Do You Know How to Remediate Basement Fire Damage in Chicago?

4/23/2020 (Permalink)

Basement fires can cause damage, SERVPRO is ready to help! Call us today to assess and remediate your damage!

SERVPRO has the Knowledge and Experience to Tackle Smoke and Soot Damage in Chicago

Basement fires are unique, often encountering different sets of problems and consequences as compared to fires started elsewhere in the home. While the tight space and underground nature of basements often prevent the worst of the fire from spreading across the house, other elements of fire damage can be shared or even more intense than the same damage in other regions of the house. Here are some of the similarities and differences between basement fires and those started elsewhere in the home.  

How Basement Fires Differ From Other Fires in Chicago 

Although fire damage in Chicago basements is typically more contained than that from fires started elsewhere in the home, other types of damage can be even more severe and widespread. The most glaring issue is smoke; smoke tends to rise and travel through air ducts and HVAC, spreading around the house and requiring intensive cleaning operations. HVAC cleaning is one of our most needed services, often for this reason. Additionally, there are often more hazardous and flammable materials stored in a basement than elsewhere in the home, leading to more significant potential dangers and disaster for the home. However, ultimately, the confined and below-ground nature of most basements protects much of the home from significant damage.  

How Basement Fires are Similar to Other Fires in Chicago 

Basement fires, while more contained than other fires, are still devastating and damaging due to their flames and spread. Ash and soot commonly coat walls and surfaces and requires heavy scrubbing. Objects and materials burned through and require treatments or perhaps replacement. A basement fire resembles fire elsewhere in the home and requires much of the same restoration work and equipment.   

Trained Technicians Can Help Minimize Chicago Area Fire Restoration Costs 

Many homeowners believe they can clean up after Chicago fire damage themselves after their home has gone through a fire, and there are soot and smoke to clean up. That is unfortunately not ever a good idea, as cleaning up soot and smoke damage needs professionals for the job. 

Hiring Chicago Restoration Professionals 

A house that has been burned in a fire, first of all, is not safe to spend time in or even enter. The integrity of the floors and walls are in question besides other hazards. It is crucial to keep out of the home until a professional tells you it is safe. 

While undertaking the cleanup of soot and smoke damage from a house fire should not be done by yourself, you need to get professionals, like SERVPRO, there as soon as you can. If left untreated, smoke and ash cause discoloration, corrosion, and lingering offensive and powerful odors. Specifically, ash can cause damage and discoloration almost immediately, and the damage could be permanent and irreversible. Anything made of plastic can start discoloring in just minutes. Metals can quickly corrode and tarnish, and fiberglass starts yellowing. 

If you get fire remediation specialists quickly enough after a house fire, we can mitigate or eradicate the ash and smoke damage from the fire, plus stop any further property damage. If you do not get us in early, unfortunately, the damage worsens, and the repair costs start to skyrocket in just a few weeks. 

Knowing Which Area Professionals to Hire 

Numerous companies claim to be restoration specialists in fire damage near Chicago; however, they might not have the proper training and certification to do the job correctly. Companies who are registered, recognized, and have gotten their certification from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification have taken the necessary coursework to gain their extensive certification. 

What Trained Professionals Will Do 

Fire remediation specialists like SERVPRO, who have gone through the right training and certification, first identify all of the materials that have been affected. We then locate the source of odors is if possible. We are thorough and identify items that can be cleaned and salvaged, which need replacing. Then they'll start the cleanup process by taking out any ash residue that has built up. After we've cleaned the ash, they can find the odors' sources more efficiently, which we'll then treat with special detergents made to neutralize the odors. After we treat the materials that were fire damaged, we'll be sealing them up to stop odors from emitting into your home in the future. 

Experiencing fire damage in Chicago can be scary and disconcerting. When you go through this, contact SERVPRO of Evergreen Park/South Chicago City by giving us a call at (773) 337-3900 as soon as possible so we can properly clean and restore your home. 

More about Chicago.