Fire Damage Restoration |
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Fire damage is one of the most difficult and complex disasters to resolve as it involves multiple problems and solutions. Not only is it physically and emotionally draining to confront the losses incurred by fire damage, but in order to prevent further damage, the corrective process must begin as soon as the fire marshal deems a house or business safe enough to reenter. Depending on the severity of the fire, restoration can take anywhere from a few days of concentrated cleaning in a small area to many months of cleaning and repair to the structure and contents of the building. Due to the complexity of the procedures necessary to completely clean and restore a property, it is strongly advised that anyone who suffers fire related damage consult or hire professionals. While restoration and reconstruction services for fire damaged goods are sometimes found in separate companies, there are also companies that handle both to ensure an easy and streamlined clean up of the property. Industry professionals are trained by organizations like the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to handle the in-depth process of evaluating and repairing fire damage. These certified professionals are trained to properly evaluate the losses sustained by the property, test the damaged materials, select the most favorable restoration solution, coordinate with insurance professionals and restore the property and contents to their "pre-loss condition".1 Industry professionals are also very aware that though the fire has been contained and extinguished, the damages continue to worsen and it is therefore imperative to begin neutralization, corrosion control and cleaning as soon as possible. While each fire damage restoration company has its own procedures and structure, many of the tasks are undoubtedly the same. Here are some examples of the restoration and reconstruction that might be needed to return a home or business to its pre-loss condition.2 The first way to prevent further damage is to get air circulating through the house by use of fans, ventilation, dehumidifiers and other specialized equipment. All wet items must be dried as soon as possible, and kept away from any undamaged items or areas to avoid mold and mildew. Soot, which is oily and can stain surfaces and items easily, must be removed before attempting to clean or deodorize. The removal of smoke odor is another major task which professionals tackle with "counteractant" chemicals that can break up smoke molecules or specialized procedures like ozone treatments or thermal fogging. Cleaning and restoring furnishings, carpets, draperies and clothing might also require specialized treatments like dry-cleaning or specialized cleaning services. In severe cases, it is sometimes also necessary to replace the attic insulation as it can retain the smoke odor. In short, professional fire damage services can include some or all of the following: air duct cleaning, board-ups, contents cleaning, drapery cleaning, electronics restoration, odor removal, pack outs and storage, professional garment cleaning, truck mounted steam cleaning, upholstery cleaning and many more. Eliminating all fire, smoke and water damage from a site ravaged by fire is no easy task and is more often than not best left to the professionals. Industry workers are trained, certified, and experienced to deal with the complex issues of neutralizing, repairing and restoring a property that has been damaged by fire and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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