Oklahoma City Property Questions Concerning Fire Damage

6/23/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Answers All Questions About Your Fire Damaged Property in Oklahoma City.

No matter how large or small the fire is in your home, the Oklahoma City smoke and fire damage create problems in ways that you may not imagine. The smoke and oily soot permeate everything and what is not entirely destroyed by the fire and smoke, is often damaged by the water and other chemicals used to put it out.

What Should I Do?
Should I go back into my house and start cleaning? Short answer: No. The explanation of this response is that it could very well be dangerous to go back in due to chemicals released from many of the furnishings, carpets and even, in some cases, the building materials.

The structure may have been weakened, enough, to be in danger of partial collapse. The first call should be to your insurance company, which sends an adjuster to assist you in this effort. The second call should go to a qualified fire damage restoration company like SERVPRO.

What are some of the things that I can keep?
Short answer: It depends on the extent of the fire damage and the amount of water, foam and other chemicals used for extinguishing the flames. A certified fire restoration company is in a much better position to answer this question after they have had an inspection and spoken with your adjuster. Fortunately, SERVPRO is listed as a top restoration provider by most insurance and property management companies.

Problems arise because smoke, soot, water and chemicals infiltrate every porous item in your home. That means removal of the carpets if they are water-logged or contaminated. Also, fabrics that are on furniture, drapes, and all of our clothes require professional cleaning. Special dry cleaning is needed to return these fabrics to pre-smoke and fire damage condition.

The structure, however, is another story.
You may have many questions about many items in your home and the experts from SERVPRO can walk you through your recovery needs. They explain if and why the removal of drywall needs to occur. They show you the fire damage done to many items in your home, so you see it the way they do.

Is it safe to help the restoration crew do their job? NO.
Again, it might be dangerous to be inside, at this point. They begin the process of evacuating the foul air from the home even as they are inspecting the damage. They remove fire-damagedproperty using safety gear. So, it is best if you let them do what they have been trained, insured and bonded to do.

Smoke damage affects everything within the structure because of air circulation that may cross-contaminate previously unaffected rooms during the fire and its aftermath. Some spaces get engulfed in flames, and others are only damaged because of the smoke that travels on the updrafts produced in this situation. HVAC units must remain off, and the duct work vacuumed, sanitized and deodorized.

Calling the best fire restoration company available is the best solution to answer your questions, and concerns and to restore your home. SERVPRO technicians possess an IICRC (the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) plus corporate eLearning to use the most advanced techniques and equipment to restore your Oklahoma City fire damagedhome back to preloss condition "Like it never even happened."

We’re Fire and Water Damage Specialists

SERVPRO of Norman specializes in fire and smoke restoration. With advanced training and equipment we respond promptly to all fire related emergencies in Oklahoma CIty, Norman, and Purcell. Call 24/7 for help. (405) 292-0808