A fire in your home, no matter how small, can be a traumatic event for you and your family. Your first instinct may be to jump in and clean up everything yourself, so your home feels normal again. Although there are many actions you can take after a fire, cleaning isn’t one of them. Cleaning up after a fire can be dangerous because of soot, broken glass, and an assortment of other hazards. The last thing your family needs is an injury or illness added to an already difficult situation. Cleaning a fire-damaged property requires specialized training and equipment, which is why it’s best to hire fire damage restoration specialists to help you recover.
Safety First—Your Health
Even after a fire is out, it leaves a couple of unwanted guests behind—smoke and soot. Although much of the smoke may clear naturally, soot spreads through the whole house and attaches itself to surfaces. Soot is made of tiny carbon particles that are created when materials like wood or plastic are burned. Since homes are made of many different materials, soot can also contain dangerous acids, chemicals, and metals.
Smoke and soot can enter your body through inhalation, ingestion, or by contact with your skin and eyes. Even a small amount of exposure can cause breathing issues like asthma and bronchitis. Long-term exposure to smoke and soot can even cause coronary heart disease and cancer. Infants, the elderly, and people who already have respiratory problems are the most susceptible to smoke and soot exposure. Because soot and smoke are so toxic, just turning on fans or wiping down surfaces isn’t enough—you need professionals who have the right equipment to get rid of these dangerous substances.
Proper Equipment Required
A dust mask and an all-purpose cleanser just aren’t enough to protect you from the dangers of smoke and soot—that’s why it’s so important to hire a professional to do your post-fire clean up. Fire damage restoration specialists have the proper tools and are trained and certified in the latest techniques to safely deal with the removal and cleanup of smoke and soot. They wear safety equipment like respirators and protective clothing to safeguard their lungs, skin, and eyes from toxic materials. They use state-of-the-art tools, like dry chemical sponges, which prevent soot from seeping into surfaces and causing permanent stains. Their cleansers are formulated to clean a wide variety of surfaces from tile and paint to stucco to ensure a minimal loss of property from smoke and soot damage.
Related Topic: What Can Be Safely Salvaged After Fire Damage?
IICRC-Certified Technicians
When choosing a fire damage restoration specialist, be sure to look for one that’s certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification). The IICRC issues Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician (FSRT) and Master Fire and Smoke Restorer (MSR) certifications that teach technicians to document the scope of the fire and minimize further damage, plus how to clean, deodorize, and protect your property. When you use IICRC-certified technicians, you can be sure they are rigorously trained and maintain their industry standing with ongoing education. Most importantly, they’re more likely to find hidden damage that you might miss.
Identification of Additional Damage
Fire damage isn’t limited to the surfaces you can see. Fire restoration specialists know that smoke particles can easily penetrate any crack and crevice, and left untreated, leave particles behind that will smell of smoke for months after a fire. They’re trained to find hidden dangers like food that was exposed to heat, smoke, and firefighting chemicals. Even more importantly, they know how to use ventilation and filtration system tools to prevent, and remove soot buildup in the HVAC system, ensuring a healthy indoor air quality for everyone.
Professional Fire Remediation Services
Whether you’ve had an electrical fire, a grease fire, or you’ve been affected by seasonal wildfires, Rainbow Restoration’s fire remediation and smoke damage restoration services can provide you with the fast, appropriate action that’s necessary to prevent further damage. The experts at Rainbow Restoration arrive prepared with knowledge, tools, and technology you can rely on. They follow a 17-step quality assurance system to deliver the highest possible customer experience, including providing real-time status updates to you and your insurance company.
If you’ve been affected by a fire in your home, call Rainbow Restoration today for 24/7 emergency service or schedule an appointment online fire damage restoration.
