Manteca: Leaving Lights On Can Be a Fire Hazard

4/11/2018 (Permalink)

The worst thing that happens when a light is left on is not necessarily a high electric bill. The heat from many kinds of light bulbs is capable of igniting draperies, bedding, and even rugs and carpeting, among other things. SERVPRO is a resource for the homeowner recovering from a fire set by this or any method.

Although you cannot be certain exactly how it happened, fire damaged your Manteca home after a lit lamp overturned in a bedroom. Perhaps a pet knocked it down, or it was teetering on the edge of a bedside table, but the bed linens caught fire. Fortunately, a neighbor noticed smoke billowing out of an open window and called 911. You rushed home to find the fire out, but damage in the room, the attic and the roof above it.

A call to SERVPRO immediately has our crew arriving right after the fire department authorizes reentry. Fire damage usually poses a complex set of issues, including the obvious charring and destruction to contents and structure, and also water and chemical residue damage, depending on how the first responders extinguished the fire.

Our project manager begins ordering the crew to secure the affected areas from the elements. If the fire burned through the wall or roof to the outside, this is crucial. Then an assessment of the damage ensues. SERVPRO technicians train in safely restoring fire damage, including ensuring that flooring is walkable and that no structural supports are in danger of falling. Water and chemicals make floors slippery, demanding extra care when moving through the rooms for the cleanup crew and the residents.

Items destroyed by flames are bagged for disposal by local rules. Porous articles like mattresses rarely survive unless they untouched by charring, and even then, soot and smoke damage counsel replacement in many cases. Clothing and linens clean up well through laundering or dry cleaning, a task the homeowner may take up to free SERVPRO for more technical matters.

Furniture with soot or other residue needs a dry or wet cleaning, depending on the amount and stickiness of the coating. Our staff uses the least intrusive technique that is effective. Vacuuming and dusting are good for light coverage, while spray and wipe to abrasive cleaners may be needed in other instances. SERVPRO staff checks for charred areas as they emit odors even if cleaned, and determines whether sealing or removal is the best option.

Structural charring requires replacement of key supports, and damaged ceilings and drywall replacement may be less expensive and quicker than laborious cleaning and sealing. Throughout the process of restoration, our project manager and office staff work with your insurer to limit your out of pocket expenses. We provide as much evidence, including our professional opinions, as possible to prove your fire damage claim.