the damage happened
• The total extent of the loss

Fires are the second leading cause of accidental death so it is something to take quite seriously. It is important that not only everyone is in safety, but if a fire was to occur, to make sure you are prepared to effectively handle the situation.

Preventative Fire Damage Restoration Tips
Fires in the home are usually caused by accidents that could have been avoided. The best way to protect your home from fire damage is to be aware of potential fire hazards and take the necessary precautions to make sure an accidental fire doesn't happen to you. Here we shall explore two areas in the home that get a lot of use and have a lot of potential fire hazards.

Fire Hazards In the Bedroom
There are many fire hazards lurking in your bedroom. In fact, many fires happen in homes where the household is asleep and unaware of the danger they are in. There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your safety. First, candles are the bane of firefighters' existences. It has become very en vogue to light candles in the bedroom however this is a huge hazard.

If you must light a candle, make sure it is a safe distance away from your window coverings and bedding, as these will go up quickly if they come in contact with flame. Also, do not light candles before you go to bed. If you are about to go to sleep and you forget to blow out your candle, you have put yourself and your family at huge risk. A candle that is in some type of glass container can literally explode if it burns down to it's final embers. Be smart and safe and avoid candles in your home and especially your bedroom.

Preventing Electrical Fires
If you smoke, do not smoke in your bed. Most mattresses these days are made to be flame retardant but you don't want to take the chance of setting of a quickly burning fire. Also make sure that your outlets are not overloaded. This is an easy way to start an electrical fire. Speaking of electrical, do you use an electric blanket in the winter? Most are equipped to turn off if they become overheated but if yours does not, make sure to turn it off before going to sleep. Also make sure your blanket lies flat so that the internal wiring doesn't heat against itself which can cause a fire. And finally, when storing your electric blanket, make sure that it has completely cooled before folding it to be put away. If it is still hot then the wires can ignite.

In the Kitchen
Your kitchen can be one of the largest fire hazards in your home. With an oven, stove, microwave and flammable fabrics such as dish towels and cleaning supplies, this room can be a fire disaster waiting to happen. Be cautious and keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. You never know when something could ignite. Never leave a heat source unattended. This includes your stove top, oven and microwave. In addition, do not store your towels and pot holders near the stove top and same goes for flammable cleaners. A small spark can ignite the fumes that the cleaners let off.

In your microwave, never put any kind of metal or foil to be heated. The easy rule: If it's silver, it doesn't belong. If a grease fire happens, never pour water on it to try and extinguish the flames. This will cause the fire to literally explode. Another good reason to keep a fire extinguisher handy in the kitchen. Remain calm and you can squelch the fire before it grows out of control.