Commercial Fire Restoration Services: Immediate Actions

• Consult the fire chief about the safety of the structure and a timeline for reentering the building.
  
  IMPORTANT: Do not reenter the property until the fire chief says it is OK.
  
  
• The fire department will often have your utilities shut or disconnected while they are fighting a fire. Check to be sure they are disconnected before entering the area. Do not attempt to reconnect your utilities yourself, and do not have them restored without approval from the fire department.
• It is best to have a professional look for leaks before resuming utilities.
  
  IMPORTANT: Do not light a match or smoke on the property. And do not use electrical equipment or appliances in the property until they are properly inspected.
  
  
• When you do reenter, be aware of structural damage that may fail, such as charred beams and sagging ceilings. When appropriate, use hard hats and other safety gear.
• Stay away from electrical shock hazards. Standing water and exposed wiring can be a dangerous combination. Be careful of damage inside walls that might not be visible.
• People with allergies and respiratory problems as well as pets should stay out of the area until after clean-up is completed. Ventilating the home can remove soot residues and other harmful airborne irritants.
• If you have a fireproof safe or strongbox that survived the disaster, do not open the box for several hours, as the air inside can keep an extremely high temperature. It could burn everything in the box when the air meets the cool outside air.
• Do not consume any food, drink or medication that was exposed to the heat. These can be chemically altered and dangerous to consume. Contact your pharmacist or physician to replace your medications.

To prevent further damage, you can take these steps. An Apex Restoration professional can assist or perform these for you:

• Open windows for ventilation
• Rub petroleum jelly or other oil on metal surfaces to inhibit oxidation of the metal surfaces.
• Wipe down grout, bath fixtures, countertops and appliances with household cleaners as soon as possible after a fire. Smoke residue can stain these and immediate cleaning can prevent the need to have these items replaced.
• Brush smoke particulate from furnishings and draperies but do not attempt to wash walls, ceilings, or other porous surfaces.
• Dispose of food and can goods exposed to excessive heat.
• Remove and deodorize clothing. Proper smoke damage cleaning is vital. Improper cleaning may set smoke and odor permanently.

Fighting a fire typically results in water damage as well. When applicable, you might take these steps to prevent further damage:

• Remove water from less damaged areas by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe furniture dry.
• Raise furniture out of standing water by placing it on blocks. Do not place anything with dye or color against damp surfaces as the colors may bleed and cause further damage.
• Lift any window treatments off carpet, loop through a non-metal coat hanger, and place hanger on the drapery rod.
• Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings.
• Open furniture drawers, closet doors and luggage to enhance drying.
• Move photos, paintings and art objects to a safe, dry location.
• Remove wet fabrics and dry them as soon as possible. Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.
• Remove damp books from shelves and spread out to dry.
• If damage occurs during a cool season, leave heat on. Do NOT turn the heat up to high as it can accelerate damage. Try to maintain an even temperature of 72°F/ 20°C; if in summer, use an air conditioner if available.

Following these guidelines can control and minimize losses. Contacting a professional in the early stages of a disaster can save you time and money. Most insurance policies require you to mitigate a disaster and take steps to prevent further damage.

Fire Restoration

Stay tuned. We are compiling more examples of our work and will be posting them soon.