Fire and water

4/2/2020 (Permalink)

Fire and its heat can melt, burn, scorch, blacken, and damage almost anything it meets. During the warmer drier season’s fires are more likely to occur because the hotter temperatures dry out our grass, trees, etc. Fire can also be extremely hard to contain, predict and put out.

Water can eat away the hardest surfaces known to mankind. Tidal waves, tsunamis, hail, snow, freezing rain, etc. these are all forms of water within our atmosphere. Pressurized water can do substantial damage, picture a pressure washer. That water is forced out with great pressure to be able to remove residue, moss, dirt, etc.

What could happen if we put both powerful elements in the same room? What would this look like?

Take for example: a candle is left unattended. Jane Doe is burning a candle in her office during the day. She gets an emergency phone call and rushes out of the office but forgets to blow out the candle. The candle flickers and spurts off some its flame catching onto her files of work on her desk. The papers ignite rapidly, smoke pours throughout the office, the fire department makes it to the scene and drench out the flames.

The post fire picture: you must wait a certain period before entering the facility to ensure every ember is put out. Let’s say the fire didn’t do substantial damage to the entire building but maybe one office. For the fire to be put out either by extinguisher or water both materials can and will do damage to all content within that office. The building will have smoke damage, smoke is very potent, and the heat will open pores of the walls, furniture etc. When those pores close, they close all those harmful smoke particles within the pore.

Walls, carpet, ceiling, furniture, documentation/paperwork will all be affected. All the mentioned surfaces and materials will need to be cleaned, disposed of, sealed and properly treated by trained professionals.

Here at SERVPRO of Gig Harbor/North Tacoma and SERVPRO Mason County, our employees are trained and experienced to tackle any size loss. Any time of the day, and day of the week throughout the year we are here for you in your time of need.

Call our office today! 253-851-6711 or 360-427-9332