Recent Fire Damage Posts

Common Causes of House Fires and How to Prevent Them

10/28/2024 (Permalink)

Buffalo, NY home on fire House on fire being put out by firefighters

House fires are a severe risk that can cause devastating damage to property and pose significant threats to your family's safety. At SERVPRO® of Central Buffalo, we're committed to helping you understand the common causes of house fires and how to prevent them, ensuring your home remains safe and secure. If you have already experienced a house fire in Buffalo, NY, contact SERVPRO of Central Buffalo for a house fire repair consultation and cleaning services.

What Causes House Fires?

Throughout the colder months, your chances of experiencing a house fire rise. While escaping the colder temperatures with family and friends, we gather indoors and forget about various home hazards. The activities and environment surrounding this time of year are related to the number of accidental fires starting in homes. Today, we'll review the most common causes of house fires and how to prevent them.

Cooking Accidents

One of the leading causes of house fires is cooking accidents. Unattended cooking, grease fires, and flammable items near the stove can all ignite a fire. To prevent cooking-related fires, always stay in the kitchen while cooking, keep flammable items away from heat sources, and use a timer to remind you of cooking tasks. Most importantly, be proactive and keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in an easy-to-reach place.

Heating Equipment

Throughout the cold months, most homeowners rely on heating equipment, such as space heaters and fireplaces, to keep their homes warm. However, heating equipment can lead to house fires if it is improperly used. To prevent a firey accident in your Buffalo home this winter, ensure space heaters are at least three feet away from anything that can burn, and do not leave them unattended. Lastly, you should regularly clean and inspect your fireplace to ensure it is in good working order. Always use a screen to prevent sparks from escaping and keep flammable materials away from the fireplace.

Appliances

Another cause of household fires is appliances such as dryers, ovens, and washing machines. These appliances can cause fires if they malfunction or are improperly maintained. To prevent these types of fires, follow these steps: Clean the lint filter in your dryer regularly and ensure the vent is clear of obstructions. Unplug appliances when not in use and have them serviced regularly to ensure they are in good working order. After cleaning these appliances, you are one step closer to preventing a house fire.

Contact SERVPRO for Fire Damage Restoration

House fires can have devastating consequences, but homeowners can prevent many causes with proper precautions and awareness. By understanding the common causes of house fires and taking proactive steps to address them, you can significantly reduce the fire risk in your home. At SERVPRO of Central Buffalo, we're dedicated to helping you keep your home safe. If you experience a fire at your home in Buffalo, NY, our expert team is here to assist with comprehensive fire damage restoration services. Contact us today at (716) 412-6800 to learn more about our services and how we can help you protect your home and family.

Fire Safety Inside and Out | SERVPRO of Central Buffalo

6/16/2023 (Permalink)

Upclose image of the flames of a fire Have you experienced a fire in your home or business recently? Call SERVPRO of Central Buffalo to restore your space to preloss condition.

Your home should be your sanctuary—a place of comfort and peace, but also a place of joy and entertainment. The place where you watch your kids grow and chase your four-legged friends around the yard.

When something means so much to you, safety has to be one of your top priorities. We don’t want to anticipate disasters, but we have to consider the possibilities so we can prepare for them.

Fire disasters at home can be completely devastating. Even a small fire can cause widespread smoke damage, leaving behind stains and odors in rooms that weren’t even near the flames.

The good news is that most house fires are preventable. When you make fire safety a priority in your home, you can stay prepared and never lose a minute of joy.

Indoor Fire Prevention

Fire safety inside the home should begin with installing smoke detectors on every level and near every sleeping area. These detectors should be tested regularly.

Choose a time when everyone is at home so even the youngest members of your family will know what they sound like. Change your smoke detectors at least every 10 years, or according to manufacturer’s guidelines.

Be electrical-smart about fire safety in your home by never overloading electrical outlets. If the wiring looks like an octopus, there are too many things plugged in. Two out of every five fires are thought to be started by electrical malfunction, with appliances, devices with a heating element and extension cords being some of the most likely culprits.

Cook wisely in the kitchen, and never leave food unattended. It might be tempting to toss dinner in the slow cooker and head out for the day, but it is best to operate any countertop appliance only while you are home so that you can keep a close eye on both the electrical components and the food while it cooks.

Create a family fire safety plan, and practice it often. Make sure information is presented to young children in ways that will not frighten them. Post your escape routes somewhere in your home where everyone can see them, and visit your designated safe spot outside of your home to familiarize your children with the area.

Outdoor Fire Prevention

Most of us have living space that extends into some kind of outdoor area, allowing us to enjoy time in nature without having to travel far. Fire pits and grills can be a great way to make the most of your time outside and offer a great way to entertain, but they also come with fire risks.

Any item that has an open flame should be a safe distance from any structures, loose limbs or other debris. Material designated for the equipment, such as charcoal, propane or pretreated wood, should be the only items used to both start and maintain fires. Roaring bonfires might sound intriguing, but squirting that lighter fluid on your fire pit can leave your backyard charred, start a house fire or even spread to other outdoor areas.

Always check burn requirements and burn bans before lighting any flames outdoors, and if the winds are high, skip them altogether. Your home should be your safe place. Keep it that way by playing fire-safe, indoors and outdoors.

Had a fire in your home and need restoration? Contact us for fast and complete repairs.

Contents Restoration After A Fire

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO trucks ready to service a building after a fire. SERVPRO is available 24/7 when fire has damaged your property.

Our team was recently called into a fire damaged property in which several apartments were in the building were affected. The electrical fire started in the basement on the 3 family home but smoke odors and soot could be found on every floor. When our project manager arrived on the scene she immediately took notice of several personal items that were covered in soot but not damaged. Our team recognized these items could be saved and took them into storage for cleaning and restoration.

We are able to restore several items that many people would not expect salvageable after fire damage. Items such as textiles, like blankets, curtains and clothing, electronics like computers and TVs and furniture can all be cleaned and restored if these items were not directly affected by heat and fire.

This is why SERVPRO is recognized as the #1 Restoration Company to call when your commercial or residential property is affected by fire, smoke or soot. Our team of technicians, and highly trained construction and project managers allow us to work more efficiently to move your project from restoration to reconstruction to completion.

Smoke & Soot Clean-Up, Fire Damage Repair

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Forest fire picture taken from space. SERVPRO fire damage and repair includes soot and smoke odor removal, call us today.

The summer heat waves of 2022 have already broken temperature records all over the world. Spain's meteorologists decided to begin naming these heat wave events (like hurricanes) after the extent of the heat-related destruction and deaths. Forest fires across Europe and the US have forced thousands to flee their homes in search for safer areas. The summer is still only halfway over.

There is little to no chance that residential or commercial properties will survive an out-of control forest fire. But even properties located miles from the flames can suffer fire, smoke and soot damage. SERVPRO is available for help in restoring properties from smoke and soot damage and cleaning up and repairing buildings that have been directly affected by fire.

Our team can manage and solve issues caused by smoke and soot, such as:

  • Sanitizing all surfaces
  • Remove all visible soot
  • Removal of odors
  • Cleaning of textiles (clothings rugs curtains etc.
  • Restoration of furniture
  • Repair of electronics
  • Reconstruction

SERVPRO is your #1 choice for fire restoration. Contact us immediately if your commercial or residential property has been damaged. Our team will respond immediately to your call so that we can save as much of the property that is damaged.

SERVPRO of Central Buffalo: Fire Damage Restoration

6/24/2022 (Permalink)

A collage of 4 pictures shows windows are boarded up on a building after a fire. SERVPRO of Central Buffalo offers 24/7 fire damage restoration services.

SERVPRO of Central Buffalo provides fire damage and repair services to Buffalo New York and all of and the surrounding Niagara County areas. We have been providing reliable restoration services for communities throughout New York, New Jersey Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island since our inception in Westerly, Rhode Island nearly 20 years ago.

First responders are essential when a fire damages a property or home. SERVPRO of Central Buffalo will respond immediately. When it is safe to do so, SERVPRO of Central Buffalo will begin to clean up and restore any property that has not been damaged. If there has been a fire in a residential property, our team will work closely to determine the items that are most important for the homeowner to have as soon as possible. For example, a homeowner might need a computer or other electronic equipment, we can quickly clean those items. If they are not damaged beyond repairs, we will prioritize restoration so that you have them back in 24 to 48 hours. We will also communicate daily with homeowners insurance company to ensure that they are fully informed throughout the entire process.

We can work with all parties if a fire occurs on a commercial property. To help the property manager, and business owners restore the building as well the and business essentials that may have been affected. We are able to scale our services to manage large commercial buildings and clients simultaneously. Our team provides complete restoration, cleaning up, and odor removal services. We can also offer repair and construction services.

Call us immediately if you have any questions about smoke/soot damage or fire damage. We are here to help.

Fire Damage Repair and Clean Up Buffalo NY

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Employees load equipment into a SERVPRO van. SERVPRO of Central Buffalo is available to help when fire damages a home or commercial property. Call us 24/7

After a fire has occurred in a residential or commercial property there are many tasks that need to be completed quickly. It is imperative that after the first responders have deemed the structure safe to enter that a professional disaster restoration team take the next steps to begin restoration.

We will immediately begin the restoration and clean up process by clearing out and storing all items that are not damaged. We will then remove items that can be saved and bring them off-site for cleaning and restoration. Next we will remove all damaged and soaked items and materials from the property so that we can being cleaning and drying the remaining structure.

During the clean up process our technicians will remove soot from all surfaces and use advanced drying equipment to remove moisture and water from the property. They will remove damaged materials like sheetrock, wood and insulation to ensure no water remains to prevent mold growth.

If you have the unfortunate experience of fire damaging your home or commercial property call our team immediately we are locally serving your community and available to help 24/7.