After the blaze: restoring a fire-damaged property

While preventative measures like smoke detectors and caution using flammable materials go a long way in keeping our homes and businesses safe from fires, sometimes disaster still strikes. If your residential or commercial property falls prey to the flames, dealing with the aftermath may seem like an overwhelming task. That’s why it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the best course of action to take immediately following a fire. Here are some guidelines from your fire damage restoration experts in southern Alberta, ServiceMaster of Lethbridge.

Consequences of fire

Flames, smoke, heat and water may have left the majority of your belongings in poor condition. In addition, firefighters may have made holes in your walls or roof to check for hidden flames. Because of the many hazards that are potentially present inside a fire-damaged building, always proceed with extreme caution once firefighters have given you the green light to re-enter. Furthermore:

• Keep pets, young children and anyone with respiratory difficulties out of the building until clean-up is complete
• Do not attempt to reconnect or turn on utilities unless your local fire department has deemed them safe to use
• Stay away from fallen or damaged electrical wires, and alert the fire department if you see any
• Do not eat, drink or inhale anything that has been in contact with smoke, soot, flames or the water used to extinguish the fire

Reasons to hire ServiceMaster of Lethbridge for restoration

As the property owner, you are responsible for making sure your home or business is secured against further damage after a fire. This includes boarding up broken doors and windows, covering holes in the walls and roof and clearing the premises of hazardous debris. A disaster restoration specialist like ServiceMaster of Lethbridge will take care of these tasks to secure your property and begin the cleaning process while you focus on gathering your belongings and assessing the damage.

Keep in mind that the longer you wait before calling in the professionals, the worse the damage will become. This is due in part to the acidic nature of ash, which can cause permanent discolouration of walls and upholstery in only a few days. Workers with experience in fire damage restoration are properly equipped to deal with health hazards, such as mould and mildew growth. They’ll also eliminate lingering odours using industry certified cleaning methods, products and equipment.

How can I participate in the clean-up process?

Leave the heavy lifting to the pros. You will be asked to work with our team to help identify, secure and document fire damage to your contents and personal belongings for your insurance company. Items that can be restored will be either cleaned on site, or professionally inventoried and packed up to be brought back to our facility for further restoration and stored while we continue to repair any structural damages to your property that were caused by the fire.

The most important thing to remember is that when dealing with the aftereffects of a fire, time is of the essence. Don’t let a bad situation get worse: call a 24-hour restoration contractor like ServiceMaster of Lethbridge right away to start getting your life back to normal. We will work with you and your insurance company to ensure the process is as streamlined and stress-free as possible. If you have any questions about our services, get in touch with our team today.