The Impact of Wildfires on Properties and How Homeowners Can Address Soot Damage

6/20/2024 (Permalink)

Homeowners guide to addressing soot/smoke damage to their properties.

Wildfires can cause widespread devastation, affecting entire communities and leaving behind significant damage to properties. Even if your home survives the flames, the aftermath of a wildfire can still pose serious risks. One of the most common issues homeowners face after a wildfire is soot damage. Here, we explore the effects of wildfires on properties and provide actionable steps for homeowners dealing with soot damage.

The Effects of Wildfires on Properties

1. Structural Damage: While direct fire damage is the most obvious threat, the heat generated by wildfires can weaken structural components of buildings, making them unsafe.
2. Smoke Damage: Smoke can infiltrate homes, leaving behind a persistent odor and potentially harmful residues on walls, ceilings, and furnishings.
3. Soot Damage: Soot is composed of tiny carbon particles that can settle on surfaces throughout a home, causing discoloration, corrosion, and health hazards.
4. Water Damage: Efforts to extinguish wildfires often involve large amounts of water, which can lead to water damage in homes, further complicating the cleanup process.
5. Air Quality Issues: The fine particles in smoke and soot can degrade indoor air quality, posing respiratory risks, particularly to vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and those with preexisting health conditions.

Actions Homeowners Need to Take for Soot Damage

If you suspect your home has suffered soot damage after a wildfire, it’s crucial to act promptly to mitigate further damage and health risks. Here are the steps to take:

1. Ensure Safety First: Before re-entering your home, ensure it has been declared safe by local authorities. Wear protective gear such as masks, gloves, and goggles to avoid inhaling or coming into contact with hazardous particles.

2. Assess the Damage: Perform a thorough inspection to identify areas affected by soot. Look for discoloration on walls, ceilings, and furniture, and check for a lingering smoke odor.

3. Contact Your Insurance Company: Notify your insurance company about the damage as soon as possible. Document the damage with photos and detailed notes to support your claim.

4. Ventilate Your Home: Improve air circulation by opening windows and using fans to help clear out lingering smoke and soot particles. Air purifiers with HEPA filters can also help improve indoor air quality.

5. Avoid DIY Cleaning: Soot cleanup requires specialized knowledge and equipment. Attempting to clean it yourself can spread particles and potentially cause more harm. Instead, contact a professional restoration company experienced in soot and smoke damage.

6. Professional Cleaning and Restoration:

   • SERVPRO® Soot Removal: Professionals at SERVPRO use industrial-grade vacuums and specialized cleaning agents to remove soot from surfaces. They have the expertise to clean various materials without causing further damage.
   • SERVPRO Odor Removal: SERVPRO uses techniques like thermal fogging, ozone treatment, and hydroxyl generators to eliminate smoke odors from your home.
   • SERVPRO Air Duct Cleaning: Soot and smoke particles can accumulate in your HVAC system. SERVPRO's professional cleaning ensures that your air ducts are free of contaminants, preventing them from being recirculated throughout your home.

7. Evaluate and Replace Damaged Items: Some items, especially porous materials like upholstered furniture, carpets, and clothing, may need to be replaced if they are heavily contaminated with soot and smoke. SERVPRO can assist with the evaluation and cleaning or replacement of these items.

8. Implement Preventative Measures:

   • Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Create defensible space around your property by using fire-resistant plants and materials.
   • Home Hardening: Upgrade your home with fire-resistant building materials, such as metal roofing and fire-resistant siding, to reduce future wildfire risks.
   • Emergency Preparedness: Develop and practice a wildfire evacuation plan. Keep an emergency supply kit on hand and stay informed about local wildfire risks and warnings.

Conclusion

Wildfires are a formidable natural disaster, but understanding the potential impacts on your property and knowing how to address soot damage can help you recover more effectively. Acting swiftly and enlisting professional help, such as that provided by SERVPRO of Alhambra, are crucial steps in restoring your home to its pre-fire condition while ensuring the safety and well-being of your family. Stay informed, prepared, and proactive to protect your home from the ongoing threat of wildfires.

24 Hour Service Even on Christmas

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

Happy Holidays!

It's almost the best time of the year again, Christmas! We all love this time of the year whether you like putting up your Christmas tree, putting lights all around your home, or even baking cookies and having hot chocolate by the fireplace. Even with is being the jolliest holiday of the year accidents can still happen. It is important to keep safety at the top of your mind when getting your home ready for this holiday.

“According to the National Fire Protection Association, electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 44% of home Christmas tree fires. Though Christmas tree fires may not be common, they can be devastating to more than the house itself. They can destroy irreplaceable photos, mementos, and family heirlooms and even cost lives,” says Isaacson. “To help keep your holidays bright and your home and family safe, use common sense with candles and tree placement, and follow these important home decorating guidelines.”

For more info please visit www.SERVPRO.com

Smoke & Soot

11/18/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Alhambra will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call Us Today – (626) 283-5875

Portable Electric Heater Safety

10/19/2021 (Permalink)

Portable Heater causing a fire

As winter begins to hit southern California and temperature begins to drop, you may choose to buy a space heater for warm up your home, apartment, or work space. Space heaters are a good alternative if you do not want to turn up your thermostat to heat up your home. However, space heaters, if not used correctly, can cause fire damage to your property. Here are some tips that you can use to prevent any disaster caused by a space heater:

• Leave the heater on level floor, don’t place on carpet - it can overheat and start a fire
• Do not use in bathroom, unless it is designed for it - moisture can damage the heater
• Keep three feet away from flammable materials and out of the way of children and pets
• Should always be plugged directly into wall outlet, don’t use with extension cord because it can cause overheating
• Don’t leave heater unattended, make sure to unplug when not in use
• Install smoke alarms on every floor

Halloween Fire Horrors

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

Halloween Fire Horrors

We all love a fun and festive Halloween with friends and family and the trick-or-treating children right? YES! That does also mean that we need to be extra careful with the cool decorations we put out and the costumes we make or buy. It might not seem like it but those pumpkins we love to carve and use to light up the doorway can have many dangers if you're not careful!

Here are some tips to keep your home safe this year:

• Swap out the old fashioned fire candle to light up your Jack-O-Lantern with battery powered candles or glow sticks
• If you do end up using fire candles please keep them away from any drought tolerant pants or fires.
• For the trick-or-treating children: teach them to stay away from lit pumpkins, do not kick them or move them in anyway
• Use a flashlight when out getting your sweet treats!

According to the National Fire Protecting Association (nfpa.org) 

• • From 2014-2018, an average of 770 home structure fires began with decorations per year. 
  • More than two of every five (44%) of these fires occurred because the decorations were too close to a heat source, such as a candle or hot equipment.
  • More than one-third (36%) of these fires were started by candles.
  • More than one-fifth (22%) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen; 16% began in the living room.

Source: NFPA Applied Research

For more tips on Halloween safety visit; https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Halloween

Fire Damage Tips

8/25/2021 (Permalink)

Fire Damage

In Southern California, we are known to have summer temperatures all year round which makes it common for fires to break out. A house can easily catch fire for a number of different reasons but they can be easily avoided if you take the right measures. Below are some of the most common causes of house fires, and some tips to prevent them.

1. Cooking – Almost 50% of all accidental house fires are cooking related. Pots and pans can easily overheat and cause a fire if the person cooking leaves cooking unattended. Always make sure there is someone in the room while the stove is on.
2. Heating - Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from anything that could easily catch fire such as furniture, curtains, clothes and even yourself. If you have a furnace, get it inspected once a year to make sure it is working to safety standards.
3. Electrical Malfunction – Fires that are the result of electrical hazards occur in homes with inadequate wiring. Some signs to see if you’ve bad wiring are: 1) Lights dim if you use another appliance; 2) For an appliance to work, you have to disconnect another; 3) Fuses blow or trip the circuit frequently. If you have any doubts or concerns about your electric wiring, call your landlord immediately or have a licensed electrician come and inspect you house.
4. Open Flame - Candles look and smell nice, but if they are left unattended they can cause a room to burst into flames. Keep candles away from any obviously flammable items such as books and tissue boxes. Always blow a candle out before leaving a room.
5. Faulty Appliances - An electrical appliance, such as a toaster can start a fire if it is faulty or has a frayed cord. A power source that is overloaded with one or more adapter plug can cause a fire from an overuse of electricity. An extension cord can also be a fire hazard if not used appropriately. Remember to unplug all appliances that are not in use.

Most of house fires are unintentional but taking precautions can help you avoid a fire in your home and ensure the safety of your family. However if any accidents do occur, don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Alhambra at 626-283-5875 to help you with all of your fire damage needs.

For more fire statistics in the United States, visit https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/#what

Smoke and Soot Damage

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot can be very invasive and can go into the smallest crevices in your home or property which can cause hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience will allow us to inspect and accurately figure out and assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.

When inspecting smoke damage, there are two types of smoke – Dry Smoke and Wet Smoke.

Dry Smoke is virtually invisible, discolors paint and has extreme pungent odor. It is usually caused by fast burning and very high temperatures which causes the heat to rise, therefore the smoke to rise as well.

Wet smoke, on the other hand, is caused by plastic and rubber usually. These burns are low heat and has a pungent odor and smells very smeary. Smoke webs are also very difficult to clean.

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care. If you have more questions, please call us at (626) 283-5875!

2019 Summer Tips to Prevent House Fires.

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

Since it is summer, it is important to make sure your home is safe from any causes of common house fires. A house can easily catch fire for a lot of different reasons but they can all be easily avoided if you take the right steps. Some steps include:

• Electrical Malfunction – Making sure all electrical hazards are looked after and fixing bad wires.
• Open Flame – Making sure to blow out candles before they are left unattended.
• Cooking - Almost 50% of all accidental house fires are cooking related. Pots and pans can easily overheat and cause a fire if the person cooking leaves cooking unattended. Always make sure there is someone in the room while the stove is on.

• Faulty Appliances - An electrical appliance, such as a toaster can start a fire if it is faulty or has a frayed cord. A power source that is overloaded with one or more adapter plug can cause a fire from an overuse of electricity. An extension cord can also be a fire hazard if not used appropriately. Remember to unplug all appliances that are not in use.

If any accidents do occur, don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Alhambra at 626-283-5875 to help you with all of your fire damage needs.

Type of Smoke Damage

8/24/2018 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can spread quickly throughout your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Alhambra will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Two things are for certain, is that hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure and that the smoke type can affect the restoration process.

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

· Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

· Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

· Discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.

Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is different, we will tailor our services specifically to your situation. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage and we will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call us at SERVPRO of Alhambra at (626)283-5875.

Independence Day Safety Tips

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

Independence Day is one of America’s biggest holidays where usually, everyone takes the day or night off. The most popular events are barbecues, fireworks, or a trip to the park or beach. It is one of people’s favorite holidays but it can also be hazardous and it is also important to stay safe while having fun.

Here are some tips for the most common activities on July Fourth to remember:

Fireworks:

• Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Never give fireworks to small children.
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby.
• Never attempt to relight a firework if it does not go off
• Never carry fireworks in your pockets.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, or structures.
• Use fireworks outdoors only.
• Keep a safe distance.

Grilling:

• Always watch over a barbecue grill when in use.
• Never grill in any enclosed area like in your house, camper or tent.
• Make sure everyone, including the pets, don’t get too close to the grill.
• Keep the grill out in the open and away from anything that could catch fire.
• Use the long-handled tools made for cooking to avoid burns.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.

Hope everyone has a safe and fun Fourth of July! If fire or smoke damage does occur, please call SERVPRO of Alhambra at (626)283-5875 and we will assess the damage and take care of everything for you.

Common Causes of Fire Damage in Homes

5/25/2018 (Permalink)

House fires can be one of the most terrifying experiences and a house can easily catch fire for many different reasons but they can be easily avoided if the right measures are taken. Here are some tips that can help you prevent common house fires.

• The first common cause of house fires is from cooking. About 50% of all accidental house fires are started from cooking related instances. Pots and pans can be easily overheated if not properly attended. Always make sure there is someone in the kitchen when the stove is on.
• Portable heaters are also easily prone to causing accidental house fires. A way to prevent this is to keep portable heaters at least three feet away from items that could catch fire such as furniture, curtains, clothes, or even yourself. You should also inspect it at least once a year to make sure that it is safe to use.
• Fires could also be caused be by electrical malfunction which occurs when there are inadequate wiring. A sign to see if they are bad wiring are dimming lights when you use another appliance. Another sign is for an appliance to work, you would have to disconnect a different appliance or fuses blow.
• Another common cause if house fire are open flames such as candles. But if they are left unattended they can accidentally catch fire to close by curtains. Always blow out a candle before leaving a room

If an accident ever occurs, please don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Alhambra at (626)283-5875 to help you with fire damage needs.

Earthquake Safety

5/24/2018 (Permalink)

Living in California, you have to always be prepared for an earthquake since this state has been prone to some serious earthquakes in the past. Although, bigger earthquakes, such as the 6.7 one that hit Northridge area of Los Angeles are often pretty rare, even minor earthquakes can damage your homes and property and even cause injuries as well.

The key to preventing and lowering the risk of injury and surviving an earthquake is to plan, prepare, and practice what you will do when an earthquake happens.

Earthquake Drills

During an earthquake drill, practice:

• Get under a study table or desk and hold on to it
• Make sure you know where the disaster and emergency supplies are
• Practice the DROP, COVER, AND HOLD-ON in each safe place
• Drop under a sturdy table or desk and hold on to one of the legs of the table to desk and protect your eyes by keeping your head down
• Doorways are no stronger than any other part of a structure so do not rely on them for protection!
• Stay clear of windows or glass that could shatter or objects that could fall on you
• Always use the stairs if you are above the first floor of a building in the case of power outages or aftershocks
• Stay indoors until the shaking has stopped before you are sure it is safe to exit the building
• When outside of the building, move away from any structures since falling debris could fall and injure someone that is around surrounding buildings still
• Leave a structure when it is safe if you smell gas

Frequent practice will help reinforce safe behavior in an event of an actual earthquake.

Always keep a look out for a possibility of an aftershock. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow the main large earthquake. Aftershock earthquakes can continue over a span of hours, days, and even months afterwards. Usually, the larger the earthquake, the more frequent and numerous the aftershocks are. They can cause as much damage as the main earthquake and some rare cases, a larger earthquake can occur.

More tips and how what to do before, during, and after an earthquake, visit this website here:

http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/earthquake#Before

Wildfire Safety Tips

3/13/2018 (Permalink)

Wildfires are one of the most unpredictable and destructive disasters. In 2016 alone, there were over 60,000 wildfires reported in the United States. There are more chances of a wildfire affecting your home or business if they are close to grasslands. Unfortunately, you can’t fight back against a wildfire that is approaching your home or business, however, you are able to take steps beforehand to protect your home from wildfire.

Some of the things you can do to secure your home or business from a wildfire are:

• Clear combustible materials such as dried leaves.
• Cut down any tree limbs that are 15 feet or closer to the ground. This will help prevent the fire from spreading into your property’s tree line.
• Remove any vines or vegetation that is on the side of your house or business.
• Place any flammable lawn furniture in storage when not in use.
• Opt for non-flammable decor, such as gravel as opposed to wood chips.
• Create an emergency escape plan and talk to town officials about evacuation routes in the area

During a wildfire, prepare to evacuate. Here are some steps to protect your property when you evacuate:

• Moving furniture to the center of rooms and taking down drapes and curtains to prevent combustion.

• Closing all windows and doors to prevent drafts and reduce heat.

• Shutting off natural gas from its source.

• Turning on all lights in your property so that firefighters can more easily see it through smoke.

After a wildfire, only return to the property when it is safe and firefighters have declared it safe. Document the damage and remember to watch out for ash pits and hot spots since they can flare up without warning. Extinguish these ash pits and hot sports immediately if found. When documenting the damage, you should take photographs and video and write out a list documenting the damaged property then contact your insurance company to report the damage.

If you experience fire or water damage, please call SERVPRO of Alhambra at (626)283-5875!

La Tuna Fire

2/15/2018 (Permalink)

This past Labor Day weekend on September 2017, there was an enormous wildfire in Burbank that started in La Tuna. It had burned nearly 7,000 acres of land and destroyed five homes. The wildfire had forced many residents to evacuate from their homes as well as shut down Interstate 210 freeway.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti declared local emergency on Saturday which instructed all city agencies to “take all necessary steps to protect life and property in the area” affected by which is now the largest fire in the city of Los Angeles in the last 50 years.

Two firefighters were unfortunately injured from dehydration and minor burns but thankfully no one was seriously injured from the Many of these firefighters were sent back to California after helping the people in Texas after Hurricane Harvey during the recovery to help with fire relief as well.

There were about 12,000 firefighters battling 19 wildfires across the state of California at that same time. On September 9^th, 2017, the Los Angeles Fire Department declared that the La Tuna fire was a 100% contained.

If your home was affected or still have the smoke smell you can’t get rid of, please call SERVPRO for a free estimate and assistance to getting your home back to the way it was at (626)283-5875.

Fourth of July Safety Tips

7/21/2017 (Permalink)

Fourth of July is arguably the best part of summer. An entire day off work filled with barbecues, fireworks, and a trip to the local park or beach? What more could we possibly ask for. Having fun is great but it’s also important to remember to stay safe.

Have a great day celebrating our beautiful country but remember these useful Firework and Grilling safety tips:

Firework

• Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Never give fireworks to small children.
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby.
• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."
• Never carry fireworks in your pockets.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, or structures.
• Use fireworks outdoors only.
• Keep a safe distance.

Grilling

• Always watch over a barbecue grill when in use.
• Never grill in any enclosed area like in your house, camper or tent.
• Make sure everyone, including the pets, don’t get too close to the grill.
• Keep the grill out in the open and away from anything that could catch fire.
• Use the long-handled tools made for cooking to avoid burns.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. This way you can relax and not worry about getting hurt or lighting things on fire. Fireworks should always be treated with a lot of care and caution. Every year people in this country are accidentally injured while using fireworks and grills. Follow precautions to make sure you and your family stay out of the ER this summer. SERVPRO of Alhambra wishes you a Happy Fourth of July filled with delicious foods and loved ones!

For more information and tips, visit The Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org.

Riverside Plane Crash

5/24/2017 (Permalink)

In February 2017, a tragic accident occurred in Riverside County just east of Los Angeles. Five San Jose natives were on board a twin-engine Cessna 310, when the plane suddenly clipped one home, crashed into another, and the fire engulfed a third home. Two nearby homes were also damaged by the effects of the fire. No one in any of the residences were injured.

Three of the people on board the plane including the pilot died as a result of the horrible accident. Two people were severely injured and taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. One of the victims suffered third-degree burns over 90 percent of her body and has succumb to complications of these extensive burns. Doctors had to amputate her legs, she had remained on a ventilator and feeding tube to breathe and eat. Ensuing almost a month of surgeries and complications, the family has made the decision to take her off life support. The other victim, who is now the sole survivor of the crash, has been transferred to a different hospital and is slowly recovering.

The members on the plane had come from San Jose to Southern California to watch their daughters compete in a cheerleading competition. The young girl's got home safely on a school-chartered bus.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by Riverside County Police. They are looking at environmental factors, pilot’s experience, flight records and the overall condition of the plane. The destroyed homes have been red tagged and the other homes have exterior, smoke and fire damage. SERVPRO of Alhambra was asked to help inspect one of the properties at the loss site to identifying the safety issues and pretesting for restorability. 

Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the families of the victims. A GoFundMe page has been established by a family friend to help raise money for the medical bills, travel expenses and funerals.