The First 3 Steps Toward Fire Recovery

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

The First 3 Steps Toward Fire Recovery

The process of recovering from a fire should start as soon as the flames are extinguished at a business or commercial building in Etowah, OK. Property owners should report the damage to a one-stop mitigation, cleaning, and fire restoration shop. Trained professionals will take the following measures to jumpstart fire damage recovery.

1. Document Damage
Building owners may have an immediate impulse to start cleaning up a property with fire damage. It is important to thoroughly document the condition of the structure and contents in photos and videos.
General commercial property insurance covers fire restoration. It is necessary to demonstrate the extent of damage and have an insurance adjuster visit the location to make a fire insurance claim.

2. Mitigate Damage
After documenting the condition of commercial property, measures can be taken to prevent primary or secondary damage from becoming more severe. Damaged walls or holes in roofing may permit animals, debris, precipitation or trespassers to enter a structure after a fire.
Mitigation may involve boarding up walls, tarping over roof damage or putting up security fencing to restrict access to the premises. If a fire was extinguished with hoses or sprinklers, it may be necessary to extract standing water. Mold spores may begin multiplying within 48 to 72 hours, and residual moisture also intensifies the corrosive and staining effects of soot and smoke.

3. Restrict Access
Anyone who enters the affected portion of a building between the moment a fire breaks out until cleanup is complete can intensify damage to surfaces or contents. In addition to soot cleaning and disinfection, content and smoke cleaning may be necessary prior to reopening.

Commercial property owners should hire trained specialists to mitigate, clean, and restore damage at a building in Etowah, OK. Experts can reduce risks of re-contamination, secondary damage, or other problems that may emerge if fire restoration work is not complete.