24/7 Rapid Response Disaster Service

Sometimes even a seemingly small can cause large problems. Beyond the damage caused by the flames themselves, soot and other tiny particles can travel through the air to settle on other far-flung surfaces of a property. Smoke stains, water damage, and sodium bicarbonate from fire extinguishers can also cause damage and leave powerful lingering odors behind.

A more serious fire is even more likely to require the services of the fire department or engage an overhead sprinkler system. This can leave enormous amounts of water behind. In some cases, where a fire might be hard to access or difficult to extinguish the firefighters might need to break windows, break down doors, and open-up walls.

Once a property has been compromised by fire, smoke, or water, it starts a clock ticking. The longer you wait to seek remediation and restoration services the more likely you are to encounter further complications. This is why Building Services offers our 24/7 rapid response disaster service to help mitigate the damage caused by fire, smoke, and water.

The Fire, Smoke, and Water Damage Restoration Process

When we are called into a fire damage scene, our technicians get immediately to work. The process starts with an initial evaluation to assess the extent of the damage. Our extensive experience in this area allows us to factor this information into a relatively accurate cost estimate.

Once we have your approval, our technicians will get to work securing the area. This might include boarding up windows and doors, as well as securing tarps to prevent weather intrusion.

This phase of the process might also include water extraction to start the process of drying out the area. When necessary we can also disperse deodorizers to minimize the smell left behind.

Water extraction might involve pumping or vacuuming out any lingering water. This can also help to extricate any leftover fire extinguisher discharge. At Building Services, we use professional-grade air movers in conjunction with commercial grade dehumidifiers to rapidly dry out areas and materials that might be salvageable. This also helps to reduce the chances of a water-based mold problem developing in the future.

Just how long it takes for the affected area to dry out can vary depending on the size, damage, and the amount of water that was used. It’s not uncommon for it to take several days to thoroughly dry out a serious fire and water damaged area.

There are different types of damage that can occur in a single fire event.

Professional Smoke Removal And Soot Remediation

For such a tiny thing smoke and soot particles can certain cause a lot of bit time problems. They are acidic by nature and have the potential to cause corrosion issues on metal, as well as stain wood items and furniture.

Reducing airborne soot particles typically calls for air scrubbers, and perhaps thermal fogging, or ozone treatments. These measures might be needed to restore the basic appearance of walls, ceilings, cabinets, and salvageable pieces of furniture. Our technicians will also meticulously clean and purify any related HVAC systems to further prevent soot particles from spreading to other parts of the building.

Our highly trained professional technicians use state-of-the-art techniques to address smoke and soot damage. This phase of the process typically uses advanced ventilating and air filtering equipment to prevent additional exposure to smoke and soot residue.

Once the affected area has been contained our technicians then meticulously clean it from the top to bottom. Some fabric items and other fibrous materials might need to be vacuumed, laundered or otherwise deodorized. In the case of severe soot and smoke damage, offsite restoration services might be required.

Deploying An Effective Deodorizing and Sanitizing Strategy

Smoke, soot, and the aftereffects of fire extinguishers, or water can leave behind some very strong, unpleasant odors. In a relatively short amount of time, they can permeate soft materials, furniture, and fabrics. Our technicians have access to professional strength deodorizing agents, with the techniques and training to remove odors from salvageable materials.

Mold caused by excess water damage can also be a serious threat after a fire. We deploy professional-strength sanitizers to help prevent spores from developing into colonies, which could later affect the air quality of the entire building. This might also include other mold remediation techniques such as strategically placing dehumidifiers or removing saturated flooring

Cosmetic Damage

Where smoke and soot stain or discolor ceilings, walls, carpeting, floors, furniture, and fabrics.

Structural Damage

Can come from the fire itself or from firefighters needed to take down doors and open walls to ensure the fire has been fully extinguished. Also many fires damage ceilings and roofs as well.

Personal Items and Equipment

Can also be damaged by the fire itself or by secondary water damage. This is even more likely to be an issue if the fire started from faulty wiring, or occurred in a place where there were a lot of electronic devices.

Professional Reconstruction Assistance

Reconstruction or rebuilding is the final step in the fire damage restoration process. This might involve things like:

  • Repainting walls and ceilings

  • Replacing drywall

  • Replacing drywall

  • Replacing carpeting

  • Rehanging doors

  • Replacing damaged windows

  • Refinishing or replacing cabinets and counters

  • Refinishing hardwood floors

  • Applying mold preventive measures on porous surfaces

If more serious structural damage has occurred or your roof was compromised a dedicated account manager can coordinate reconstruction efforts with your building’s maintenance staff or third-party contractors.

We will also be able to provide you with all the necessary documentation your insurance provider will request. This will help them to process your claim quickly.