How Can I Clean Up the Fire Damage in My Attic?

4/8/2020 (Permalink)

Homeowners have to deal with many things which may include fire damage. Contact SERVPRO right away.

SERVPRO Technicians Can Take Care of Fire Damage in Your Naples Home

Attic fire damage is a fairly common issue, especially in Naples homes with damaged, aged, or improperly installed electrical components. Without fast action, these fires can quickly spread to the rest of your home, leaving you with hefty repair expenses after the fact. Soot and charring from fire damage, combined with saturation from firefighting efforts, can create acidic residues that can corrode surfaces and structures and belongings. Unfortunately, most consumer-grade products are not designed to tackle these highly specific situations.

However, there is a team that can help return your fire-damaged Naples home to its preloss condition at SERVPRO. These Institute of inspection cleaning and restoration certification (IICRC)-certified professionals are trained in disaster mitigation for both fire and water-related damages. Not only can these pros dry your structure after firefighting efforts have occurred, but they can use EPA registered biocides to address residues that might be affecting the safety of your home.

What Sets SERVPRO Technicians Apart From the Rest?

• High-quality training. SERVPRO technicians, franchise owners, and staff alike undertake hands-on courses that cover fire and water damage mitigation, as well as mold remediation, structure, and contents restoration, and many other needs to assist homeowners after a disaster occurs.
• 24-hour availability. SERVPRO teams are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays, to render mitigation services that can restore your home.
• Sophisticated equipment. SERVPRO’s measurement, mitigation, cleanup, and rebuilding technologies both meet and exceed industry standards while providing a consistently high standard of cleanliness.

What Causes Attic Fire Damage?

• Electrical problems. Electrical malfunctions are the single most common culprit behind residential attic fire damage. Overloaded circuits, combined with breaker failures, can lead to an excess drive electrical power that ignites and creates a fire. Electrical arcing is another common source of ignition. FEMA estimates that 43% of all home attic fires stem from this concern.
• HVAC malfunctions. heating and cooling system issues are another major concern for residential attic fires. Approximately 5% of these fires are caused by home heating systems. You can have your system inspected by a professional once or twice a year to mitigate most issues and prevent the buildup of dust, debris, and other flammable materials that might fuel a fire.
• Natural sources. Current data estimates that approximately 13% of residential attic fires stem from natural sources like lightning, rainwater making contact with exposed electrical wires, or fallen trees colliding with the home’s electrical system. While there is no surefire way to safeguard against this type of fire, keeping your roofing in good shape and well-stocked with fire retardant materials can minimize your fire risk.

SERVPRO techs know that disasters never occur on a regular schedule. With that in mind, they strive to respond quickly to fire damage on your Naples property to restore your home to a safe and comfortable condition once more.

What Should I Include in My Fire Damage Insurance Claim?

First things first: after a fire, contact your insurer right away. They can then send an adjuster out to evaluate the damage. In the meantime, you also need to file a proof of loss claim, which entails itemizing damages and losses from the disaster that occurred on your Naples property.

Include the following information in your proof of loss claim:

• A police report that corresponds with the disaster.
• Records of any related injuries, as well as details about other individuals involved.
• Types of losses incurred, as well as their location and when they happened.
• Detailed descriptions of damaged items, including makes, models, and serial numbers where applicable.
• Records of any temporary repairs or other measures you took to protect your home.

Supplement your claim with pictures and videos where possible. SERVPRO technicians can also back these claims with their own inventory systems, photos, and video evidence.

How Can SERVPRO Respond to My Fire Damage Cleanup Needs?

SERVPRO teams can safely remove unsalvageable charred debris with the informed consent of homeowners and insurance adjusters. Before fire damage cleanup can begin, technicians perform water extraction and structural drying services to mitigate the effects of firefighting efforts.

Once your structures are adequately dry, technicians can focus on mitigating fire damage residues, starting with light, loose, and dry deposits before moving on to more substantial damages. Some components may require heavy-duty alkaline cleaners or blast media, like soda ash or corn cobs, to remove the charring. Your belongings may be moved to a SERVPRO warehouse in a pack out for off-site drying.

SERVPRO of Naples / Marco Island minimizes damage to your home and belongings with service that is Faster to Any Size Disaster. You can call (239) 302-5700 to have a 24/7 emergency response team come to your home to begin the mitigation process.