Secondary Issues Caused By Fire Damage

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

This is an example of a small vent hole in the ceiling of residential home in Winston-Salem.

After the last ember has cooled and the first responders have left, many Thomasville homeowners are left with the question ‘What Now?’ If they called the experts at SERVPRO of Lexington/Thomasville, we could create a plan of attack to help get your home or business owners back into your property as quickly as possible while mitigating the secondary damage caused by fire.

What is Secondary Damage?

When property owners think about fire damage, they usually think about the obvious; burned buildings and smoked up walls. And when business owners think about fire damage, they are thinking about lost revenue and business continuity. But the reality is a fire at your property can cause other damage. It can be as extensive as the fire itself, especially if not addressed quickly, and can keep you out of your home or business longer if not addressed promptly.

Water/Mold Damage
When firefighters arrive, they use vase quantities of water to try to save your property. It soaks everything, including furniture, clothes, and even your ductwork. If not adequately cleaned and dried, the water can cause mold damage.

Odors
When a home burns, the materials burn inside release different toxic chemicals and not only require different cleaning techniques but can affect parts of the home unaffected by the fire.

Structural Damage
Fire is not the only thing that can damage a structure during a fire. Sometimes firefighters are required to break windows, doors, or even cut holes in the ceiling or roofs. These vent holes are used to prevent flashovers and help get rid of heat and smoke so firefighters can look for trapped individuals. So you may end up with a hole in your roof even though the fire did not burn through.

Understanding fire damage and all that it entails is critical to ensure proper restoration. If you call SERVPRO of Lexington / Thomasville, we can arrive on the scene any time day or night. We offer 24-hour emergency services, which include emergency board-ups, tarping, and fencing. Then, we can create a custom plan to restore your property to preloss conditions. If you would like to learn more, or have experienced a fire and need assistance, please give us a call at 336-224-2565.