After Your Commercial Fire

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

Following A Commercial Fire

No business in Norman, Ok, wants to stay down any longer than necessary after a catastrophic fire event. Stay informed about common fire cleanup issues in order to maintain continuity and keep your company running smoothly.

1. Immediate Attention

The first concern for any business owner is the safety of the employees. Once firefighters have left the property, do not enter the property until you have been cleared by an inspector. Do not attempt to wade through lower floors that have been inundated by a fire suppression sprinkler or any other form of flooding resulting from fire damage. Emergency services may have shut off your utilities for safety reasons; do not attempt to restore them yourself.

2. Documentation and Prevention

The next steps involve assessing the damage and preventing ongoing problems. Once it is safe to enter the property, begin an inventory of all affected assets, including electronic devices and sensitive paper documents. Contact your insurance agency to send an adjuster who will confirm your claims and begin the proceedings which will allow you to collect on your policy and begin fire cleanup. Many agencies will require that you consult with an IICRC-compliant fire restoration service to begin more complex activities such as roof repair, smoke damage cleaning, and standing water removal.

3. A Note on Roofing

Unfortunately, fighting a fire frequently involves making holes in roofing materials to prevent hot air from accumulating in the upper areas of the building and intensifying the blaze. This ventilation process prevents fire damage overall, but does require extra attention after the fire has been put out. Place tarps or plywood over the holes to prevent rainwater and other environmental hazards from damaging your assets through exposure. You chosen restoration service can assist with tarp services and other temporary enclosure methods.

No business should endure significant downtime from a fire event. Develop a recovery plan for fire cleanup and review it with your employees and consultants.