Recent Fire Damage Posts

How to Properly Install and Maintain Smoke Detectors

8/21/2023 (Permalink)

We have all had that frustrating experience with a faulty smoke detector that will not stop beeping. Maintaining a properly functioning smoke detector will not only keep peace and quiet in your home, but will make it much safer. 

Tips for properly installing smoke detectors: 

  • The number of smoke detectors necessary for your home will be determined by the size and layout of your home. However, as a general rule you should have at least one on every level of your home (including the basement) and one in every bedroom.
  • Install smoke detectors in central locations. Ceiling detectors should be placed on a flat area and wall detectors must be less than 12 inches from the ceiling.
  • Always follow your device’s instructions carefully while installing (especially detectors that require hardwired power). If you do not feel comfortable installing the detectors on your own, there are many professional services that will install them for you.
  • Test your alarm after installing them by using the test button 

Tips for maintaining smoke detectors:

  • Never use the same smoke detector for longer than 10 years. If you have had the same ones for longer than this, replace them as soon as possible. 
  • Test the alarms monthly. 
  • Replace non-hardwired detector’s batteries annually. 
  • Clean your detectors every year. Dust and other pollutants can impede the performance of your smoke detectors.

If you experience a fire loss in your home, SERVPRO of Natchez is here to help 24/7. Our team of fire restoration professionals will restore your home to preloss conditions, so it is "Like it never even happened." Call us at (601) 304-5554

Soot

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

In a building fire, you will find that some damage is blatantly visible and some will only look like lack of maintenance. In this picture, there seem to be cobwebs on the ceiling. What you are actually seeing is soot from a protein fire that has traveled to another room and attached itself to a surface. While this is a small area that is visibly covered in the soot, the sign leads us to believe that the dirt level is more than meets the eye. This is the case for many house fires. 

SERVPRO of Natchez will not only wipe ceilings, walls, and flooring; but also move out the contents for cleaning, in all affected rooms. Even though it was not close to the fire and items are not as damaged as other rooms adjacent to the cause of loss, the damage spread through the entire downstairs of the home. 

Call us for all of your restoration needs!

Lint Build Up Can Cause Fire

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Natchez offers commercial duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning.  We have a team of qualified individuals that focus on quality and customer relationships. We pride ourselves in our ever growing team and community we are building here.  

We currently serve a few commercial customers daily/weekly/monthly or quarterly and have maintained their continued business for 3 years or more. 

Like a residential home, routine maintenance cleaning of your duct system and dryer vents improves the air quality and lowers the risk of fire caused by lint build up. Duct cleaning will also assist in the efficiency of your system and potentially prolong the life of the system itself. 

Call SERVPRO of Natchez today to schedule your commercial duct or dryer vent cleaning. 

Lint Build Up Can Cause Fire

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Natchez offers commercial duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning.  We have a team of qualified individuals that focus on quality and customer relationships. We pride ourselves in our ever growing team and community we are building here.  

We currently serve a few commercial customers daily/weekly/monthly or quarterly and have maintained their continued business for 3 years or more. 

Like a residential home, routine maintenance cleaning of your duct system and dryer vents improves the air quality and lowers the risk of fire caused by lint build up. Duct cleaning will also assist in the efficiency of your system and potentially prolong the life of the system itself. 

Call SERVPRO of Natchez today to schedule your commercial duct or dryer vent cleaning. 

Lint Build Up Can Cause Fire

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Natchez offers commercial duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning.  We have a team of qualified individuals that focus on quality and customer relationships. We pride ourselves in our ever growing team and community we are building here.  

We currently serve a few commercial customers daily/weekly/monthly or quarterly and have maintained their continued business for 3 years or more. 

Like a residential home, routine maintenance cleaning of your duct system and dryer vents improves the air quality and lowers the risk of fire caused by lint build up. Duct cleaning will also assist in the efficiency of your system and potentially prolong the life of the system itself. 

Call SERVPRO of Natchez today to schedule your commercial duct or dryer vent cleaning. 

Fire Damage and The Importance of Immediate Action

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

It is devastating to experience the chaos of a fire in your Natchez home. Not only is it difficult to deal with the loss, but the clean up too. If it is a small isolated fire, getting the area cleaned and repaired should be a priority.

The first thing to consider is the ash and smoke damage that occurred. These can lead to corrosion, discoloration and unpleasant odor. Getting ash and smoke cleaned up immediately will prevent any of these from leading to an even larger problem. 

Take action and follow these steps if you find yourself handling the aftermath of a house fire. 

1. Contact your insurance company.

2. Contact your local fire restoration company.

3. Take photographs of the damage.

4. Keep a record of all conversations with your insurance company.

5. Make a list of everything you lost or that was destroyed.

6. Find a place to stay while your restoration company cleans up your property.

While a house fire is a trying experience, it helps to have a game plan in place. So remember these steps for the next time you or a loved one is handling the aftermath of a house fire and call SERVPRO of Natchez 601-304-5554.

Fire Pit Safety Tips

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

This time of year is one of the best because it is time to break out the fire pits. We know this is a great way to gather friends and family around in the backyard during the warmer months. Burgers on the grill, drinks in hand, and some background music is a sure way to have everyone in a good mood. Here is some quick and simple fire pit safety tips to keep the fire bright and the mood light:

  1. Clear all flammable materials away from your fire pit. Make sure it’s kept 10 feet away from the home or building. 
  2. Pile dirt or rocks to keep the fire on the ground from escaping 
  3. Before lighting your fire, check the wind direction. If it’s too windy, do not light your fire pit as the wind can cause the flames to travel.
  4. Contrary to popular belief, lighting fluid is not safe for lighting a fire pit. Use a commercial fire starter kick with kindling on top. 
  5. Once the fire pit is lit, never leave it unattended and never leave children or pets near the fire pit without adult supervision.
  6. Avoid  softwoods like pine or cedar to prevent flying sparks and flame “pops”, 
  7. Only put enough fuel to keep the fire burning gently to prevent flare-ups and uncontrollable flames. 
  8. To extinguish the flames, use water to drown out the fire and stir it with a shovel to make sure it’s fully extinguished. Use the shovel to extinguish any escaped flames as well
  9. Dispose of the ashes in a metal can use only for fire pit ash storage. Careful, even after a few days the ashes are still hot enough to cause a fire. 
  10. Accidents happen, even with the correct preventative measures taken. Having a fire extinguisher nearby can greatly reduce the risk of the fire getting out of control.

Contents after a Fire

2/13/2020 (Permalink)

After a fire strikes, most people are overwhelmed and often the first question is what happens to our belongings.  At SERVPRO of Natchez we can help by offering to inventory, clean and store your belongings.  When our technicians first arrive at your property, they will start taking pictures, room by room, documenting and bar coding anything that will be removed from the property.  After everything is documented and bar coded your contents and furniture will be loaded into our trucks and taken back to our Natchez office for cleaning and storage.  Every step of your belongings journey from fire damaged, to restored will be documented and pictures takes.  Insurance companies, especially like the list and details that SERVPRO of Natchez is able to provide.

If you have any questions about contents tracking please call SERVPRO of Natchez at 601.304.5554.

Kitchen Fire Safety Tips and Prevention

2/13/2020 (Permalink)

Everyday the number one cause of a house fire if from cooking.  Unfortunately, fires caused by cooking can be the most smelly and difficult to mitigate.  Preventing kitchen fires are easy and could save a lot of heartache.  Bellow are a few easy tips to prevent kitchen fires:

  1. Do not leave the stove area while cooking.
  2. Watch what you wear.
  3. Do not have dish clothes or fabric over the cooking area.
  4. Do not keep grease on the stove where it can get hot, and do not hot grease down in the trash or down the sink.
  5. Keep a working fire extinguisher near the stove. (Remember to check extinguishers yearly)
  6. Install and check semi-yearly fire detectors.

There is no way to 100% prevent kitchen fires and if disasters strikes be sure to call SERVPRO of Natchez.  We are always available 24/7 at 601.304.5554.

Extension Cord Safety

10/29/2019 (Permalink)

Extension cords are one of the most commonly misused items in a home and at the office. To ensure safety use these following tips when using extension cords.

  • Determine the correct wattage required to power the device and be sure to select the correct size of the extension cord. If connecting two or more devices, add together the wattage rating for all devices to prevent overload.
  • Select the appropriate extension cord for using devices indoor or outdoor.
  • Do not use extension cords that are cut or damaged. Touching the exposed strand of wire can give someone electric shock or burn.
  • Be sure to unplug extension cords when finished using due to the cord will still conduct electricity until it is unplugged.
  • Running a cord under carpet or across a doorway is unsafe.

If you have any questions regarding fire damage please call SERVPRO of Natchez at 601.304.5554.

Smoke and Soot Damage to Next Door Neighbors Home

10/28/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage to next door neighbors home.

A question I was once asked: Can my house be affected by a fire in the house next door? The answer is yes!

Let SERVPRO of Natchez do an inspection of your home and find out if smoke and soot has penetrated the interior of your home. It is common for the houses on either side or behind a home that has had an extensive fire to have smoke and soot residue. It can get into the attic and even into the interior of the home by being drawn in through the HVAC system. Depending on the materials that were in the actual fire the soot and smoke residue can be very corrosive to different items in your home. Let SERVPRO of Natchez inspect the HVAC system and the interior and remove any smoke and soot therein.

Fire Safety

10/18/2019 (Permalink)

Fires and fire damage are common things we see in our world.  But if you are prepared, you have a much better chance of having the least damage to your home.  

Fire Extinguishers:

-Always have more than one working extinguisher in your home. Some great places to keep an extinguisher are under the kitchen sink and in the bedroom

-If you are going to install an extinguisher on the wall remember to place it high on the wall and away from any heat soucres

Smoke Alarms:

-Test smoke alarms every month and batteries should be replaced at least once a year

-Make sure you have ample smoke alarms throughout the home

And have an evacuation plan with your family  and practice it! 

SERVPRO of Natchez is here to help if you have any questions.  Just give us a call at 601.304.5554.

Smoke Cleanup!

9/2/2019 (Permalink)

Few smells linger like the odor of smoke. Even if a fire in your home in the Miss-Lou area only affects part of the structure, smoke damage can permeate the entire house. Fire remediation experts remove smoke and soot after they have secured the area and extracted anything damaged by the fire and the water used to put it out. They may use several techniques to do so.

Dry Cleaning

Regular washing may not get rid of the total smell left behind by smoke. Many of the items that need odor removal can be handled by dry cleaning:

  • Draperies
  • Clothes
  • Furniture covers
  • Linens

When you wash smoke-infused clothing in a washer, there is an extended period of time where the clothes are sitting in smoky water. The smell can also get trapped in the machine itself. Dry cleaners often have special oxidation processes for getting soot damage out of textiles.

Thermal Foggers

Many professionals use industrial foggers to rid homes of smoke damage after a fire. A fogger is helpful because it gets the smoke out of cracks and crevices in a similar way to the process it underwent during the fire. Chemicals are heated to produce fog that permeates porous surfaces, traps smoke particles and neutralizes them. Once the fogger has completed its job, the air is usually noticeably cleaner.

Ozone Treatments

Another smoke cleaning method is the use of ozone machines. These devices create a similar atmosphere to the outside air after a thunderstorm. By releasing ozone particles into the air, the area gets refreshed. Soon, the clean air replaces the sooty, stale air, making your home smell clean and normal again.

A fire in your home will likely cause extensive smoke damage not only to items within your home but to the structure itself. Professional technicians can clean the damaged area and employ various methods to get rid of the smoke odors.

Unexpected Fire

2/4/2019 (Permalink)

Fire, Soot and Smoke damage to your home or business is a huge and unexpected setback in your life. Fire board-up, cleanup, repair, and restoration are what we do.

At SERVPRO of Natchez our disaster restoration experts will be there to help you clean up and restore your home or business to its preloss condition. Our certified team of professionals are trained and specialized to handle large and small fires and smoke damage cleanup, which includes the following services:

  • Structural cleaning
  • Smoke and odor removal from both the structure and its contents such as personal belongings, furniture etc.
  • Temporary protection and board-up of the home or business
  • Cleaning and storage of personal belongings
  • Climate-controlled storage
  • Fogging and ozoning on site or in our cleaning facility
  • Complete demolition
  • Total reconstruction of a home or business

SERVPRO of Natchez is always here for you. Call us at 601.304.5554.

Fire Damage-Smoke and Soot

2/4/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke and the Different Types

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 Natchez will determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified. 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.

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

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

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 – SERVPRO of Natchez 601.304.5554.

Safety tips to prevent home fires.

10/22/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know that cooking is the number one cause of house fires? Also, Thanksgiving is the peak day for cooking fires. Here are a few safety tips that you could follow while your in the kitchen this holiday season or any day:

  1. ALWAYS be alert. If you are sleepy try not to use the stovetop. 
  2. Make sure you keep anything that can catch fire away from the stove top. (oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels,etc.)
  3. NEVER leave the kitchen while cooking on the stove top. 
  4. If frying always keep an eye on whatever it may be. (Heat your grease slowly)

SERVPRO Of Natchez can help you with any of your fire damage needs 24 hours a day 7 days a week 601.304.5554. Faster to any Disaster!!

Content Restoration after Fire Loss

10/8/2018 (Permalink)

CONTENTS RESTORATION

From furniture to antiques to artwork and appliances, we'll treat your treasures with the care they deserve. While some items can be cleaned on-site, in many cases we'll need to inventory, pack out and transport the contents of your property to our state-of-the-art facility to ensure the best care possible.

Contents Inventory

  • We arrive on-site and inventory all of your personal belongings.
  • We carefully pack all salvable items to transport to our secure warehouse and cleaning facility.
  • Unsalvageable contents are inventoried and discarded.

Contents Valuation

We have trained professionals to help you establish replacement values versus restoration costs. We are also available for pricing of non-salvable inventory items.

Restoration

  • Thorough cleaning
  • Proper handling of all electronics
  • Photographs and artwork
  • Fabrics
  • Clothes
  • Memorabilia
  • Antiques
  • Soft goods
  • Dry Cleaning
  • Appliances
  • Surfaces
  • Odor Removal

Have You Checked Your Fire Alarms?

10/5/2018 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms play a vital role in saving lives, and when properly installed, can reduce the risk of fire injury in half. 

The National Fire Protection Association recommends smoke alarms be installed in every bedroom, outside all sleeping quarters and on every level of the house. Business owners should consult the local Fire Marshall to ensure specific building fire codes and smoke detector requirements are met.

Smoke alarms work best when paired with a fire escape plan. A plan allows your family, employees or clients to escape quickly and safely in an emergency situation.

Review the following tips regarding smoke detectors installation and maintenance. For more on emergency preparedness contact SERVPRO of Natchez 601.304.5554.

  • Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including the basement.
  • Smoke alarms should be installed away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
  • Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm "chirps," the battery is low and should be replaced right away.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

What You Should do if You Have a Fire Emergency

10/5/2018 (Permalink)

What would you do if you were ever in an emergency? 

Step 1 would be to get you and your family to safety.   

Step 2 would be to call SERVPRO of Natchez to help right away with your restoration needs.

However, there are certain, and very important dos and don’ts in case of a fire emergency that you should or shouldn’t do until we arrive. Let us help you out by listing these dos and don’ts in case you ever are in these situations.

In case of an emergency fire damage, pay attention to the following tips:

Do’s

-limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into carpet and avoid tracking

- keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork

- if electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor

- wipe soot from metal kitchen and bathroom faucets, trim and appliances

Don’ts

-don’t attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting SERVPRO of Natchez professionals.

- don’t attempt to shampoo carpet, rugs, or upholstered furniture without first consulting SERVPRO of Natchez.

- don’t attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV sets, radios, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat, or water without first consulting an authorized repair service.

Tips on Fire Extinguishers

10/5/2018 (Permalink)

Do you know where the closest fire extinguisher is in your home or place of work?! And more importantly, do you know how to use it? Both of these things are very important to know so you know what to do in case of an emergency and to keep you safe. Listed below are some tips on when to use a fire extinguisher during an emergency.

  1. The outside of the extinguisher is clean, and all parts are operable and not damaged or restricted
  2. You have identified an escape, and the fire is not between you and the route
  3. You have alerted other occupants, and someone has called the fire department
  4. You are safe from the toxic smoke produced by the fire
  5. The fire is contained to a single object, such as a wastebasket

These tips are good to know so you can safely use a fire extinguisher. It is also good to familiarize yourself with the location of the fire extinguisher in your home and workplace.  In addition to these tips, please remember, YOU and YOUR FAMILY are irreplaceable, get out of the building if the fire spreads or you feel like you can’t control it.

Fire Damage to Your Belongings

2/8/2018 (Permalink)

The importance of contents coverage whether you are renting or you own your property is so important. Making sure your coverage is enough to cover even the little items is just as important. These things add up when you are having to replace your entire home.

We may protect our homes as best as we can from a fire, but surrounding homes or apartments can also be the cause. A small fire turned into a huge fire very quickly in this property because it could not be contained in time. 

Some contents can be saved by a textiles company or by SERVPRO of Natchez with soot cleaning or refinishing. There are some items, however, that go beyond the ability of even experienced restoration companies. To have a professional look at your soot damaged property and find out if it can be saved, call 601.304.5554.

Fire Place and Space Heater Safety

2/8/2018 (Permalink)

Safety First

According to the NFPA( National Fire Protection Association) heating equipment used in cold winter months are the leading cause of home fire deaths. Heating equipment estimates about $1 billion in property damages annually. 

If you choose to use heating equipment in your Tuscaloosa home, please use some of these safety tips provided by NFPA:

  • anything potentially flammable should be a minimum of 3 ft away
  • practicing a "no kid zone" in the 3 foot surrounding area of a heater or fireplace
  • sturdy screen in front of your fire place to catch wayward sparks
  • store ashes once they have cooled completely in  a metal container and place the container away from your house
  • turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed
  • test your smoke alarms monthly. Replace all batteries at least once a year. Don't need batteries? Replace those smoke alarms every 10 years
  • clean and inspect the fireplace every year before winter season when you need it!

In the event of a Fire in your home, call SERVPRO of Natchez to help you with the clean up and restoration of your property!

Pros of Fire Sprinklers

10/24/2017 (Permalink)

Reasons to invest in fire sprinkler systems

    • They add about 1% to the cost of a new home. This is about the same as the cost to upgrade carpeting.
    • They increase property value. 
    • The can lower your homeowners insurance.
    • They do not freeze up.
    • They can put out a house fire in 1 1/2 minutes.
    • They cause less damage to belongings.
    • Most of them can be concealed when not in use. 
    • Lowers the risk for injury and even death.

It gives you a sense of peace knowing that your family is more safe and secure. We all want our homes to be a place where we can be comfortable and at ease. Talk with others such as neighbors and friends about installing a system in there homes. Most people don't think about installing a fire sprinkler system as a safety measure but maybe it is time you and them to  reconsider this when thinking of a great investment for your home or business. 

We hope you never need these expert services but if you do, call us at 601.304.5554 or visit us on the web at www.SERVPROnatchez.com.

Smoke Damage is as Dangerous as Fire Damage

10/16/2017 (Permalink)

This stand up deep freezer shows the amount of damage that can be done by smoke from a kitchen fire.

In a typical house fire, more damage is caused by smoke than by the actual flames.  During a fire, the materials that burn produce toxic smoke that is actually filled with microscopic particles known as soot.  These tiny particles become charged from the extreme heat and migrate to cooler air found in other parts of the house.  Because this smoke is often extremely hot, it can cause additional damage away from the actual source of the fire by melting plastics, scorching fabrics and textiles and spreading toxic gasses that will literally kill any living thing in its path.  That’s why smoke alarms throughout your home are critical to saving lives.

The Department of Homeland Security says “In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and 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. Most deadly fires occur in the home when people are asleep. If you wake up to a fire, you won't have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick. There is only time to escape.”

At SERVPRO® of Natchez, our trained specialists know how to restore your belongings after a house fire.  We hope you never need our services but if you do, we will help you determine what can be restored and what needs to be replaced.  Restoring smoke and fire damaged items costs less than replacing them.  Having your belongings restored, especially items of sentimental value, helps most families recover from the trauma of a fire more quickly than otherwise possible.

Again, we hope you never need these expert services but if you do, call us at 601.304.5554 or visit us on the web at www.SERVPROnatchez.com.   We have helped hundreds of families recover from house fire damages. 

House Fire Season! Not When it is your Home!

10/16/2017 (Permalink)

This is a kitchen grease fire.

We often hear about a particular time of the year as being the “season for house fires,” meaning house fire disasters are on the rise from that month forward.  It is usually associated with colder weather when we start to use more home heating.  When it comes to your home, however, there is no “season” for a fire.  It can strike at any time.  The sad fact is that 2,500 people will be killed in fires over the next year.  13,000 people will suffer serious injuries related to fires and the loss of property – in terms of real dollars – will be more than $7 Billion!

SERVPRO® of Natchez provides expert restoration services if you have experienced a house fire.  If that is your situation now, please call 601.304.5554 so we can begin restoring your home.  The residue left from a fire, known as soot, presents hidden dangers if not properly removed from your home and your possessions.  Soot is acidic in nature and within hours to days, it will begin to decay or even destroy whatever surface it comes in contact with.

Our homes are a collection of different types of materials, all of which represent unique risks once they have been exposed to the heat from a fire.  The structure itself is composed of wood and sheetrock.  Electrical wiring is wrapped with plastics and rubber.  Insulation is found in attics and behind walls.  Floors are made of wooden materials that have been coated with chemicals to preserve their beauty, or covered with synthetic materials found in carpets.  Each presents its own set of risks.  The water used to extinguish the fire also presents a different set of problems for furniture that comes in contact with it and personal belongings left on floors. 

SERVPRO® of Natchez technicians are trained to determine what can be salvaged and what needs to be discarded.  Each home contains items of sentimental value like pictures and heirlooms.  Until help arrives, pictures need to be removed from glass frames as quickly as possible so they can dry unless they have become stuck to the glass.  Valuable items like jewelry, weapons, ammunition, financial papers and other personal items should be removed from the home for safe keeping. 

Our restoration specialists treat the damaged contents of your home with the utmost respect and care.  Once clean and restored, we will safely store your property until your home is ready for your return.  Our job is to make your loss “Like it never even happened.” 

We have helped hundreds of families recover from house fire damages.  Visit our website for information on how we can restore your property at www.SERVPROnatchez.com.

Why You Must Hire Professionals to Restore your Natchez Home after Fire Damage

10/16/2017 (Permalink)

Hidden damage and strong odors left behind by a house fire

Even after a small grease fire in your kitchen, you are going to wind up with plenty of damage afterward. You also must deal with a heavy smoky odor throughout your home, black soot on your ceiling and cabinets, burnt grease, and even melted appliances.

Many people attempt to clean up after a small fire in their Miss-Lou home themselves. However, it is best to leave the inspection and cleanup of the fire damage to the expertise of our technicians at SERVPRO. We are trained and certified to deal with situations like this and have the proper tools as well to restore your home back to its proper state thoroughly.

Kitchen fires produce a mixture of residues which must be cleaned properly. A big challenge of kitchen fires is you will most likely have more than one kind of material which burns and leaves residues. It is not an easy task for the average homeowner to understand how to clean these residues. The different kinds include natural substances such as wood, paper, or natural fabrics, protein substances like grease and burnt food, plus synthetic substances like plastics. It is best that each kind of substance is cleaned with the right method unique to that substance.

Smoke smells are tough to combat. You can keep cleaning, but the smell of smoke can linger still. Smoke particles are tiny, and each of them has an odor. These microscopic particles make their way inside your walls through air ducts, behind the wood trim, into cabinets, under carpeting, and more. Even if you are the best cleaner in the world, there are such a vast number of places you could miss, and it can take weeks for the smell to dissipate.

The fire could have also done more damage than you realize. If flames shot up an air duct, for instance, you may not know about some of the damage done. When you allow SERVPRO staff to inspect your home, we can find all the hidden damage so that your home is completely cleaned and restored, giving you a peace of mind.

SERVPRO of Natchez is a locally owned and operated company with the proper training to handle fire damage of all kinds. People who reside in the Miss-Lou area, you can reach us easily at any time by dialing 601.304.5554.