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The moments following a house fire are imperative. Your first call should be to emergency services. Once the emergency is over, you can call Restoration 1 for fire damage restoration services.
During a fire emergency, many property owners will want to race back in and save their possessions. We urge against re-entering the property, as the damage will be considerable. There will be airborne contaminants from the smoke and soot. It’s best to leave the job to the trained professionals.
Why It’s Important to Have a Professional Inspect the Property and Mitigate Fire Damage
There are four primary types of health risks after a property fire: breathing issues, skin issues, eye irritation and long-term health risks. These stem from the embers, smoke and soot left behind.
- Breathing Issues — Breathing in smoke triggers severe coughing, bronchitis, shortness of breath and asthma attacks.
- Skin Issues — The contaminants from soot and smoke irritate the skin, leading to dryness, 3rd-degree burns and itching.
- Eye Irritation — Smoke and soot will cause the eyes to redden and tear up. In time, they can start to itch and worsen, leading to impaired vision and discomfort.
- Long-Term Health Risks — The long-term health risks of fire damage exposure include heart attack, stroke, cancer and developmental issues for infants.
What to Expect from the Team
To avoid short- and long-term health consequences, let IICRC-certified technicians handle the cleanup. Their role is critical in reversing the damage, as they focus on:
- Fire Damage Mitigation — The longer embers sit, the more damage they cause. The same goes for soot settling on furniture and fabrics in the property. The team will ease these to reduce any further property damage.
- Debris & Soot Removal — Soot is a carbon byproduct of burnt material. It is often acidic and harms any surface it touches. Using high-powered HEPA vacuums and expert techniques, the team will remove soot buildup and leftover debris.
- Odor Elimination — Smoke odor removal is a popular service after even the smallest of fires. Smoke tends to seep into every crack and crevice, even closed-off rooms and cause foul odors. These odors then lead to respiratory illness.
- Possessions — Depending on the size of the fire, many possessions will need to be salvaged and disposed of or cleaned and restored. The team will work quickly to recover everything possible.
- Deep Cleaning — As soot and smoke linger, they settle into fabrics, furniture and hard surfaces. The longer they sit, the deeper in they sink. Deep cleaning is a must to remove the odor and stains.
In the aftermath of a property fire, call your local Restoration 1. Within an hour, you’ll have a team on-site to mitigate fire damage and start cleaning now!
