Parking in the garage is a convenient luxury that we all love. However, when that vehicle catches fire and affects the entire home, it can be a traumatic experience that causes a fire damage emergency. Last month, a homeowner contacted us about a car fire in the garage. They had just returned home from work, relaxing on the couch when the neighbor came over letting them know about the smoke bellowing out from the garage. They had already called the fire department, who was en route.
This property owner ran outside and tried to open the garage door, but it would not budge. As the fire got hotter, it began to melt the paint on the garage door and burst the side window. Luckily, the fire department arrived moments later and put the fire out. Luckily for the homeowner, the fire never expanded out of the garage. Not so luckily, smoke and soot filled the house and attic space.
Fire Damage Emergencies Require Immediate Attention
Upon getting the call, the Lightning Restoration EMS crew went to work right away. Our top concerns were answering the property owners’ questions and beginning mitigation services to save the content in the home. What most people don’t realize is that the soot can do more damage than the fire itself. Soot can and will go anywhere that air goes.
When a by-product of a burning synthetic material, soot contains acidic properties from hydrofluoric, hydro sulfuric & hydrochloric acids. Mix that with the moisture in the air from Florida’s humidity or the water from the fire hoses, and we have an acidic reaction. EMS services include the extraction of the water from the fire department, cleaning and protecting all of the fixtures in the home and protection of the content items. We also boarded the home up, to protect it from looters who understand that the home has no security system to protect it from invaders.
What About Items Damaged During the Fire Emergency?
Upon release from the fire inspector, Lightning Restoration experts began the full remediation needed in the home. Our remediation experts packed out, cleaned, and deodorized each content item in the home. We process these items through our content’s division in our facility, utilizing the latest technology like ultrasonics bathing and hydroxyl deodorization. Finally, we store those items in our climate-controlled facility.
Back at the house, our fire remediation specialists worked to clean and restore the home, removing all traces of the soot and deodorizing the home. This is done by knowing how different structural materials react during different contamination scenarios. Various deodorization techniques are needed to achieve a healthy smelling home after a fire, which can include thermal fogging, air filtration and ozone/hydroxyl treatments.
Act Quickly After a Fire Damage Emergency
If you find yourself in a fire damage emergency, please do not hesitate to call Lightning Restoration. Our industry experts are prepared and trained to take care of your home and restore it back to its pre-loss condition. Be sure to Demand the Lightning Van!
