Recent Posts

Fire Safety when Grilling

6/21/2023 (Permalink)

At home grilling is an activity that almost everyone enjoys and should be conducted safely with a few precautions. If one is not careful, grill fires may break out occasionally causing causalities of the food, surrounding area, and sometimes people. Here are some things you should keep in mind when grilling this summer to prevent grill fires: 

  • Don't leave the grill unattended
  • Clean the grill after use to prevent flare ups
  • Remove flammable items from around the grill
  • Keep your grill in good condition, never operating a faulty grill 
  • Keep a fire extinguisher nearby for necessary situations
  • Insure connections between the gas tank and grill are secure
  • Never cook too close to a building

Home Fires 

A grill fires that grows into a home fire can be a damaging and stressful event. The best way to recover in this situation is by calling professional fire remediation company. These companies have qualified teams prepared to restore any damage caused by smoke, soot, or fire. 

Barbecue Fires
What do you do when your barbecue catches on fire? Remain calm. Check that there is nothing flammable near the grill. It is important that the fire stay contained in order to prevent further damage. If possible, turn off the burners and the line from the gas tank. If necessary, use a fire extinguisher to quench flames, otherwise the fire should decrease naturally and go out on its own. If handled properly, a grill fire may ruin your food but at least your home is spared. 

Why Content Clean?

6/21/2023 (Permalink)

What is Content Cleaning? 

When disaster occurs, many steps must be taken to ensure the property is safe, clean, and restored. One crucial step of the restoration process is content cleaning. Many may ask, what is content cleaning? Content cleaning is the process in which belongings, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and personal items, are removed, packed, cleaned, and restored. This process removes all contaminants from items preventing potential exposure to harmful hazardous material. 

When Does Content Cleaning Occur? 

After disaster occurs, one should immediately contact a professional restoration company to inspect the situation. This company should be experienced in the field of restoration and content cleaning, possessing all of the necessary equipment, cleaning agents, licenses, and certifications to operate. The longer you wait to have your contents cleaned and restored the worse the damage will become. One should call a restoration company 24-48 hours after the loss to insure relatively fresh damage. 

The Content Cleaning Process

Once the company has been contacted, they will complete a process which goes through many stages to insure a full restoration of contents. 

1. Inspection 

In the first stage, an expert from the restoration company will be sent out to determine the extent of damage and assess the cleaning methods needed for the belongings. 

2. Pack Out

Once the items have been inspected, they will be packed out, labeled, removed, and transported from the premises for cleaning at the company's facility. 

3. Cleaning 

At the facility, the technicians will use specialized equipment and cleaning agents to remove contaminants and restore contents to the previous condition. 

4. Storage

Many times the contents have been fully cleaned before the property has been restored. In these cases, the contents will be packed and stored at the climate controlled, secure facility to await transportation to the restored property.

5. Return

The final stage is the return stage. This includes the return and transportation of cleaned content to the restored facility. The technician will unpack, inspect, and insure the proper placement of belongings. 

Disaster often occurs, when this happens one must immediately call a restoration professional to take necessary steps to insure the property is safe, clean, and restored. A crucial step in this is content cleaning. Content cleaning is the process in which belongings, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and personal items, are removed, packed, cleaned from hazardous material, and restored. Remember, don't wait to call a professional. The damage will only increase if given time.  

Keep The Home Safe From Fire

6/14/2023 (Permalink)

Keeping your family safe from fire during the holidays is so important.

Cooking fires are common during Thanksgiving and the holidays. The US Fire Administration has quite a few tips and suggestions on their website to help with fire safety during the holidays. 

If you or your loved one has recently suffered from a fire, be sure to contact SERVPRO of Fair Oaks / Folsom to help you with your restoration needs. Call us 24/7 at 916-987-0400. 

Are you considering frying a turkey for Thanksgiving?  Please consider the 

Five dangers of deep frying a turkey:

  1. Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.
  2. An overfilled cooking pot will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is put in, and a partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when put in the pot.
  3. Even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire.
  4. Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire.
  5. The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot.

For more information visit the US Fire Administration website: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/cooking.html

If you need help with your emergency visit: http://www.SERVPROfairoaksfolsom.com/. If you have a water or fire emergency be sure to call SERVPRO of Fair Oaks/Folsom at 916-525-1241 so we can help you today!

You can follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SERVPROfairoaksfolsom

Is Your Items Fire Free

6/14/2023 (Permalink)

Fire not only affects the structure of your home but it also affects your belongings. SERVPRO of Fair Oaks / Folsom is here to help! SERVPRO understands your furniture, keepsakes, clothing and belongings are extremely important to you. SERVPRO understands that some of these items are essential to making a house a home. 

Being overwhelmed is a totally reasonable response after a fire. We are here to make this awful situation better for you. When necessary, SERVPRO can complete move-outs and pack-outs for you! If your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning due to the damage from the fire, we can organize an efficient move-out of contents from the affected area. Move-outs allow for a quicker rebuild/remodeling and protects contents from damage during the remodel. While the rebuild/remodel process occurs, your items can be inventoried and cleaned at our office.

Need immediate help? SERVPRO of Fair Oaks / Folsom is here to take care of you – call 916-987-0400! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

What Water Can Do To Your Home

6/14/2023 (Permalink)

Left untreated, the moisture and bacteria from a sewage loss may cause microbial growth.  SERVPRO has experience with remediating a loss in which sewage was left untreated, causing mold to form on the drywall and floor. In such an instance, all flooring, drywall, doors and trim must be removed. Dehumidifiers are placed and remaining stud beams, subfloor, and stationary objects are cleaned and sanitized. A special antimicrobial solution can be painted to the affected areas to prevent mold from reforming on the treated surfaces. This is usually the most important step in the mold remediation process.

In an effort to prevent the timely remediation of mold, a sewage loss must be mitigated immediately. Our team of SERVPRO professionals are trained to extract and clean the discharge from the area before placing drying equipment to remove any remaining moisture. Faster to any disaster, SERVPRO is always ready to take on even the largest sewage losses.

Soot And Smoke Damage

6/2/2023 (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 Fair Oaks / Folsom 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 – SERVPRO of Fair Oaks / Folsom 916-525-1241.

If you need help with your fire emergency visit http://www.SERVPROfairoaksfolsom.com/fire-smoke-damage-restoration to find out how SERVPRO is able to help you.

Is There A Fire Plan?

6/2/2023 (Permalink)

CalFire has many great resources to help prepare you for a wildfire near you. Here is some information to get you started.  CREATE A WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN Your Wildfire Action Plan must be prepared, and familiar to all members of your household well in advance of a wildfire. Use the checklist below to help create your plan. Each family’s plan will be different, depending on a variety of issues, needs, and situations.

YOUR WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN CHECKLIST
Create an evacuation plan that includes:

  • A designated emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. This is critical to determine who has safely evacuated from the affected area.
  • Several different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these often so everyone in your family is familiar in case of emergency.
  • Have an evacuation plan for pets and large animals such as horses and other livestock.
  • A Family Communication Plan that designates an out-of-area friend or relative as a point of contact to act as a single source of communication among family members in case of separation. (It is easier to call or message one person and let them contact others than to try and call everyone when phone, cell, and internet systems can be overloaded or limited during a disaster.)

Be Prepared:

  • Have fire extinguishers on hand and train your family how to use them (check expiration dates regularly).
  • Ensure that your family knows where your gas, electric, and water main shut-off controls are located and how to safely shut them down in an emergency.
  • Assemble an Emergency Supply kit for each person, as recommended by the American Red Cross. (See next section for details.)
  • Maintain a list of emergency contact numbers posted near your phone and in your emergency supply kit.
  • Keep an extra Emergency Supply Kit in your car in case you cannot get to your home because of fire or other emergency.
  • Have a portable radio or scanner so you can stay updated on the fire.
  • Tell your neighbors about Ready, Set, Go! and your Wildfire Action Plan.

If you have suffered from a wildfire and need fire damage restoration, SERVPRO of Fair Oaks / Folsom is here to help. Call us 24 hours a day at 916-987-0400 or visit our website for more information on all our services: www.SERVPROfairoaksfolsom.

Being Swimming Pool Ready!

6/2/2023 (Permalink)

What is the best way to keep my child safe around swimming pools?

An adult should actively watch children at all times while they are in a pool. For infants and toddlers, an adult should be in the water and within arm’s reach, providing “touch supervision.”  For older children, an adult should be paying constant attention and free from distractions, like talking on the phone, socializing, tending household chores, or drinking alcohol. The supervising adult must know how to swim.

Pool Rules

If you have a pool, insist that the following rules are followed:

  • Keep toys away from the pool when the pool is not in use.
  • Empty blow-up pools after each use.
  • No tricycles or other riding toys at poolside.
  • No electrical appliances near the pool.
  • No diving in a pool that is not deep enough.
  • No running on the pool deck.

Pool Fences 

Children can climb out a window, through a doggy door, or sneak out a door to get to the back yard and the pool. To prevent small children from entering the pool area on their own, there should be a fence that completely surrounds the pool or spa. Combined with the watchful eyes of an adult, a fence is the best way to protect your child and other children who may visit or live nearby.  

Pool fences should also:

  • Be climb-resistant and should not have anything alongside it (such as lawn furniture) that can be used to climb it.
  • Be at least 4 feet high and have no footholds or handholds that could help a child climb it.
  • Have no more than 4 inches between vertical slats. Chain-link fences are very easy to climb and are not recommended as pool fences. If they must be used, the diamond shape should not be bigger than 1¾ inches.
  • Have a gate that is well maintained and is self-closing and self-latching. It should only open away from the pool. The latches should be higher than a child can reach – 54 inches from the bottom of the gate.
  • For above-ground pools always keep children away from steps or ladders. When the pool is not in use, lock or remove the ladders to prevent access by children.

Other protection products, when used with an “isolation” fence, may be of some benefit; however, these are not substitutes for adequate fencing. These may include the following:

  • Automatic pool covers (motorized covers operated by a switch). Pool covers should cover the entire pool so that a child can't slip under them. Make sure there is no standing water on top of the pool cover. Be aware that floating solar covers are not safety covers.
  • Door alarms
  • Doors to the house that are self-closing/self-latching
  • Window guards
  • Pool alarms

Swimming Lessons - Where We Stand

Children need to learn to swim. The AAP supports swimming lessons for most children 4 years and older, and for children 1 to 4 years of age who are ready to learn how to swim. Keep in mind that because children develop at different rates, each child will be ready to swim at her own time.

Some factors you may consider before starting swimming lessons for younger children include:

  • Frequency of exposure to water
  • Emotional maturity
  • Physical limitations
  • Health concerns related to swimming pools (for example, swallowing water, infections, pool chemicals)

While some swim programs claim to teach water survival skills to children less than 12 months old, evidence does not show that they are effective in preventing drowning. Swim lessons do not provide “drown-proofing” for children of any age, so supervision and other layers of protection are necessary even for children who have learned swimming skills.

Diving Safety

Serious spinal cord injuries, permanent brain damage, and death can occur to swimmers who dive into shallow water or spring upward on the diving board and hit it on the way down.

Keep safe by following these simple common-sense diving rules.

  • Check how deep the water is. Enter the water feet first, especially when going in for the first time.
  • Never dive into above-ground pools; they are usually not deep enough.
  • Never dive into the shallow end of a pool.
  • Never dive through inner tubes or other pool toys.
  • Learn how to dive properly by taking classes.

Source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Swimming-Pool-Safety.aspx

Commercial Property Disasters Preparedness

4/18/2023 (Permalink)

Disasters can wreck havocs on our homes and businesses. Testing your business system can ensure you are ready for a disaster large or small. On Preparemybusiness.org you can find suggestions and details around business continuity planning.

Testing is a critical component of business continuity planning. If your systems went down, how long would it take to get them up and running again, and what would be required to achieve that goal? Where are the gaps in your recovery plan and how can you close those gaps before a disaster strikes?

Testing your continuity plan is the best way to ensure that your business will remain in operation no matter what, or that it can be quickly restored under any circumstances. For many companies, testing is necessary for meeting compliance requirements.

Through testing, you will reduce both recovery time and risks, ultimately protecting your business and the employees and customers who rely on you.

What to test?

You should test all critical functions, particularly those that would be most vulnerable during an attack or disaster. This includes servers, PCs/workstations, network/Internet, building security, phones/communications, supply chain, workflow/staff procedures. Some managers phase their testing procedures, for instance, running a data recovery test one month and network/Internet recovery another month.

Where to test?

Testing can be done in one of three places: at your facility, at your backup center, or at an offsite testing site. You can choose to do a table-top-meeting-style run through or a full-scale hands-on test, using canned or live data.

How often to test?

We recommend that you do a full-scale test annually for a wide range of critical functions, including electricity, water, gas, facilities/spacing, staffing, technology, telecommunications and more. A full-scale test will help ensure that your business not only survive but thrive in any unexpected situation.

Who should participate?

A testing team should include all the people on your disaster recovery team or who are in charge of critical areas within the company. These should include, but not be limited to Facilities manager, IT tech, HR manager, senior management, brand management, third-party support and a sampling of critical clients.

Recovering from a disaster, call SERVPRO of Fair Oaks / Folsom at 916-987-0400 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are here to help.

For more details about preparing your business, visit: http://www.preparemybusiness.org.

Fire Restoration Services and Facts

4/18/2023 (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 Fair Oaks / Folsom 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 – SERVPRO of Fair Oaks / Folsom 916-987-0400.

If you need help with your fire emergency visit http://www.SERVPROfairoaksfolsom.com/fire-smoke-damage-restoration to find out how SERVPRO is able to help you.