How to Prepare for a Fire: Essential Tips for Homeowners and Renters

9/25/2024 (Permalink)

When a fire strikes, every second counts. Being prepared can save your life, protect your belongings, and minimize the damage to your home. Whether you rent or own, creating a fire safety plan is essential. In this guide, we’ll cover four key steps you can take to ensure you’re ready in the event of a fire: assembling a fire safety kit, creating an emergency plan, digitally safeguarding your belongings, and having essential mementos ready to go.

Assembling a Fire Safety Kit

A well-prepared fire safety kit is your first line of defense in an emergency. Here’s what to include:

• Fire Extinguisher: Make sure it’s rated for Class A, B, and C fires (which cover common combustibles, flammable liquids, and electrical fires).
• Smoke Alarms and Batteries: Test your smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries twice a year.
• First Aid Kit: Include bandages, antiseptic wipes, and burn ointments.
• Flashlight and Extra Batteries: Power outages during a fire are common, so keep flashlights on hand.
• Fire Blanket: This can help smother small fires or cover yourself during an escape.
• Emergency Whistle: Useful for signaling others if you're trapped or in need of help.

Creating an Emergency Fire Plan

Planning ahead ensures that everyone in your household knows what to do if a fire occurs.

• Identify Escape Routes: Walk through your home and locate the nearest exits from every room.
• Establish a Meeting Point: Choose a spot outside, a safe distance from the house, where everyone will gather after escaping.
• Practice Drills: Run fire drills twice a year to ensure everyone understands the plan.
• Communicate the Plan: If you’re a renter, make sure your landlord or property manager knows your fire plan, especially if you live in a multi-unit building.
• Know Your Neighbors: In apartments or condos, neighbors may need to work together to alert each other or assist the elderly and those with disabilities.

Storing Digital Records of Personal Property in the Cloud

In the aftermath of a fire, insurance claims often require proof of personal belongings. Having videos and photos of your property saved in the cloud will make this process much smoother.

• Take Videos and Photos: Record each room and photograph high-value items like electronics, jewelry, and furniture.
• Store in the Cloud: Use services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud to back up these images. Ensure they’re accessible from any device in case yours is damaged.
• Update Regularly: Whenever you acquire new valuables, update your cloud records. This helps when filing insurance claims for fire damage.

Having Mementos Ready to Go

While most things are replaceable, sentimental items hold a unique value. Preparing to grab these quickly ensures you don’t lose what matters most.

• Create a Go-Bag: Include key documents (like passports and insurance papers), photos, and small mementos.
• Keep Essentials Nearby: Store your go-bag in an easy-to-access location, like near your main exit.
• Digital Backup for Sentimental Items: Scan old photos, important documents, or letters, and save them digitally in the cloud as well.

Preparing for a fire involves more than just hoping it doesn’t happen. By assembling a fire safety kit, creating an emergency plan, and safeguarding your valuables, you can ensure you’re ready to act swiftly and protect what’s most important. Start today by taking these practical steps toward fire safety, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re prepared for the unexpected.

Smoke Damage Cleanup in San Diego

12/27/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.

Smoke and Soot Facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services:

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family and your property with empathy and respect and care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?

Call Us Today! - 760-789-1086

Prevent Home Fires

12/23/2021 (Permalink)

Fire is FAST! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for it to be engulfed in flames.

Fire is HOT! Heat is more threatening than flames. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.

Fire is DARK! Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.

Fire is DEADLY! Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.

Home fires are preventable! The following are simple steps that each of us can take to prevent a tragedy.

Cooking

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
• Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of 3 feet around the stove.
• Position barbecue grills at least 10 feet away from siding and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

Smoking

• Smoke outside and completely put out butts in an ashtray or a can filled with sand.
• Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before throwing them away. Never toss hot cigarette butts or ashes in the trash can.
• Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used, even if it is turned off. Oxygen can be explosive and makes fire burn hotter and faster.
• Be alert - don’t smoke in bed! If you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy, put your cigarette out first.

Electrical and Appliance Safety

• Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.

Portable Space Heaters

• Keep combustible objects at least three feet away from portable heating devices.
• Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Check to make the portable heater has a thermostat control mechanism and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over.
• Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene in kerosene heaters. Never overfill it. Use the heater in a well-ventilated room.

Fireplaces and Woodstoves

• Inspect and clean woodstove pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions.
• Use a fireplace screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks.
• Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed.

Children

• Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
• Store matches and lighters out of children's reach and sight, preferably in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children unattended near operating stoves or burning candles, even for a short time.

More Prevention Tips

• Never use stove range or oven to heat your home.
• Keep combustible and flammable liquids away from heat sources.
• Portable generators should NEVER be used indoors and should only be refueled outdoors or in well ventilated areas.

For more information on fire information and prevention, please visit - https://www.ready.gov/home-fires

Be sure to Practice Fire Safety Tips for preventing kitchen fires this Holiday Season!

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

With the holidays here, your favorite recipes to make for family and friends come as well. While spending time with loved ones is important, it is also important to practice proper fire safety tips to prevent a kitchen fire.

* Did you know that when grease is too hot, it can catch fire? If you find yourself in this situation, place a lid over the pan immediate to cut off the oxygen levels. Always call 911 if you are in need of emergency help.

* Be alert and set kitchen timers. It is very easy to get distracted during the holidays with cooking multiple items and interacting with family. Set timers to make sure you don't forget that something is cooking and stay near the heat source.

* Save getting in your planned outfit for later and wear clothing that is suitable for cooking in. Avoid wearing long, baggy clothing that can easily catch fire.

* Plan to have the children looked after. It's easy to get distracted with small children. Keep the children away from the heating sources to avoid accidents.

* Clean as you go to avoid items catching fire such as napkins, towels, plastic and wooden spoons.

If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation, always call 911.

SERVPRO of East Poway/Ramona can help with clean up and restoration of any fire. 760-789-1086

What Are the Most Common Ways House Fires Start?

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

Fires can start in the smallest of ways and turn into the biggest of problems. It's important to check your home regularly and be aware of the most common ways a fire can start to protect you and your family.

So, what are the most common ways that a fire can start in your home?

* Lighting: Most people do not think that lighting can be the cause of a home fire. Make sure that lamps cannot be knocked over, and that lamp shades are not too hot.

* Cooking: Be sure to no leave foods that are being cooked on the stove unattended to. If you need to leave the kitchen, ask someone to keep an eye on the food. It is very easy to get distracted by a phone call or tending to a child and forget you have food on the stove.

* Flammable Liquids: Do you keep flammable liquids in your garage? If you answered yes, you are not alone as most people do keep flammable liquids in their garage. Be sure to keep them away from heat sources and check the label before selecting an area for storage.

* Smoking in Bedrooms: It's best to not smoke in bedrooms as the cigarette bud can still be lit for hours after the cigarette bud has been put out.

* Bad Wiring in Your Home: If you notice the lights go down when you use a certain appliance, this could be an indication that the wiring in your home is bad. To be safe, have an electrician come out to check.

* Children & Curiosity: Make sure to keep matches, and lighters away from children. Teach your children how to stop, drop and roll just in case!

* Portable heaters: Be sure to keep portable heaters away from fabrics as they can get really hot and cause a fire.

* Candles:  Candles are a great way to add ambiance to your home and fill the room with your favorite scents! Be sure you don't leave candles unattended to, they're kept away from fabrics and also kept on sturdy surfaces and away from children. Practice these tips so you can continue to enjoy your favorite scents of every season!

Call SERVPRO East Poway/Ramona for any fire safety tips or if you have an emergency. 760-789-1086

Smoke and Soot Cleanup

12/23/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of East Poway/Ramona will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (760)789-1086

Poway or Ramona Smoke and Soot Cleanup

11/27/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of East Poway/Ramona will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (760) 789-1086

Wildfire Preparedness

5/19/2016 (Permalink)

Defensible Space

Creating defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. It’s the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home.