Can you imagine that each year around 4,000 people in the U.S. die from house fires? According to the National Fire Protection Association, a fire department responded to a fire on average every 20 seconds in the US in 2023. A home fire was reported every 80 seconds, a home fire death happened every 3 hours and 24 minutes, and a home fire injury happened every 33 minutes.
With those terrifying statistics in mind, sadly, fires are the most common occurrence in this country. If you face a fire at your home or business place, you will need first to call the fire department and then a property restoration company.
As you can imagine, the fire restoration process can be a complicated one. To make it easy for you to understand all the steps involved, this post unfolds the typical fire damage restoration process.
What’s Fire Restoration?
The restoration services for fire damage Jacksonville is the process of restoring fire and smoke-damaged property to its pre-loss state. According to the size of the fire and the damage caused, the restoration process can continue from a few weeks to several months until it is completed.
Along with debris removal, odor and soot removal, cleaning, and deodorization, fire restoration can also include property board-up, demolition and complete reconstruction.
Step1. Damage Assessment
Once the area is determined as safe to enter, the experts will assess the damage. Usually, this includes inspecting the structure and determining how far the flames and smoke have penetrated it. Furthermore, they will estimate how comprehensive and lengthy the clean-up will be.
After assessment, the technicians will do any emergency repairs for ensuring safety and security, while restoring and rebuilding. This will include boarding up, erecting a fence, or sealing off portions of the roof to protect the property from further damage.
Step 2. Contents Removal
Next, the restoration team will scan the property to assess what contents may be salvaged. If the cost of restoring the damaged belongings is less than the cost of replacing them, the team will meticulously remove these items.
Step 3. Water Extraction
Water damage typically follows fire damage. The 3rd step includes removing excess water and drying the affected areas. It’s crucial to get the water eliminated quickly as the longer it sits, the more damage it will do to the structure and contents.
Step 4. Cleaning and Decontamination
Soot is acidic to building materials and the contents within the property. So, all harmful byproducts of the fire should be professionally cleaned and safely removed. Moreover, there is an increased chance of mold forming. After the team extracts the water, they’ll perform drying and dehumidifying services to thwart secondary damage.
If a pipe bursts during the fire you may be coping with sewage or greywater that can contain all sorts of bacteria and viruses. The restoration team for fire damage Jacksonville will clean and decontaminate the affected areas after a fire.
The Nutshell
You now understand fully the various steps involved in a fire damage restoration process.