The Vital Basics of Smoke Alarm Maintenance | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

4/7/2023 (Permalink)

Check the batteries in your smoke detectors regularly to better protect the one you love and your property.

Smoke alarms are essential to your Atlanta home, and you may not realize it until the day comes when they save your life. While it is easy to forget about this tool when it isn’t beeping in your ears, you must keep it in order to keep everyone in your home safe.

Smoke alarms shouldn’t be ignored once they’re installed, and they’ll require your ongoing maintenance to stay in good working order. When flames finally appear, the work you put in to keep your alarms in working order could mean the difference between life and death!

Follow our recommendations for maintaining your smoke alarm and keeping your Atlanta home free of fire for years to come:

What’s That Beeping Noise?

When you first hear a smoke alarm beep, it can make you panic and cause you to run around your house looking for a fire. If there is no smoke, that annoying chirping could indicate that your smoke alarm needs to be serviced.

Low batteries are the most common cause of a misbehaving smoke alarm. When the batteries in your alarm begin to fail, you’ll hear a chirping sound every now and then, indicating that it needs to be replaced.

Another common cause of beeping is that your alarm needs to be completely replaced. Replacing the batteries will not suffice in this case, and you will need to have a new model installed.

Keep Everything in Check

To protect your ears from that painful beeping when there’s no fire to be found, you’ll need to perform constant TLC! These actions will ensure your smoke alarms are on the job if flames were to break out.

You shouldn’t just check the batteries in your smoke alarms when the time changes; you should check them at the end of each month! This will ensure all of your alarms are in good working order all year long.

With working batteries, smoke alarms can stay in working order for a long time, but they don’t last forever! Retire all of your alarms after 10 years and replace them with a new model.

Are They in the Correct Location?

Your smoke alarms will work best if you install the appropriate number in the appropriate spots in your Atlanta home. This ensures that your home’s alarms notify you as soon as there is a fire.

The amount you need in your home will vary depending on its size, but it’s a good idea to keep one on each level, inside each bedroom and hallway. Keep them a safe distance away from your cooking appliances, bathrooms and windows to avoid false alarms.

Once your alarms are placed perfectly, remember to test them every month to ensure every alarm inside your home is good to go!

When you have major fire damage, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help. Give us a call, and we’ll rapidly eliminate traces of smoke, soot and flames!

These Things Could Start a Fire in Your Atlanta Home | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

4/3/2023 (Permalink)

If your Atlanta home suffers fire or smoke damage call SERVPRO of South Atlanta. We make Atlanta fire and smoke damage "Like it never even happened."

There is never just one cause for a fire, and while most fires start in the kitchen, there are numerous other dangers that can lead to disaster. Your Atlanta home contains a few items that, if you are not aware of their impact, could easily spark a fire.

These items may appear to be harmless on the surface, but if not handled carefully, they can quickly ignite. These household components don’t have to be hazardous; there are numerous preventive measures that can assist you in keeping flames at bay.

Read on to learn about a variety of items you might find placed within your Atlanta home that could spark a fire if you aren’t careful.

Candles

Candles are a common household item used to add ambiance or keep the house smelling fresh, but they are also one of the leading causes of house fires. Candles catch fire when they are left unattended, knocked over or come into contact with another flammable object.

One way to avoid flames is to ensure that any candle you light is supervised until you decide to leave the room. You should also light all candles on a sturdy surface to avoid accidentally knocking them over.

Real candles may not be the safest to use in your home if you are clumsy or forgetful, so why not try the alternative? Candle alternatives can provide a pleasant aroma and warm lighting in your home without using an open flame.

Faulty Outlets

Electrical fires are another common reason for household flames, with faulty electrical outlets being the main culprit. You could be plugging your electronics into a faulty outlet without noticing all of the warning signs.

Check the outlets around your home for melted plastic, a burnt odor or a warm covering. If you notice any of these signs, refrain from using the outlet and have the issue repaired as soon as possible.

The Fireplace

Aside from an outdoor fire pit, the only place on your property where you can safely light a fire is a wood-burning fireplace. Because its primary purpose is to contain flames, you may believe it is safe to use as long as it is supervised, but dust, dirt and other debris can pose an unexpected danger.

If you have a fireplace in your Atlanta home, you may not use it much as the warm weather approaches, making it the ideal time to do some spring-cleaning! Regular maintenance will help you avoid the spread of flames when you decide to fire up the fireplace when winter returns.

Contact SERVPRO after flames break out in your home for a rapid response. Our expert team can restore your losses and return you to a flame-free home.

SERVPRO Can Help You Rebuild After a Fire | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

3/20/2023 (Permalink)

For quick repairs following a fire, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of South Atlanta.

No matter the kind of disaster, the mess it leaves behind and the stress it induces can seem inescapable. House fires are an especially devastating crisis, and the damage that flames create can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare brought to life.

If you’re left to face the aftermath of flames, our SERVPRO of South Atlanta experts can be at your rescue with the support you need to get back on track. When you work with us, we handle the loss so you can focus on recovering. As soon as you get in touch, getting your home back to its pre-fire state becomes our top priority.

Learn more about our effective method for restoring the ruins left over by a house fire:

Our Initial Move

Focusing on the health of you and your loved ones comes first in the fire recovery process. When you’re ready to get started, contact our team, and we’ll be on the way!

Because each fire emergency is unique, it is critical for our team to gain a better understanding of your specific situation to devise the most effective restoration plan. Over the phone, we’ll talk for a bit to make sure our team arrives with the right tools to get the job done.

As soon as we arrive, we’ll start by taking a look around to determine the magnitude of your fire-damaged home.

Time to Work

To save you from any more destruction, our team will board up and place tarps on the vulnerable parts of your home to keep everything running smoothly.

With the help of advanced technologies and certified practices, our team moves even quicker to get your ceilings, walls, floors and any other damaged parts of your home back to normal. After we extract smoke and soot from every surface, we go the extra mile to return your home to its original condition. A deep-clean that includes sanitization and deodorizing help to save you from bacteria and a nasty odor.

The Final Step in Recovery

The final and most vital part of the restoration is the most exciting for homeowners! Additional rebuilding work like replacing flooring or repainting walls is the cherry on top of the SERVPRO fire restoration method.

If flames resulted in major damage and your home is in need of more complex reconstruction efforts, we’ll gear up and get the job done. No matter how far the flames spread, we have the tools, experience and dedication to get your home back in shape after a fire.

For rapid repairs following a fire, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of South Atlanta! We will work as quickly as possible to return you to a safe and fully restored property.

Serve Up Kitchen Safety in Your Atlanta Home | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to help when fire damage happens. Let us help make your fire disaster "Like it never even happened."

For many, the kitchen is the heart of the home. This bustling room serves as a meeting spot to chat with family and, of course, a place to savor a delicious home-cooked meal. This special area in your home is also a popular spot for residential fires to ignite.

Mistakes such as leaving food to cook unsupervised, placing flammable objects close to heating sources and forgetting to shut off equipment can quickly spark flames in your Atlanta kitchen.
Because kitchen fires are frequently started by carelessness, the key to keeping flames at bay is to be vigilant when cooking.

Whether you’re cooking up breakfast, lunch or dinner, remember these helpful tips next time you’re serving up something tasty.

Smart Cooking Can Prevent Flames

Staying alert whenever you use equipment like your oven or stovetop is the best method to avoid starting a fire in your kitchen. When using a heating source, keep an eye on what you’re cooking and never leave the room without turning it off first. If you have children in your home, keep them at least three feet away from your cooking appliance to prevent injury.

It’s also critical to stock your kitchen with plenty of tools to control flames if they start. Have a smoke alarm installed inside and outside your kitchen so you’ll be alerted in the event of a fire. And make sure to have your alarm installed at least 10 feet away from your cooking equipment to prevent false alarms.

Fire extinguishers are a must-have for households, and having more than one is always safer. In addition to other trouble zones in your home, you should store a fire extinguisher in your
kitchen.

Different types of fires can start in the kitchen, the most common being grease fires and electrical equipment fires. You might turn to your sink when a cooking fire ignites, but this is a huge mistake! Understanding how to properly douse flames in the kitchen will help you keep calamity under control.

Keep It Clean

In 2022, around 61% of all kitchen fires were caused by stovetops. Many of these fires started when flammable objects like clothing, rags, food packaging or cooking utensils were left on or near the stove.

Since the kitchen is packed full of flammable objects, it’s vital to keep everything clean and organized. Before firing up your stove, clean up any nearby items and keep your area organized
as you cook.

Make sure to wipe down and remove any grease, debris or grime before using the heating sources in your kitchen. If accidental flames were to spark, these things would only fuel your
kitchen fire.

When disaster breaks loose in your kitchen, SERVPRO can restore your losses. We can return your home to its pre-fire state so you can get back to cooking!

Stay Safe When Decorating for the Holidays | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

12/21/2022 (Permalink)

Follow SERVPRO's holiday fire safety tips to avoid an unexpected visit from our fire mitigation and restoration team. We are here to help 24/7!

When the holidays roll around, there are so many ways to celebrate. Decking out your home for the holidays is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. However, neglecting safety precautions when decorating is a common cause of holiday fires.

Atlanta’s endless holiday events make it easy to get into the holiday spirit. Visit the Atlanta Zoo to enjoy milk and cookies with Santa or the Botanical Garden Lights for a truly unique holiday light show.

If you decide to stay home for the holidays this year, prioritize safety while you decorate. You’ll be better able to take in everything this magical time of year has to offer when you work to prevent flames in your Atlanta home!

Top Seasonal Hazards

In the United States, fire departments report around 790 holiday fires ignite each year due to decorations.

Heating sources like a fireplace or space heaters setting decorations ablaze were the main source of these fires. Christmas trees and candles are other holiday standards that might spark flames in your home if used improperly.

If your family decorates a real tree, keep it watered and away from any heat sources or open flames. If you choose the artificial version, check the box or look for a tag to verify that it is fire-resistant. Unplug your decorations when you aren’t using them to avoid flames due to overheating.

Take Preventive Measures

“The stocking were hung by the chimney with care” isn’t just a recognizable Christmas line. It’s a great way to remember to keep your holiday décor away from any open flames.

Each day, approximately 20 residential fires are started by candles, so keep them on a safe surface at a distance from all materials. If you use a fireplace to warm up your home, have it cleaned and inspected annually to prevent accidental fires.

Outdoor decorations should never be used indoors. You can prevent igniting an outdoor fire by fastening your holiday lights with insulated nails made to withstand severe weather.

If your family doesn’t already have a fire safety plan in place, this is the perfect time to get everyone involved. Educate your loved ones on these holiday safety practices to keep your Atlanta home fire-free this season. And if a fire wreaks havoc inside your home, SERVPRO is the team to turn to for expert restoration.

Have smoke or fire damage in your house? Contact us today to get cleaned up fast.

Upkeep Is Keeping Your Home Fire-Free | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

12/21/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to help 24/7 no matter what size fire disaster you've experienced. Let us make your fire loss "Like it never even happened".

Being the leader of a household can be both a rewarding and difficult job. Sharing your beloved home with your loved ones will undoubtedly lead to the creation of countless memories and the achievement of many milestones.

It is easy to overlook vital property maintenance when so many other significant events occur within your home. When it comes to preventing household flames, though, consistent upkeep is key to keeping your home and all those precious memories safe.

These straightforward home maintenance chores can help you protect the ones you love most and avert a fire emergency inside your cherished Atlanta property.

Check Your Smoke Alarms

• Smoke alarms are a firefighting fundamental that every home should have, but simply having them installed isn’t enough to keep you safe. Testing and servicing your smoke detectors is an important chore you should prioritize.
• Make sure your smoke alarm is installed correctly and maintained often. Remember to test them once a month, change their batteries at least once a year (unless they have 10-year batteries) and replace your alarms entirely every 10 years.

Practice Your Fire Escape Drill

• Once you’ve created a fire evacuation plan with your family, don’t wait for disaster to strike before utilizing it! You need to walk through your plan ahead of a fire emergency to make sure everyone knows where to go.
• You should practice your escape plan at least twice a year and make any necessary changes along the way. As they say, practice makes perfect, so the more you perform your drill, the more natural it will feel.

Reevaluate Your Family’s Safety Plan

• A lot can change in your home as the years go by. You should take these changes into account when looking over your family’s fire safety plan. Just like your evacuation plan, making necessary changes will only keep you and your family safer.
• New pets, appliances, hazards and even the age of your family members should be considered when looking over your current plan. Making adjustments to your strategy to reflect the changing dynamics of your family will maximize its effectiveness.

If a fire sparks in your Atlanta home, SERVPRO should be one of your very first calls. We’ll erase traces of flames and return you to your happy home before you know it.

Keep Backyard Fires Contained to Prevent Disaster | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

8/11/2022 (Permalink)

If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact SERVPRO of South Atlanta.

There’s no better way to enjoy a warm summer evening than by sitting around a fire in your own backyard. Scary stories, hotdogs and s’mores are just a few ways to create some unforgettable memories with your family.

We put our backyard fires to use for our own enjoyment, preparing a meal, keeping bugs away and as a way to clear out dead debris, but even the most contained fires still carry a number of hazards. The National Park Service states that around 85% of wildfires are ignited by humans.

Georgia experiences around 3,500 wildfires annually, with wildfire season running from February to May. The most common cause of wildfires in Georgia is yard burning leading to the spread of unintentional flames.

Of course, you can still toast your marshmallows, burn your yard trimmings, light your tiki torches and barbecue your burgers if local laws allow. Keeping a few precautions in mind every time you burn will allow you to continue enjoying your backyard fires and reduce the risk of hazards.

Recreational Fire Hazards

All open flames can be a danger, but campfires, fire pits, grills and fireworks are some of the most common causes of outdoor fires. Grills are responsible for around 8,800 home fires annually, usually due to improper usage. Before starting your grill, check propane tanks and gas lines that fuel your grill, and keep an eye on your grill during and after use.

When creating a campfire, find a safe area away from any buildings or debris, and only use a match or a lighter to feed the flames. Once you start your campfire, only use wood as a burning source and supervise embers even after you’re done making your s’mores.

Fire pits are an easy way to create a camp-like feel in your own backyard, but this equipment should be used with the same safety measures as a normal campfire. If you’re able to move your fire pit, you should never place it on a wood deck or near an area with an overhang.

While it might seem like an easy way to eliminate construction or household waste, you should only burn approved firewood.

If you plan on celebrating an event with fireworks, be sure to light them in an open area and give them room to land away from forestry, buildings or other debris. In Atlanta, you can set off fireworks between 10 a.m. and 12 midnight, with the exception of select holidays, which allow you to set them off a little later.

Other Outdoor Fire Hazards

Even with their risks, fire and flammable materials can still be put to good use. In the fall, if your yard collects a large number of leaves and you don’t have a waste disposal option, burning your leaves may be the only way to keep your yard clear of debris.

Before you burn anything, make sure your local authorities allow open burning in the first place. Understand any active burn bans, and apply for a permit if necessary. A summer burn ban is in place from May 1 to Sept. 30 in Atlanta. So, you should hold off on any burning until local laws allow it.

Clearing your yard of dead leaves and shrubs is a smart way to safeguard your home from wildfires, along with strategic landscaping to slow fires before they can reach your home. Knowing what is safe to burn and understanding the basic fire safety principles can help you keep any backyard fire under control.

We all use our sheds and garages to store materials like gasoline, but irresponsible storage can have disastrous results. Be sure to only store your gas in approved containers and keep your container in a location where your children cannot reach it.

You should only use gas for its intended purpose as well, so even if you’re having trouble lighting your campfire, don’t use gas for any help.

Before lighting any fire outside, make sure to check the local weather forecasts and local laws. If conditions are very windy or dry, reschedule your campfire and save the s’mores for a better day.

And if your home suffers any damage after a fire, contact the experts at SERVPRO of South Atlanta. Our team has experience restoring residential and commercial properties after they’ve been affected by damage from smoke and flames. We can work as quickly as possible to restore as much of your property as we can.

Burn safely outdoors. And save some chocolate for us! If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact us today to get restoration started faster.

Keep Your Home Tidy to Prevent Fires | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged in a house fire, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help. Contact SERVPRO of South Atlanta for any fire restoration needs.

Fires are a common catastrophe in the United States, with the American Red Cross responding to 20,000 residential fires since the beginning of January alone. This is only a portion of the overall number of fires that has actually occurred in the United States.

Cleaning up clutter from both inside and outside of your Atlanta home is one approach to avoiding fires. Learn how to combat clutter and fires at the same time:

Clear the Clutter

Clutter accumulates in every room of the house, creating a fire hazard in every corner. Keeping your home clear of piles of flammable materials such as books, boxes and cloth might prevent a fire from spreading further.

A floor littered with blankets, toys or paper also endangers firefighters. If a house fire breaks out, it may be difficult for them to find you and get you out quickly. Make sure your floors and doorways are clutter-free.

Create a Defensible Space in Your Yard

While wildfires aren’t as frequent in the Atlanta area as they are in other parts of the country, unintentional outdoor flames can quickly start and spread to your lawn. A well-kept and well-planned yard is one strategy to keep flames from traveling from the yard to your home.

California requires defensible space, a method of slowing the spread of outside fires to your doorstep by designing a layout that sets plants and trees away from your property.

Removing weeds and dead plants from your yard, as well as your roof and gutters, acts as an efficient fire buffer. Cleaning twigs, leaves and pine needles from your roof and gutters can also help avoid the spread of flames to your home.

Keep It Clean & Keep It Safe

A clean home may appear to be a lot of work, but knowing you are secure from unintentional fires can make it all worthwhile. Maintain your home’s cleanliness and keep up with daily household chores.

If you live with others, you can assign different chores to different people, which can speed up cleaning. Dusting, throwing away boxes and food containers, and cleaning out junk drawers are all good places to start.

Cleaning your stove top is also an effective fire prevention chore. Remove any grease and food crumbs from the surface around the stove.

A clean home is more than simply a source of pride—it can also be an efficient method of preventing house fires. You never know what can happen inside or outside your home, so prepare for any disaster by keeping it clutter-free.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta can work to restore your property to its pre-disaster condition, no matter how serious the damage. If you’ve recently suffered from a house fire, call us today at (404) 592-9634 or contact us here.

Why Do House Fires Occur? | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

4/5/2022 (Permalink)

Take a look at the most common ways Atlanta house fires can occur.

House fires are extremely dangerous for a multitude of reasons. Not only do they cause significant amounts of damage, but they can also cause injuries and fatalities to those caught in their path—and often, they come about suddenly, requiring a rapid reaction time. Fires are also traumatic events, and can disrupt the lives of everyone in the household. 

Because house fires are so common (totaling nearly 500,000 in 2020), there is a lot of information out there about why they occur. By understanding what causes house fires, it is our hope that it will be much easier to understand how they can be prevented and what hazards to look out for in your own home. 

Why House Fires Happen 

There are a variety of reasons why house fires occur, but today we will be looking at their most common causes so you know what to be aware of. While this list is far from comprehensive, it can help identify things around the home that are potentially hazardous. 

Hazardous Cooking Techniques 

Cooking is the leading cause of house fires year over year, and while many of us likely do it on autopilot, it is important to remember that using any type of heat source can lead to a fire. Simple errors, such as laying a dishcloth too close to a stove or neglecting to clean out the crumb tray of your toaster, can lead to major kitchen fires in an instant. 

Electrical Outlet Overload 

Electricity is a leading cause of fires, and considering how many electronics most people have in their homes, this is no surprise. Plugging too many things into a wall outlet can easily cause overheating, which is why extension cords should always be used with caution. Additionally, frayed cables can cause sparks which can lead to flames, and should be replaced immediately. 

Unattended Candles 

Candles are a staple of most homes, but leaving them unattended can quickly allow flames to spread throughout the home. Always keep flammable objects well away from candles, and never leave them burning if they will be unattended. 

If you have fire damage in your home, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is the team to call. Get in touch with us 24/7 to learn more about our fire restoration services or to report your damages. SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help with your residential fire cleanup and restoration needs at (404) 505-1760.

Planning a Fire Escape Plan for the First Time | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help Atlanta homeowners when fire damage strikes. Call us 24/7 at 404-505-1760 for restoration & cleanup services.

If you have not yet come up with a fire escape plan for your Atlanta household, now is the time. Having a plan in place for escaping a fire is extremely important—once flames start to spread, you will typically only have about two minutes to escape.

Because fires are frightening events, knowing what to do well in advance is the best way to ensure that you and your loved ones will be able to get out in time. 

It can be difficult to know where to begin if you have never thought about your fire escape plan, but we are here to help. Below, we have listed out some key considerations so you can be certain that you have all your bases covered as you work to keep your Atlanta household fire safe.

What to Consider When Planning Your First Fire Escape Plan

| Who is in your household? | 

• Every household has different needs, so it is important to consider your unique situation from the beginning. For example, if you have young children or pets, your fire escape plan will look different than someone living on their own. Consider who in your household may need help escaping, and be sure to have a plan in place accordingly.

| What is your home’s layout? |

• It is important that you have two exits from every area of the home to account for fires starting from different areas and spreading in different ways. Draw out a blueprint of your home and mark every exit on the map—that way, you will know if areas have an adequate amount and can remedy the situation if they do not. Emergency escape ladders can often be useful for second-floor bedrooms that do not have roof access.

| What are your risk factors? | 

• While fires can break out in unpredictable ways, understanding your unique risk factors can help you know where to focus your planning efforts. For example, if you cook a lot, preparing extensively for a kitchen fire is wise. Additionally, if you use space heaters, candles or other risky objects around the home, consider where these are placed in order to determine your risk factor.

*If your Atlanta home has been damaged due to a house fire or suffered smoke damage, you can count on SERVPRO of South Atlanta to help. We offer 24/7 emergency restoration and cleanup services and can start the restoration process as soon as we arrive on site—contact us today at (404) 505-1760 or visit www.SERVPROsouthatlanta.com to learn more about our fire and smoke damage restoration and cleanup services.

How to Start a Fire and How to Put One Out | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

1/26/2022 (Permalink)

If you have experience fire property damage call SERVPRO of South Atlanta. We make fire damage "Like it never even happened".

Do you remember the tetrahedron from junior high math? A quick refresher—it’s like a pyramid, but with a triangular base instead of a square, all sides having the same area. Geometry lesson over; blog beginning now.

It seems random to bring a tetrahedron into your day, but surprisingly, it’s an important shape in regard to fire safety. Fire is made up of four elements we now call the fire tetrahedron, which are required for a fire to ignite.

Knowing these things is elemental to understanding the nature of fire, and subsequently, how to put one out.

The 4 Things a Fire Needs to Live

| Fuel | Something has to ignite. This is what will disappear after a fire—things like wood or other substances—anything that will burn or melt.

| Heat | The exact amount of necessary heat changes from substance to substance, but almost everything has a point at which it becomes unstable and liable to ignite.

| Oxygen | Fires respond to nearby oxygen to produce the fourth element of a fire, the chemical reaction; to put it simply, oxygen helps the fire grow by feeding it, in the meantime producing carbon monoxide as a byproduct.

| Chemical Chain Reaction | The presence of the first three elements combine to produce a special kind of chain reaction, which will keep occurring until something causes it to stop. Speaking of which…

The 4 Ways to Stop a Fire

| Cool It | This is probably your first thought when you think of stopping a fire. Firefighters use gallons upon gallons of water to cool the fuel (the thing the fire is burning) to a temperature that won’t sustain combustion. Cooling the fuel source to a state of thermal balance means heat is lost faster than heat can be generated. The fuel source will still be very hot, though, so a fair amount of water will boil and evaporate. That’s why it takes so much water to get a fire under control.

| Smother It | A fire can’t live if it can’t breathe. Depriving a fire of the oxygen it needs to continue smothers and kills it. This is simply demonstrated when you snuff a candle, but it can also be done chemically, as we’ll see below.

| Starve It | If a fire runs out of fuel or material to burn—it can’t continue to grow and will shrink out of existence. So one way to kill a fire is to remove the fuel it will head for next, rather than try to put out the elements which are currently on fire. This is often done to deal with wildfires, where a perimeter around the fire may be scorched on purpose in order to contain the fire and starve it out.

| Interrupt the Chain Reaction | Chemical agents like halon can put an end to fires by disrupting the needed chemical reaction that perpetuates them. Halon specifically is very effective, but it has a negative effect on the ozone layer. For this reason, no new halon is being produced, but the existing store can be purchased and sometimes recycled.

*If the fire tetrahedron makes a wreck of your home or business, we’re ready around the clock to help you recover. Contact SERVPRO of South Atlanta at (404) 505-1760 anytime for fast, thorough cleanup and recovery after a fire or visit www.SERVPROsouthatlanta.com for more information on our residential and commercial fire restoration services.

Start the New Year Off With Fire Safety in Mind | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

Check or change your fire detector's batteries and that the detector is in good working order at least twice a year.

The first of the year is a great time to consider the things that are important to you and that you would like to improve in the coming months—and fire safety is no exception! Improving your fire safety efforts is a smart choice for any time of year, but if you are setting up goals for the next 12 months, it is a fantastic thing to consider.

If you would like some tips about how to boost your fire safety around the house, you are in the right place. Read on for some of our favorite tips and tricks to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire.

Fire Safety Goals for a New Year

| Set a Monthly Reminder for Your Smoke Detector Test | It is important that you are testing your smoke detectors at least once per month to make sure they are still sounding properly and do not have dead batteries. Now is a great time to set a monthly reminder on your phone so you can ensure this never slips through the cracks.

| Draft and Practice an Escape Plan | When a fire starts, residents typically have no more than two minutes to get out of the building—which is why knowing what to do is a must. Consider your household escape plan and practice it with everyone in the household at least twice per year. That way, if a fire does break out, it will be easy for everyone to know exactly what to do next.

| Plan Your Laundry Routine with Safety in Mind | Did you know that clothes dryers are a common source of house fires? To cut down on the chances of this happening in your home, experts recommend that you clean out the lint trap before every use, and never leave the dryer running when you are away from the home.

| Check Your Cords and Cables | Frayed cords and cables can be a major fire hazard, as they can lead to sparks that result in flames. Now is a great time to do an audit of all the extension cords and electrical cables in your home so you can check for frays and replace them when necessary.

*If you have home damage due to fire or smoke, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is the restoration company to call. Get in touch with us 24/7 at (404) 592-9634 or visit www.SERVPROsouthatlanta.com to learn more about our restoration process and how we can help.

The Problem of House Fires & What Causes Them | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here for you if your home is affected by fire.

Owning a home is a great way to invest in your future and your family. That’s why we must do everything we can to protect our investment. But despite decades of ad campaigns promoting fire safety, we still see more than a quarter of all reported fires occurring in homes.

That’s why we’re taking a few minutes to step through the most common causes of house fires. Let’s work together to get those numbers down.

| Cooking | 

Something as simple as cooking dinner can be a risk for house fires. Almost half of all house fires begin in the kitchen, and most come from unattended cooking. The best thing you can do while cooking is to remain in the kitchen the entire time when using the oven, stove or a grill.

| Heating Equipment | 

Fewer and fewer house fires start because of heating equipment, but it’s still the reason for 14% of house fires. These fires can result from a piece of equipment malfunctioning or being placed too close to something flammable. Portable space heaters are the main culprit, so it’s imperative to pay close attention when using them.

| Electrical Fires | 

Electrical fires are more common in older homes, but because of frayed wires or faulty outlets, they can happen in any home. Take care to never overload electrical outlets, and avoid using frayed wires or cords. If your house is relatively old, have the electrical system inspected regularly.

| Intentional Fires | 

There are more than 28,000 intentional home fires started every year. And by intentional, we mean they have been purposefully set with the intention of destruction, as opposed to a fire set for another purpose getting out of hand.

| Smoking Materials |

 Despite items like cigarettes being responsible for only 5% of house fires, they are the leading cause of civilian fire deaths. Oftentimes these fires are started because cigarettes or ashes are left burning when people fall asleep.

*Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here for you if your home is affected by fire or smoke damage. Contact your locally owned SERVPRO team, SERVPRO of South Atlanta today at (404) 505-1760 for immediate service or visit www.SERVPROsouthatlanta.com to see how we can help.

Getting Ahead of Fall Fire Safety | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

9/21/2021 (Permalink)

Be mindful about fall fire safety. Always remember that SERVPRO of South Atlanta is the trusted leader in the restoration industry.

We still have a little bit of time before we feel the crisp cool evenings, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to look ahead and dream of cooler weather! Fall temperatures will be here soon enough. In the meantime, as you still get to enjoy evenings by the pool, take a look at a few fall safety tips.

Campfire Safety

Like you do on summer evenings, sitting by a bonfire of some sort can be relaxing during the cooler evenings of fall, too.

• When getting prepared for any kind of campfire, you need to be aware and alert as to where you are going to build your fire. Make sure that it’s away from anything flammable, and only use dry wood or limbs to set it up.
• When lighting your campfire, you should never resort to using an accelerant like kerosene or lighter fluid.
• And like all good things, even campfires have to come to an end. Before you ever leave the campfire, ensure it’s completely extinguished and has been for a while.
• You can make this happen a little faster by slowly dousing the fire with a bucket of water. The water can help ensure that all the embers are put out.

Space Heaters

While here in Atlanta we know that sometimes we can skip fall altogether, it can get chilly sometimes. Rather than starting up the entire heater, a portable space heater can become quite handy. But it’s important to take safety measures.

• Space heaters have truly come a long way since they were originally introduced. They now usually come equipped with an automatic shut-off capability so that if they are knocked over or become too hot they will automatically shut off.
• While this is great, it’s still in your best interest to stay aware and keep heaters away from heavily trafficked areas of the home and keep it settled on a level surface.

Halloween

Halloween is still a few weeks away, clearly the year sneaks by us quicker than we realize. While we will get into further discussion about this holiday (and others) in later blog posts, let’s quickly touch on why you need to be fire-aware. As you get ready to set out your fall and winter holiday décor, it’s important to remember the fire hazards that these items can create. Costumes, candles and décor can all be hazards if not used carefully.

*If your home should suffer fire or smoke damage, remember the trusted leader in the fire restoration and recovery industry...SERVPRO of South Atlanta. You can contact SERVPRO of South Atlanta at (404) 505-1760 to get your property fully restored, including odor removal that will make that annoying smoke smell “Like it never even happened."

Prepping for Wildfires Using Defensible Space | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged by fire or water loss event, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is ready and able to restore your property to preloss condition.

We have all seen the animated bear who encourages you to do your part in helping prevent forest fires. And it’s important, because wildfires happen and create or cause property damage for many people all over the United States. It’s important to do our parts in saving our communities but also our own homes.

Our world is made up of so many combustible materials that wildfires are becoming quite common, and we are lucky to ever stop them at all. We can do our part by doing something as simple as being more careful. But you can also take more decisive steps by practicing fire prevention strategies such as defensible space.

Defining Defensible Space

Defensible space is a barrier that you can help create around your home. While we don’t realize it, there are many things around our homes that can help fuel wildfires, so it’s important to use responsible planting and pruning practices and to incorporate items such as flame-resistant gravel to help lower your risk.

This defensible space is needed to help stop or slow the spread of wildfire as it becomes a threat to your property. By creating a defensible space, you give firefighters their best chance of stopping a wildfire before it takes over your home.

In some states that are particularly wildfire-prone, such as those on the West Coast, defensible space is legally required. In Georgia, it’s not required, but it’s an excellent idea.

Wildfires on the Rampage

California is widely known for their wildfires that seem to take over at times, but truly wildfires happen often and they can happen anywhere. There were over 59,000 wildfires across the United States in 2020. California did account for 10,000+ of those, but the average number of wildfires per state in 2020 was right under 1,000. Here in Georgia, we had 1,699 wildfires last year, burning 5,677 acres of land.

Anything that we can do to help prevent or quell the spread of wildfire must be done. Defensible space is one more way that we can do our part.

*If your home is damaged by fire of any sort, wild or not, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is ready and able to repair the damage caused. Get in touch today at (404) 505-1760 to get the SERVPRO of South Atlanta pros on your team.

Fire Safety When It's Hot Outside | SERVPRO of South Atlanta

6/7/2021 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage is one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of South Atlanta to learn more.

Every year, the warmer months bring about summer vacations, camping and seasonal celebrations! With warmer weather, we tend to forget that fires are often a part of the warmer months as well.

Did you know that spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year? But the good news is that you can take steps to lower your risk.

Here are some areas to pay close attention to:

| The grill | Grills create the perfect combination of flames, heat, grease and gas, which can make things escalate quickly. Make sure you are taking care of the essentials to help prevent a fire. Verify that the grill is in good working condition, have it placed at least three feet away from everything and clean it before each use. Cleaning the grill before each use is particularly important because almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

| Campfire | Keep these tips in mind as you and your family vacation or camp. Never leave your children unattended near a fire pit. It’s also a good idea to keep a bucket of water or drag a water hose close to the pit. You should never add leaves or pine needles to the fire, and finally, put the fire out slowly to avoid scattering embers.

| Chimneys & Dryer Vents | Since most people don’t use a fireplace in the warmer months, this could be the prime time to do the yearly cleaning or maintenance that it needs. It can help avoid a potentially dangerous buildup of ashes. Warmer months also means swimming! Which means lots of towels and other laundry. Make sure you clean out your dryer vent pipe to check for lint buildup.

If you experience a fire, know that SERVPRO of South Atlanta has technicians on hand ²⁴⁄₇! These technicians are ready and waiting, no matter the cause of fire, to help you have it cleaned up. Contact SERVPRO of South Atlanta today to talk with a specialist.

Even a Small Fire Can Cause Odors for Years to Come | Fire Restoration

5/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help 24-hours a day. If your home has experienced smoke or fire damage call us at 404-505-1760.

Any fire in your home is a bad situation to have to deal with. But when you try to clean it up yourself, it can be a disaster twice over. Especially considering that smoke and soot from even a small fire can permanently damage contents throughout a home and cause odors that may resurface for years.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta fire restoration professionals understand how disruptive fire can be for you and your entire family. For this reason SERVPRO of South Atlanta professionals offer 24-hour emergency response, and under normal circumstances, will have trained, uniformed technicians on-site of a fire damage within four hours to begin emergency mitigation services (in most cases SERVPRO professionals will arrive on-site within two hours because we know how crucial a speedy response can be to a fire restoration project). By responding quickly with a full line of fire, smoke and soot cleanup and restoration services. SERVPRO of South Atlanta can help you regain control quickly while deodorizing and protecting your home and belongings. 

Fire, smoke and soot damage in your home can create unpleasant and permanent problems if not properly addressed. As various materials burn, the smoke produced travels throughout the home leaving odorous residue and deposits on surfaces and in those hard to reach places. Unless fast, professional action is taken, these residues and deposits can cause permanent damage to contents and may result in periodically resurfacing odors. Unfortunately, such damage is often made more severe when unprepared homeowners attempt to perform the cleanup themselves.

Trained and Equipped to Find the Source of Odor and Remove Them

All of your restorable items in affected areas will be professionally cleaned and deodorized to preloss condition. This includes furniture, draperies and upholstery, electronics, art, flooring, walls, ceilings, HVAC air ducts, and so much more. SERVPRO of South Atlanta professionals do not merely cover up lingering odors with a fragrance, they seek out the sources of odor and remove them.

Deodorization Process

SERVPRO of South Atlanta fire restoration professionals are trained and equipped to find the sources of smoke odor and to effectively eliminate them from your home. Proper deodorization is vital as smoke odors may appear to be gone, only too reappear months later.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta Emergency Response Guidelines

• Within one hour from notice of loss, SERVPRO of South Atlanta professionals will contact you to arrange for service.
• Within four hours of loss notification, SERVPRO of South Atlanta fire restoration specialists will be on-site to start mitigation and fire restoration services. In most cases our team will be on-site within two hours of notification, because we know time can be of the essence when it comes to fire restoration.
• Within eight business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of the appropriate person.

*Before you risk doing more damage by attempting to clean it up yourself, call your local fire, smoke and soot cleanup and restoration experts at SERVPRO of South Atlanta at (404) 505-1760 or click here and one of our loss coordinators will contact you as soon as possible.

A Fire in One Room Can Damage an Entire Atlanta Home

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help homeowners recover after residential fire damage. Give us a call 24/7 we are always open!

National fire statistics indicate that a residential fire occurs approximately every 90 seconds somewhere in the United States. However, when your home suffers fire damage, only one fire matters to you. Personal belongings are a treasure of life, and a reflection of hard work and achievements. Photographs, books, and other personal items have a value that cannot be put into words. SERVPRO of South Atlanta restoration professionals have the ability to help restore your belongings.

Regardless of the size of the fire event, a fire in one room can damage belongings and surfaces throughout your entire home and cause odors that may last for years. There’s no such thing as an insignificant fire when it comes to our Atlanta, GA customer’s property. So if you’ve experienced a fire loss or need to file a fire claim call SERVPRO of South Atlanta at (404) 505-1760 or click here and one of our loss coordinators will contact you ASAP! We can help restore your property to preloss condition and can make fire damage “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of South Atlanta professionals understand how events like fire can affect your life. Concerns may range from the expense of replacing personal belongings to the emotions associated with losing an actual keepsake or family heirloom. Typically restoring an item will save you money versus replacing the item, relieving your concern of losing priceless treasures. SERVPRO of South Atlanta restoration professionals make up a 24-hour emergency response team, trained in caring for both the home and the homeowner. Our highly trained IICRC Certified and uniformed technicians can be on-site of an Atlanta fire damaged property within four hours to begin emergency mitigation services (in most cases our restoration specialists are on-site in under two hours when responding to an emergency service call). By responding quickly with a full line of fire cleanup and restoration services, SERVPRO of South Atlanta professionals can help you regain control quickly and help protect your home and personal belongings.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta Inventory Services 

Content Claims Inventory & Pack-Out Services

• Emergency Inventory
• Pre-loss Inventory
• Restoration and Replacement Cost Data
• Schedule of Loss-Adjusting Software - Industry Exclusive Access
• Complete Inventory - Total Loss Items, Questionable Items & Restorable Items
• Electronic Reporting - Customizable Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Reports Increase Flexibility

Things to DO while help is on the way:

Limit your movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpet. Keep your hands clean, soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork. Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas. If the power is off or electricity is out, empty the freezer and refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor. Wipe soot from chrome on kitchen and bathroom faucets, trim and appliances, then protect these surfaces with a light coating of lubricant. If the heat is off and it is winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures. Wipe down and clean houseplants, being sure to clean both sides of their leaves. Change furnace and HVAC filters, but leave the system off until a trained professional can check the system. Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

Things NOT TO DO after fire damage:

• DO NOT attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting a trusted fire restoration specialist like those found at SERVPRO of South Atlanta.
• DO NOT attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first consulting a trusted fire restoration company like SERVPRO of South Atlanta.
• DO NOT attempt to clean electrical appliances (TV, computers, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
• DO NOT consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat or water. They could be contaminated and are not suitable for consumption.
• DO NOT turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet. Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.
• DO NOT send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odors.

Restoration VS Replacement

Restoring your property reduces claims costs and saves you money. In most cases, restoring belongings to preloss condition. Many treasured belongings and keepsakes can be saved. So, before you risk doing further damage by attempting to clean up the fire damage yourself, call the fire damage cleanup and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of South Atlanta. We are proud to provide industry leading fire restoration services to the Metro Atlanta area including East Point, Lakewood, College Park and Atlanta.

Seasonal Cleaning & Fire Safety Tips for Your Atlanta Home

4/15/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help home & business owners when disaster strikes. If you experience smoke or fire damage call SERVPRO!

With Summer weather quickly approaching, Atlanta is in the full swing of Spring. The weather is getting warmer and the days are starting to get longer. Spring is an ideal time to do some seasonal cleaning and maintenance around your home. From washing baseboards to cleaning or dusting ceiling fans and light fixtures, springtime is a great time to go a little above-and-beyond with your cleaning efforts. Periodically clearing out unused or neglected items prevents build up of clutter and makes for a much more neat and tidy living space.

Spring Cleaning To-Do-List

In every room of your home wipe down or wash the baseboards, doors, window sills, and walls. Vacuum or wash air vents, while window blinds, drapes and other window treatments can be carefully and gently vacuumed or professionally cleaned (window treatments that are delicate, complex or made of special material should probably be professionally cleaned). Sweep, mop and wax applicable flooring. Pack winter items like clothes and decorations to be stored away, after cleaning, washing or dry cleaning the items. Dust or vacuum light fixtures, lamp shades and overhead lights; be sure to replace dead light bulbs while cleaning the lighting in your home. Wash windows inside and out, ensuring a streak free finish. Sweep the front porch and back deck.

In the kitchen cleanout, wipe down and wash both the insides and outsides of the refrigerator and cabinets. Move the refrigerator and clean out behind the unit, also take this opportunity to vacuum the refrigerator coils (always consult and follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions). Sweep, mop and wax applicable flooring and wipe down countertops. Deep clean your oven thoroughly then if the oven has a “self-cleaning” function, use this set in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. This is a great opportunity to donate dry goods and canned foods to your local food pantry, but please make sure the food’s shelf-life date has not lapsed. Clean out the pantry and throw away out of date food products.

In the living room, move the furniture so you can thoroughly vacuum the carpet. Dust and polish furniture and fixtures. Wipe down or dust electronics, upholstery, and lamp shades. Carpets should be vacuumed and shampooed. Hard surface flooring like tile, hardwoods, and vinyl flooring should be swept and mopped (waxed if necessary). As long as it is safe to do so, blankets and throw pillows should be washed or steam cleaned. 

In bedrooms move furniture so that you can thoroughly vacuum and sweep the floor (mop and wax where applicable). Flip or rotate the mattress and wall all bedding, including pillows. Purge anything under the bed or in the closet that you don’t want anymore. Consider donating to the local Goodwill, Salvation Army or other local donation center.

In the bathroom, clean and disinfect the tub and shower. Clean grout in tile where applicable using household grout cleaner. Wash and/or replace shower curtains and shower liners. Dust and replace/refill decorative items like potpourri, air fresheners, reading materials, and other items.

Not only can seasonal cleaning make your home look more presentable, but it can also make your home a more safe place. Update your first aid kit and properly dispose of expired medications. Make testing your checking expiration dates on fire extinguishers, replacing smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm batteries part of your seasonal cleaning regime. You can also use this time as a reminder to review and practice your family's fire escape emergency exit plan. If you don’t have an emergency exit plan please be sure to visit our friends over at the www.nfpa.org for more information and direction.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is the premier fire restoration company in the Atlanta Metro, call us at 404-505-1760 if your home or business has suffered fire or smoke damage. We are the fire restoration company that is faster to any size disaster and can get the job done right the first time. Let us make your smoke or fire damage claim “Like it never even happened.”

Springtime Fire Safety Tips

Grilling Safety Tips

If you have a propane grill, make sure that the tank is not overfilled and is always stored outside in a well-ventilated area. If your grill has not been used recently, you should make sure it is in good working order by inspecting its hose connections and making sure that the venturi tubes that deliver gas to the burners are not blocked. You should never grill in enclosed areas and keep your grill at least five feet away from any structure. With charcoal grills make sure never to add lighter fluid directly to flames or hot coals, this could cause dangerous flame flare-ups and could even cause the flames to flash back up into the container and explode. When finished grilling make sure that hot coals are properly extinguished and disposed of safely. Douse hot coals with water and stir them to ensure that the fire is out, and never place them in combustible containers made of plastic, paper or wood.

Camping Safety Tips

When building a campfire make sure to take precautions so that it can not spread out of control or get out of hand. Keep campfires to a manageable and reasonable size, ideally no bigger than three-by-three feet. Clear a five-to-ten foot circle around the campfire of any flammable materials. When setting up your tent, you should set it up at least fifteen feet away from the campfire and keep open flames away from your sleeping area. Do not leave a campsite until the fire is completely out and any coals are extinguished. Extinguish campfires thoroughly by drowning them with water or suffocating them with sand or dirt.

General Fire Safety Tips

You should never leave a fire unattended and should always have plenty of water nearby or reliable means of extinguishing the fire like a fire extinguisher. Do not wear loose clothing while tending a fire, and if you have long hair please make sure it is tied back. Keep children and pets well away from the fire, and do not assume they will listen to your warnings. Teach children to never play with matches or lighters, and make sure that everyone knows when to Stop, Drop, and Roll. If someone is severely burned call emergency services or 911.

Residential Duplex Fire Restoration Project in Atlanta, GA (part 1)

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of South Atlanta 24-hours a day for fire and smoke damage restoration. We are here to help!

SERVPRO of South Atlanta received a call from a property manager concerning a single level duplex rental property that suffered a fire loss on Sunday 12/27/2020. The property was a one story home with a crawlspace. The rental property was damaged due to an electrical fire that started in the master bedroom which spread throughout the home. The fire department extinguished the fire using water, thoroughly soaking fire damaged areas to insure that the flames were put out. Upon initial inspection SERVPRO of South Atlanta documented heavy fire damage throughout the home, as well as water damage in pretty much every room. Four windows were damaged and would need to be secured and boarded up. Due to extensive fire damage SERVPRO of South Atlanta’s scope of work included, boarding up services to secure the damaged windows, restoring and cleaning the property’s ductwork and furnace, removing all of the carpet, under-laminate flooring, drywall and insulation. With the property completely gutted, our fire restoration specialist utilized HEPA vacuums to clean all exposed framing, joist systems, and exposed surfaces then followed the HEPA cleaning by wet cleaning all mentioned surfaces as well as electrical wires to ensure no soot particles remain. As part of the deodorization process, SERVPRO of South Atlanta performed a thermal fogging and placed several air scrubbers in the main living areas. Finally our fire restoration specialist sealed and encapsulated all building materials, exposed studs and joist using SERVPRO’s proprietary professional fire restoration products.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta Scope of Work

Emergency Boardup/Tarping Services & Supplemental Power: Once the property was deemed safe to enter by the fire department, one of SERVPRO of South Atlanta’s fire restoration project managers started documenting the fire loss and put together a game plan to restore the rental property to preloss condition. Our project manager scoped the loss and secured the property by boarding up four windows which had been broken in the process of extinguishing the fire. The project manager also coordinated with our equipment manager to have a 75 Kilowatt generator delivered to the work site so that equipment could be placed to start the mitigation and restoration process.

Master Bedroom: The master bedroom floors, walls and ceiling were 100% affected by water, smoke, and soot. 163 square feet of underlayment, carpet, and pad were removed, bagged and properly disposed of due to contamination by category 3 water damage. 58 linear feet of baseboards and trim were torn out, bagged and disposed of due to contact with category 3 water damage. 640 square feet of drywall and 200 square feet of insulation were removed, bagged and property disposed of due to category 3 water damage. Light fixtures and an interior door were also removed and disposed of due to extensive fire and soot damage. The subfloor, studs and roof joist were cleaned using dry chemical soot sponges and HEPA vacuums then were wet cleaned using SERVPRO proprietary restoration and cleaning products leaving the building materials free of all soot and smoke particles. The final step in the mitigation of this restoration project was to treat the entire master bedroom with hot thermal fog to remove any remaining fire or smoke odors.

Bedroom: The bedroom floors, walls and ceiling were 100% affected by water, smoke, and soot. 167 square feet of underlayment, carpet and pad were removed, bagged and properly disposed of due to contact with category 3 water damage. 61 linear feet of baseboards and 47 linear feet of trim were removed, bagged and disposed of due to category 3 water damage contamination. 668 square feet of drywall and 225 square feet of insulation was removed, bagged and disposed of properly due to category 3 water damage contamination. A ceiling fan and an interior door were also removed and disposed of due to extensive fire and soot damage. The subfloor, studs and roof joist were cleaned using dry chemical soot sponges and HEPA vacuums then were wet cleaned using SERVPRO proprietary restoration and cleaning products leaving the building materials free of all soot and smoke particles. The final step in the mitigation of this restoration project was to treat the entire bedroom with hot thermal fog to remove any remaining fire or smoke odors.

Hallway: The hallway floors, walls and ceiling were 100% affected by water, smoke, and soot. 74 square feet of underlayment, carpet, and pad were removed, bagged and properly disposed of due to contamination by category 3 water damage. 25 linear feet of baseboards and 69 linear feet of trim were torn out, bagged and disposed of due to contact with category 3 water damage. 280 square feet of drywall was removed, bagged and property disposed of due to category 3 water damage. The subfloor, studs and roof joist were cleaned using dry chemical soot sponges and HEPA vacuums then were wet cleaned using SERVPRO proprietary restoration and cleaning products leaving the building materials free of all soot and smoke particles. The final step in the mitigation of this restoration project was to treat the entire master bedroom with hot thermal fog to remove any remaining fire or smoke odors.

If your home or business has suffered fire damage call SERVPRO of South Atlanta at (404) 505-1760, or click here and we will contact you!

*If you would like to continue reading about this fire restoration project check out part two

Residential Duplex Fire Restoration Project in Atlanta, GA (part 2)

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help Atlanta property owners recover if fire damages there homes or businesses. Give us a call today!

SERVPRO of South Atlanta received an emergency service call from an Atlanta property manager earlier this year concerning a duplex rental property they manage. The rental property had experienced a pretty extensive fire event and required immediate attention. We immediately dispatched one of our fire restoration project managers to secure the property, document the loss, and put together a remediation plan for the home. 

The house was heavily damaged by smoke and soot. During the process of extinguishing the fire, pretty much every room was saturated by water to insure that the fire was completely out. The contents of the home, flooring, drywall, and ceilings would have to be demolished and removed from the premises. Four windows were also broken while extinguishing the fire and would have to be boarded up to secure the property.

Due to extensive fire damage SERVPRO of South Atlanta’s scope of work included, board-up services to secure the damaged windows, restoring and cleaning the property’s ductwork and furnace, removing all of the carpet, under-laminate flooring, drywall and insulation. With the property completely gutted, our fire restoration specialist utilized HEPA vacuums to clean all exposed framing, joist systems, and exposed surfaces then followed the HEPA cleaning by wet cleaning all mentioned surfaces as well as electrical wires to ensure no soot particles remain. As part of the deodorization process, SERVPRO of South Atlanta performed a thermal fogging and placed several air scrubbers in the main living areas. Finally our fire restoration specialist sealed and encapsulated all building materials, exposed studs and joist using SERVPRO’s proprietary professional fire restoration products. 

SERVPRO of South Atlanta Scope of Work

Kitchen: The kitchen floors, walls and ceiling were 100% affected by water, smoke, and soot. Due to contamination from category 3 water, 141 square feet of vinyl flooring and underlayment were removed, bagged and disposed of properly. 45 linear feet of baseboards and shoe molding were also removed due to contact with category 3 water. 35 linear feet of trim and door casings were removed due to smoke damage. 501 square feet of drywall and 111 square feet of insulation was removed and disposed of due to water and smoke damage. Both upper and lower cabinets were also removed and disposed of due to contact with category 3 water and extensive smoke damage. Appliances and building materials were assessed and removed based on cost effective mitigation like the light fixtures, plastic laminate countertops, double sink, garbage disposal, refrigerator, dishwasher, range and range hood were removed and disposed of properly. Once the kitchen was effectively gutted our team of fire restoration specialists cleaned and restored the fire damaged property using dry chemical sponges and HEPA vacuums to remove soot particles from the subfloor, studs and roof joist. The subfloor, studs, and roof joist were then wet cleaned using SERVPRO’s proprietary restoration and cleaning products leaving all of the building materials free of soot and smoke particles. Finally the fire restoration team treated the entire kitchen with a hot thermal fogging to remove any remnants or odors of fire and smoke damage.

Laundry Room: The laundry room floors, walls and ceiling were 100% affected by water, smoke and soot damage. Due to contact with category 3 water, 48 square feet of vinyl flooring and underlayment were removed, bagged and disposed of properly. 29 linear feet of baseboard and trim were also removed and disposed of due to contamination by category 3 water. 279 square feet of drywall and 160 square feet of insulation was removed and disposed of due to contact with category 3 water and extensive smoke damage. Appliances like the washing machine and dryer were assessed for restorability and disposed of in the interest of cost effective mitigation. Once the laundry was reduced to the framework and exposed studs, our team of fire restoration specialists cleaned and restored the fire damaged property using dry chemical sponges and HEPA vacuums to remove soot particles from the subfloor, studs and roof joist. The subfloor, studs, and roof joist were then wet cleaned using SERVPRO’s proprietary restoration and cleaning products ensuring all of the building materials were free of soot and smoke particles. Finally the fire restoration team treated the entire laundry room with a hot thermal fogging to remove any remnants or odors of fire and smoke damage.

Living Room: The living room floors, walls, and ceiling were 100% affected by water, smoke, and soot damage. 185 square feet of carpet, pad, and underlayment were removed, bagged, disposed of properly, due to contact with highly contaminated category 3 water. Over 80 linear feet of baseboards, trim and window/door casings were removed and disposed of due to water and fire damage. 589 square feet of drywall and 262 square feet of insulation was also removed due to contact with category 3 water and smoke/soot damage. One interior door and a ceiling fan/light fixture were disposed of in the interest of cost effective restoration. Once the living room’s framework and studs were exposed, our team of fire restoration specialists cleaned and restored the fire damaged property using dry chemical sponges and HEPA vacuums to remove soot particles from the subfloor, studs and roof joist. The subfloor, studs, and roof joist were then wet cleaned using SERVPRO’s proprietary restoration and cleaning products making sure all of the building materials were free of soot and smoke particles. Finally the fire restoration team treated the entire laundry room with a hot thermal fogging to remove any remnants or odors of fire and smoke damage.

Bathroom: The bathroom floors, walls, and ceiling were 100% affected by water, smoke and soot damage. 55 square feet of vinyl laminate and under-laminate were removed due to contact with category 3 water. 48 feet of baseboards, trim and door casing were removed due to water and smoke damage and disposed of properly. 302 square feet of drywall and 98 square feet of insulation was removed, bagged and disposed of due to contact with contaminated water and smoke damage. The sink, bathtub and toilet were detached and set to the side to be cleaned and reinstalled during the reconstruction phase. Countertops, vanity, light bar, mirror and interior door were also removed and disposed of in the interest of cost effective restoration measures. Once the bathroom’s framework and studs were exposed, our team of fire restoration specialists cleaned and restored the fire damaged property using dry chemical sponges and HEPA vacuums to remove soot particles from the subfloor, studs and roof joist. The subfloor, studs, and roof joist were then wet cleaned using SERVPRO’s proprietary restoration and cleaning products leaving all of the building materials free of soot and smoke particles. Finally the fire restoration team treated the entire bathroom with a hot thermal fogging to remove any remnants or odors of fire and smoke damage.

If your home or business has suffered fire damage call SERVPRO of South Atlanta at (404) 505-1760, or click here and we will contact you!

*If you would like to continue reading about this fire restoration project check out part one

SERVPRO of South Atlanta - 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline Contest

11/2/2020 (Permalink)

Read this blog and head on over to SERVPRO of South Atlanta's Facebook page for a chance to win a FREE Honey Baked Ham!

SERVPRO of South Atlanta would like to announce our 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline Contest! This contest was created to help educate the Atlanta community on the perils of home fires, and what you can do to help prevent both residential and commercial structure fires. One lucky participant will win a FREE Honey Baked Ham courtesy of SERVPRO of South Atlanta.

CONTEST RULES:

• Like and follow SERVPRO of South Atlanta’s Facebook page.

• Comment on the SERVPRO of South Atlanta 2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newline Contest post with the answers to following questions (this post will be pinned to the top of our page for your convenience or you can click here for a direct link).
  • What is the leading cause of residential fires?
  • On average, how many structural home fires occur every year?
  • Who can restore your home or business to preloss condition once the fire has been extinguished and smoke has cleared?
• Tune in for our Facebook Live drawing to see if you’ve won!

2020 Thanksgiving Restoration Newsline

Did you know cooking equipment is the leading cause of residential fires? As the holiday season begins and you find yourself in the kitchen more often while friends and family, fire precautions should be top of mind.

A property owner experiences a flood of emotions when a fire ravages their business or home. Fear, uncertainty, stress, and doubt about the future of the property and their livelihood can be overwhelming to the property owner long after the flames have been extinguished and the smoke has cleared. After the first wave of heroes have rescued the property, Let SERVPRO of South Atlanta help you restore it to its preloss condition. Combining rapid response, the utmost professionalism, and open communication throughout the entire job process, we strive to restore not only the home or business structure, but the customer’s peace of mind as well.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers the following eye-opening statistics on structure fires:

• Most home fires and fire casualties result from five causes:
• Cooking
• Heating
• Electrical distribution & lighting equipment
• Intentional fire setting
• Smoking materials
• More than one-quarter (27%) of reported fires occur in homes within the last year.
• Even worse, 79% of fire-related deaths were caused by home fires.
• On average, U.S. Fire departments respond to an estimated average of 354,400 home structure fires per year, resulting in $6.9 billion in direct property damage.

If the unthinkable happens and a fire strikes your home or business, give the experts at SERVPRO of South Atlanta a call at (404) 505-1760 or visit SERVPROsouthatlanta.com for more information. We will help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Using a Portable Fire Extinguisher

A portable fire extinguisher can be a life and property saving tool when used correctly. In order to operate a fire extinguisher, the NFPA suggests remembering the word PASS.

• Pull the pin. Hold the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
• Aim low. Point the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side

Read the instructions on the fire extinguisher and become familiar with them before a fire breaks out. Encourage your family members and co-workers to do the same. Remember, Extinguishers do have their limitations! It is also important to ensure you have the correct type of extinguisher for your home or facility. Refer to the next section of this blog to learn more about the different classes of fire extinguishers and the types of fire each are designed to extinguish.

Choosing the Appropriate Class of Fire Extinguisher

• Class A: This is the most common extinguisher and can be used to put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as cloth, wood, rubber, paper, and many plastics.
• Class B: Used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, and oil
• Class C: Designed for fires involving appliances, tools, or other equipment electronically energized or plugged in.
• Class D: For use on flammable metals; often specific for the type of metal in question. These are typically found in factories and commercial applications.
• Class K: Intended for use on fires that involve vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats in cooking appliances. Generally found in commercial kitchens.

*If you’ve enjoyed this blog feel free to check out some of SERVPRO of South Atlanta’s Previous Restoration Blogs: ”Most Common Causes of Fires in Atlanta”; “Smoke, Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Tips”; “What To Do Until Help Arrives: Fire Restoration”; “SERVPRO of South Atlanta's 1-4-8 Service Response Guidelines”; “SERVPRO of South Atlanta's Fire Restoration Process”

What To Do Until Help Arrives: Fire Restoration

5/29/2020 (Permalink)

House fires have the ability to be devastating, both financially and emotionally. Fortunately though, not every fire causes total destruction to your home and belongings. No matter how large or small your fire, the clean-up process can be a daunting task. Even a small kitchen grease fire has the ability to not only damage your kitchen but also the potential to spread smoke damage throughout your entire home. At SERVPRO of South Atlanta, we are the experts in fire clean-up and restoration. We receive calls, every single day, from concerned homeowners, just like you. SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here to help so you don’t have to face this alone. Contact SERVPRO of South Atlanta at (404) 505-1760! Our expertly trained team, will arrive at your home, as soon as possible, with all of the necessary equipment, to begin the clean-up and restoration process immediately, getting you back to life as normal, as quickly as possible. Our professional team will walk you through the entire process, from beginning to end, working hand and hand with you, your insurance company and your adjuster. At SERVPRO of South Atlanta we get the job right the first time! 

Oftentimes, homeowners want to know what they can do while they wait for help to arrive. Here is a list of easy to follow tips and guidelines to help the cleanup process begin, and prevent any additional damage, to your property: 

• In an effort to prevent further damage to your home and to keep soot from being embedded into things such as carpet, drapes or upholstered furniture, limit movement in the affected area.
• Touch as little as possible and make sure your hands are clean of soot, so that you don’t spread soot particles to clean items or further damage items such as furniture, clothing, drapes and walls. 
• Lay dry towels or old but clean linens, that you don’t mind getting damaged,  over rugs, upholstered furniture and in high traffic areas, to help reduce further damage, during the cleaning process. 
• If your home is without power, save your perishable items in your refrigerator and freezer, by moving them to a cooler.  After clearing out the appliances, remember to leave the doors propped open to prevent odor from developing. 
• If your home is without power and the temperature is expected to drop below freezing, be sure to winterize your plumbing to prevent what could become additional costly repairs. To do so, pour RV antifreeze into your sinks, toilets and tub drains to keep them from freezing. 
• Turn off your HVAC system and leave it off until a professional can inspect it. This will stop the transfer of smoke throughout your home and minimize soot particles moving through the HVAC system, distributing themselves in other areas of the home. 
• If your ceiling is wet be sure not to turn on ceiling fans, as this may cause injury and additional damage, to your home. 

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is the trusted name you want on your side, with over 50 years experience and quality work. While it may be tempting to clean your walls, shampoo your carpets, clean your drapes and furniture yourself, these things are best left to the fire cleanup and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of South Atlanta. We will come to your home with the proper tools, materials and knowledge to make this as seamless and stress free as possible. We know how to do the job, and we know how to do it right the first time. So keep calm and call the pros, SERVPRO of South Atlanta, faster to any size disaster. 

*For more related fire restoration blogs check out the following links: “Smoke, Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Tips”; “Different Types of Smoke and Smoke Damage”; “Most Common Causes of Fires in Atlanta”

SERVPRO of South Atlanta's Fire Restoration Process

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of South Cobb 24/7 for emergency fire and water restoration at 404-505-1760!

At SERVPRO of South Atlanta we receive every single day from home and business owners who have experienced the devastation of a fire loss. We have earned the reputation of the premier fire and smoke restoration company in the Atlanta area, as well as nationwide. The process of clean-up and restoration is complex and best left to the experts. When your home or business suffers damage from smoke or fire, you need professional help quickly! At SERVPRO of South Atlanta  we are dedicated to responding as quickly as possible and we are here to help. SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster. 

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is the preferred vendor of most major insurance companies. Our team will work hand in hand with you, your adjuster and your insurance company. We will utilize our state of the art odor, smoke and soot removal equipment and our innovative cleaning techniques to quickly and safely remove every bit of fire damage from your property, just “Like it never even happened.” Our team of highly trained technicians have extensive fire damage and restoration knowledge and expertise, bringing only the best to the table. We are dedicated to providing you with superior customer service and going the extra mile to get the job done right, the first time. 

The National Fire Protection Association(NFPA) states that the number one cause of home fires is cooking. The leading cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking. It is important to never leave a kitchen unattended when preparing food. The NFPA is a great resource for fire prevention and safety. 

  If you find yourself facing the daunting task of clean-up after fire or smoke damage, call the professionals that you want on your side... 

Call SERVPRO of South Atlanta at (404) 505-1760

*Although each fire damage loss is unique and requires its own specific plan of action, the general process remains the same. Here is a brief overview of our fire and smoke damage restoration process: 

Step 1: Emergency Contact

The restoration process first begins when you call and speak to a member of our team. Our loss coordinator will ask you a series of questions regarding the details of your fire event, allowing us to dispatch our technicians to your home quickly., ensuring they arrive with the proper equipment, materials and resources needed to begin the clean-up and restoration process immediately upon arrival. 

Step 2:  Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment

The more prepared we are for your unique situation, the better plan of action we can take. Once we arrive on-site, our team will carefully inspect your home and conduct testing to determine the extent of the fire, smoke and soot damage. 

Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof-Tarp Services

To ensure that your structure does not endure further damage, we will board-up any exterior, missing walls or windows and place tarps on your roof, if damaged.

Step 4: Water Removal and Drying

Oftentimes there will be water damage to a home from firefighting efforts. If there is water present, the water extraction and removal process will begin immediately. We will then set all the necessary equipment, such as air movers and dehumidifiers to complete the drying process.          

Step 5:  Removal of Smoke and Soot From All Surface

We will use our advanced, innovative cleaning techniques and equipment to remove smoke and soot from all surfaces including walls, ceilings, countertops and other surfaces.      

Step 6: Cleaning and Sanitizing

We will work hard to save your valuables and restore your items and structures that were damaged by smoke and/or fire. We will clean, sanitize and disinfect using a variety of cleaning techniques, to restore your belongings to pre-fire condition. Additionally, we are equipped to remove the odor of smoke and fire, using industrial , dry sponges, air scrubbers and fogging equipment. 

Step 7: Restoration

We will now begin the final restoration process, getting your home or business back to its pre-fire condition. Restoration may require the removal of drywall, baseboards and flooring. SERVPRO of South Atlanta is a full service restoration company. We not only provide mitigation and restoration services, we also have a complete construction team available to rebuild and restore your home or business. 

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of South Atlanta is strategically located to respond quickly to your smoke or fire damage event. When a major fire or disaster event occurs, we can call upon our national network of 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams if we need additional resources or personnel.

We proudly serve East Point, GA, College Park, GA, and surrounding areas.

If you would like more information about fire restoration or blogs like this check out some of our other blogs like "Most Common Causes of Fires in Atlanta" or "Smoke, Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Tips"

Spring and Summer Bring an Increased Risk of Fires

4/15/2020 (Permalink)

If your property is damage by forest fires SERVPRO of South Atlanta is only a phone call away!

Many people think the risk of fire decreases in the summer, but the risks for natural and accidental fires remain the same. In the summer, the most common types of fires are caused by people using things like grills, smokers, and fireworks. In spring, there is an increase of tree, grass and brush fires, or naturally occurring fires. No matter what time of year it is, if you’ve experienced fire damage, it’s a good time to call SERVPRO of South Atlanta.

Spring Fires Risks

During Spring, winds are stronger, humidity is lower and flowers are starting to bloom. Now that the sun is shining on the ground with its full strength, it will heat up the soil and dry out old grass and leaves. This makes them a much greater fire risk than in colder months because dry grass and leaves are far more combustible and can result in fast moving fire with intense heat and smoke. People also tend to get more active and explore the outdoors in the springtime, to take advantage of the warm weather by camping, cooking out, and sometimes even yard work.

Springtime is also a good time of year to perform some spring cleaning around your home or place of business. When cleaning, make sure to pay special attention to items and areas that do not receive regular cleaning or attention; such as clearing dryer vents, sweep fireplaces, deep clean stove tops and ovens. This is also an opportune time to replace smoke alarm batteries and make it easy to remember to change batteries annually. Replace any old cooking utensils that may have become fire hazards due to frequent use like singed oven mitts or appliances with frayed electrical plugs or missing grounding prongs.   

Common Springtime Outdoor Fire Risks 

• Wildfires - About a third of all reported wildland fires occur during the three month period of springtime (wildland fires encompass tree, brush, and grass fires). 

• Cookouts & Camping - With warm weather comes cookouts and camping. On average, cookouts and grills caused around 4,500 structure fires and a reported 5,700 fires outdoors (or unclassified) per year, a majority of which occur in the springtime.

• Controlled Burning -  Oftentimes landowners will conduct controlled burns to prevent massive forest fires before the summer months, when they have a tendency to be more intense and difficult to extinguish or control.

Summer Fires

In the summer, there is an increase in the numbers of fires over all. Common causes of summertime fires are again natural occurrences like lightning and man-made causes like grills, fireworks, arcing power lines, and general carelessness. Fires peak around July 4th due to trees and other foliage being ignited by fireworks and grilling festivities during annual 4th of July celebrations. 

Grilling poses some very real fire risks during the summer months. Always remember to never leave your grill unattended, not even for a short amount of time. Only grill outside and make sure to have a fire extinguisher close by. Grills should be kept a minimum of 10 feet away from any structures and foliage including your home, deck railings and trees.  Pets and children should be kept 3 feet away for safety reasons.

• If you have a gas grill, check the tank hose for leaks using a light soap and water solution.  If your hose has a leak, you will see bubbling and will need to have the grill serviced by a professional before using it again.
• For charcoal grills, using a chimney starter will allow you to safely start the charcoal using newspaper.  If you use starter fluid, always use charcoal starter fluid and never add it to an open flame.

With the increase of thunder storms in Atlanta during the summer, the risk of fires caused by lightning increases also. During a lightning storm, stay off computers and other electrical equipment.  Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets. Also, stay away from windows, doors and concrete.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is Locally Owned with National Resources

We live and work in this community, we are probably your neighbor!  We are proud to be part of the Atlanta community. SERVPRO of South Atlanta  is close by and ready to respond to your fire emergency. 

Let SERVPRO of South Atlanta Be Your Trusted Fire Restoration Company

Our team of certified technicians are here to help you regardless of the amount of damage to your home.  We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you get back to pre fire condition. From the beginning stages to the final construction, we want to help make it “Like it never even happened.”  Call us at (404) 505-1760 or click here to have our knowledgeable staff contact you.  

*If you enjoyed this blog check out some of our related Fire Restoration Blogs: “Different Types of Smoke and Smoke Damage”; “Most Common Causes of Fires in Atlanta”; “Smoke, Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Tips”

Different Types of Smoke and Smoke Damage

4/3/2020 (Permalink)

If you or someone you know has recently suffered fire damage to their home or business, call SERVPRO of South Atlanta.

No two properties that are damaged by smoke are the same. There are many different categories of smoke damage that are caused primarily by two different types of smoke, wet and dry. The type of smoke you have in your home, will determine the type of soot residue that is left behind after a fire and subsequently the techniques and types of cleaning products used to restore your property. 

SERVPRO of South Atlanta’s employees are fully trained and have ample experience in fire cleanup and restoration. They will help you make the best educated decisions concerning the restoration of your property and will explain the SERVPRO’s processes every step along the way. We understand the different types of smoke damage and how to properly handle each one. Before we begin the restoration process, we will assess the damage to your home and determine what type and extent of smoke damage is present. We will also survey the various types of materials that have been damaged, as each one will require a different type of cleaning and/or restoration. The following are a few lesser known facts about smoke damage that you may not be aware of:

• Smoke will flow around plumbing pipes traveling through different floors of your home.  
• Hot smoke will find cooler areas of your home, so you may have smoke or soot damage in areas that you might not think are affected.
• Smoke will settle on surfaces, particularly horizontal surfaces, and touching soiled or soot covered surfaces can cause smoke smudging which can be difficult to clean.
• Limit travel in-and-out of areas affected by smoke damage to limit secondary transfer and limit non-affected area exposure. 
• If you are going to attempt to clean smoke damage start in an inconspicuous area in case your attempt is unsuccessful.

Various Types of Smoke Damage

• Wet Smoke Damage: This smoke has a low heat, it smolders, has a pungent odor, is sticky and will smear easily. It will create “smoke webs” which are harder to clean. Examples of materials that can produce wet smoke include plastics and rubbers.
• Dry Smoke Damage: This type of smoke is fast burning and has high temperatures. Examples of materials that will produce dry smoke include wood and paper products.
• Protein Fire Residue: This residue is not produced by the actual fire, but from materials that have evaporated.  It is virtually invisible but will discolor varnishes and paint. A protein fire has a very pungent and recognizable odor.  

How to Choose the Appropriate Fire Extinguisher for Your Home

Make sure you are aware of the location of each fire extinguisher in your home. They should also be easily accessible and well maintained. This list will help guide you in determining which specific type of fire extinguisher you may need in different parts of your home.  

• Class A - This type of extinguisher is the most common. It can be used to put out ordinary fires that involve items such as clothing, paper, wood, rubber and many plastics.
• Class B - This type of extinguisher is used on flammable liquid fires, such as grease, oil and gasoline.
• Class C - This type of extinguisher is used for fires that involve any type of electrical equipment, such as tools, tv’s or appliances.  
• Class D - This type of extinguisher is used on flammable metals. These are typically found in factories.
• Class K - These extinguishers are generally used in commercial kitchens. They can be used to put out fires that involve vegetable oils, animal oils or any other cooking oils and fats.  

*For more information on choosing the right fire extinguisher check out this related article form the U.S Fire Administration “Choosing and Using Fire Extinguishers”

Regardless of the type of fire and/or smoke damage you may, unfortunately, have in your home, SERVPRO of South Atlanta will be there to assist you along the way. We are here for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Let us be your trusted restoration company to restore your home “Like it never even happened.” Contact us today! 

Most Common Causes of Fires in Atlanta

3/25/2020 (Permalink)

Our technicians have years of experience in the fire and water restoration industry and are IICRC certified!

Per the latest Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) statistics, household fires caused an estimated 2,000 deaths and 7,500 injuries in 2018. Out of the total estimated total of 379,600 fires, over 50% were caused by cooking accidents. The remaining 50% household fire accidents are spread out over heating devices, accidental, electrical malfunction and open flame, just to name a few. No matter what the cause, once the flames have been put out, call SERVPRO of South Atlanta. We will help you file your fire claim, should you choose to involve your insurance provider, and manage your claim until the job is complete and the fire damage is “Like it never even happened.”

There are a few steps you can take to reduce your risk of having a house fire.  

Smoke Alarms

• Make sure you have properly working smoke detectors in your home. Replace faulty smoke detectors immediately, and only purchase reputable and reliable devices. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) advises that homeowner’s choose smoke detectors that include CO2 detection capabilities, and models that are interconnected so that if one device sounds all will sound.
• It is recommended that you place smoke detectors on every level of your home making sure they are outside of bedrooms, at the top or bottom of stairways and close to, but not inside the kitchen. By having smoke detectors in these recommended areas you can ensure occupants of the home will be notified in the event of a fire. 
• Monthly testing of these smoke alarms is imperative and changing the batteries once a year, at a minimum is recommended. You can use the time change in the fall, as a reminder to change those batteries! There is an exception to this, however, if you have a newer model smoke detector with a lithium battery it may not need to be changed every year, always check the owners manual to see the recommended guidelines for your specific model. Dead batteries account for about a quarter of all smoke detector failures.

Plan your Families Escape

• If your family does not have an escape route planned, put one together ASAP!  Make sure to go over a few practice runs with every member of your family, especially the little ones.  Don’t forget to make sure everyone knows to stay low to the floor when escaping!

• Check all your windows to make sure they are not painted or nailed shut, especially if your home is older!

• Consider purchasing escape ladders if you have a home with more than one floor.  

What to do while Escaping

• If you are trying to escape a room with a closed door, make sure to check the temperature of the door with the BACK of your hand.  If you were to burn your fingers on a door it would make the rest of the escape harder to do with burnt fingers!

• If the door is hot

• Do not open the door!  Escape through a window if possible.  If you cannot get out of the window, hang a light colored or white sheet or article of clothing out the window so first responders know you are there!

• If the door is cool

• Slowly open the door, but check to make sure there is not fire or heavy smoke that you cannot get through.  If your path is blocked, close the door and use a window to escape.

• If possible, close the doors behind you

• Limiting air movement can help slow the spread of the fire, buying you and your family precious time to escape the fire safely.

• Be ready to crawl!  Heat and smoke rise as do poisonous gasses.  
• If you or your clothes catch fire, remember, stop, drop & roll.

After the Fire

• Once you are out, do not go back in and call 9-1-1, if you haven’t already.

• Call your trusted and locally owned fire restoration company, SERVPRO of South Atlanta. We are here to help 24-hours a day seven days a week and have years of experience working with house fire victims and first responders mitigating and restoring both residential and commercial properties.

*For more information on Georgia home fire statistics check out the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA).

Smoke, Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Tips

3/25/2020 (Permalink)

If your home or business experiences a fire loss call SERVPRO of South Atlanta, we can make it "Like it never even happened."

What if we lived in a world with no warnings or emergency services? How could one possibly know when danger is coming? That is why smoke detectors and other fire safety alarms are imperative to have in your home or business. SERVPRO of South Atlanta is dedicated to help you through the process of fully understanding smoke and fire detectors.

In today’s world, we have the capability to have various types of smoke, fire and carbon monoxide alarms installed in our homes. These devices play an important role in protecting us while we are away or in the safety of our own beds.  

Smoke and Fire Alarms

• Ionization smoke alarms continuously emit a low level, electrical current that senses if smoke particles enter the current. It then triggers the audible alarm.
• Photoelectric alarms detect smoke using a light beam and sensor.  Usually, the light beam points away from the senor.  If smoke particles scatter the mean, it redirects some light to hit the sensor, triggering the alarm.  This type of alarm will detect larger fire particles quicker than ionized alarms. 

*Click here for more information on Ionization and Photoelectric alarms.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

• Biomimetic sensors detect carbon monoxide using a combination of color-changing liquids.  This sensor can last for up to 3 years.
• A metal oxide semiconductor uses wired circuits to monitor carbon dioxide levels in the air.  This type of detector can last for up to 10 years.
• Electrochemical sensors are the “best in class'' when it comes to home protection.  These detectors work by generating currents that detect the amount of carbon monoxide through scientific combination.  
• Optochemical sensors use a color changing pad that changes when carbon monoxide is detected.  This is the most cost effective option, but is known to offer limited protection.  They only monitor the presence of the poisonous gas, but cannot detect levels, so danger could be closer than known.

No matter your situation having a fire alarm that sounds, strobes, or has voice evacuation, everyone is capable of having a life saving alert. 

A few tips with keeping your fire detectors up to date:

• Perform routine, monthly tests.  Each smoke or carbon monoxide alarm, has a test button to make this easy for every homeowner.  
• Check the battery annually. A good tip is to change the battery as time falls back in the fall season.  If you are to have a smoke detector that has a non-replaceable battery then it is recommended to change them every ten years. Each detector also has a battery fail-safe. If it ever starts to chirp, that is an indicator that your battery power is low and should be changed immediately! 

Here at SERVPRO of South Atlanta we want to educate you in all things fire safety and are dedicated to help in any way possible.  Our customer service representatives here 24/7 to help in any way possible. SERVPRO of South Atlanta has certified technicians and ongoing administration educational classes to keep the entire SERVPRO of South Atlanta team up to date on the latest safety, emergency guidelines and services.

Should you ever find yourself in a house fire tragedy, call us to restore your home, “Like it like it never even happened.” We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.