Dryer Vents, Lint Traps, and their Hidden Dangers:

7/1/2024 (Permalink)

Cleaning your lint trap between each load can help prevent fires in your home.

For most of us, laundry is a mundane, yet necessary chore. While we may not necessarily look forward to it, modern appliances have made this task more convenient and less strenuous. Gone are the days of hanging rows and rows of laundry on clotheslines in the backyard. Despite the convenience of laundry units, some regular maintenance is necessary to keep them from posing a hazard to your home.  

According to Consumer Reports, each year dryers cause nearly 14,000 house fires and over $230 million in property damage. Around 27% of these fires are directly related to build-up in lint traps, dryer vents, ductwork, or even lint that has made its way into the heating element. Lint build-up prevents the hot air from passing through the ductwork, causing the dryer to work harder and potentially overheat. Keeping these areas clean and debris-free goes a long way in preventing fires.  

Please keep these guidelines in mind, to help prevent dryer fires in your home:  

1. Don’t leave your dryer running while you are not home. 
2. Clean the lint screen between every load and do not run the dryer without it. 
   Note: If you use fabric softener you may need to clean build-up from the screen as well.   
3. Clean the housing for the lint screen every month.  
4. Clean the dryer duct at least once a year. 
5. If you have accordion-style ducts, replace them with rigid metal duct systems. Accordion-style ducts sag and have ridges that cause lint to become trapped more easily.   
6. Use caution when drying chemically stained clothing. Clothes that may have been stained with gasoline, oil, or other chemicals should be hung to dry as putting these items in the dryer may spark fires.   
7. Keep the area around your dryer clean.  
8. Watch for signs that your dryer may be overheating:  
   • Burning smell coming from laundry room/dryer.  
   • Excess or more humidity than usual in your laundry room.  
   • Outside of the dryer is very hot.  
   • Clothes take longer than usual to dry.  
   • The dryer vent does not open fully when the dryer is running. This is usually a sign of a clog that is not allowing air to pass through the ductwork.  

Don’t let a mundane chore turn into a big disaster. Take the proper precautions to help keep your home and family safe.   

If an accident does occur in your home, call SERVPRO of Little Rock for fire restoration services. Our team of certified fire restoration professionals will be there for you and your family to make your home “Like it never even happened.”  

Call 501-803-9700 for 24/7 emergency fire restoration service. 

How to Prevent Electrical Fires in your Home

10/3/2023 (Permalink)

Understanding how to properly and safely use your system can help homeowners to prevent fire damage in their homes and save them from expensive accide

It is not uncommon for homeowners in Little Rock to not fully understand the electrical system that runs in their homes. Many people do not understand the limitation of electrical outlets and propensity of oversized items to fail in dangerous ways from improper use.

For most families, preventing dangerous situations is a top priority. This begins with having a better understanding of the limitations and restrictions of your electrical system. Understanding how to properly and safely use your system can help homeowners to prevent fire damage in their homes and save them from expensive accidents. 

One of the first things to consider is that electrical outlets only are rated for a specific amount of available power. When you plug in a device into an outlet that requires more power than the outlet can provide, it will under-power the device and overload the outlet, causing sparks and combustion. SERVPRO® technicians have responded to many emergency situations in both residential and commercial buildings caused by this exact situation.  

Another common mistake homeowners make is when they believe that all of their outlets are grounded. Many assume that since their home is grounded with a wire outside that all of their outlets are protected, whether or not they have a grounding slot. Unless the electrician who installed your electrical system connected all of your outlets to the grounding rod in the fuse box, some of your outlets may not be protected. 

Adaptors for three-pronged appliances to plug into two-pronged outlets do not provide surge protection. Power surges can and do start fires, so using this method to plug in your device poses a serious hazard to your home. Improper use of extension cords and power strips are another common cause of electrical fires. Like outlets, people may not realize that their cord or power strip is not rated for the device(s) they are using it with or may plug too many items into it at once. It is important to check the rating of the extension cord and to only use it temporarily, they are not meant to be a long term solution. Always unplug these items when they are not in use. 

Gaining a better understanding of your home’s electrical system, its limitations, and the safety guidelines surrounding it can help prevent fires and disasters in your home. 

If you are already facing a fire disaster, our SERVPRO® of Little Rock fire restoration specialists are here to help. We will help you clean up the mess and get your home back to preloss conditions quickly. Give us a call 24/7 at (501-803-9700).

Click here for fire emergencies.

The Restoration Process for Fire Damage in Little Rock

4/17/2023 (Permalink)

Fire damage leaves behind charred contents and lingering odors. Contact SERVPRO for thorough remediation services in your Little Rock home.

SERVPRO Offers Fire Cleanup and Odor Control to Little Rock Residents

The home is full of fuel sources for a potential fire. Common textiles like mattresses, draperies, and sheets can combust with exposure to high temperatures or direct flames. One of the leading causes of damage from combusting materials is smoke deposits that rapidly expand outward from the source. SERVPRO can help organize and manage your home restoration after a disaster. 

The underlying causes of fire damage in Little Rock homes can often be traced back to open ignition points, with the number one cause being unattended stoves. Usually, these types of fire involve the burning of animal protein which can leave behind greasy smoke deposits. Unlike organic materials, which generally leave behind a powdery smoke residue, items that involve animal fats or synthetic material often require special care and attention to remove. The immediate aftermath of a housefire often requires the most organization. Belongings must be inspected individually to ascertain their level of repairability while simultaneously making plans for safe storage either on-site or in an external warehouse. There is also a careful examination of the structure, surfaces, and fittings where technicians test for cleanability and smoke type. Finally, water used during the firefighting procedure can be an additional source of damage that needs immediate mitigation. 

The Early Stages of Homefire Restoration

• Sorting through belongings, including storage options and arranging for services such as dumpster trucks for debris and potential subcontractor requirements.
• Setting up a staging area for equipment and containment controls to avoid spreading soot from one location to another.
• Water mitigation is often necessary to help reduce the impact of smoke odors and prevent secondary damages.

The planning phase of homes fire damage restoration is among the most crucial. Our technicians can perform mitigation tasks to reduce losses, arrange for the correct equipment, and speak with your insurance adjuster during this time. From a homeowner's perspective, the main task is to provide authorization for technicians to carry out restoration work. This task is completed by providing your signature on an authorization to complete the services form. We understand how impactful fires can be to a homeowner and the level of disruption they can cause to your everyday life. Our crew chiefs can answer any questions you may have during this period to stay in the loop and make sure you have a realistic time frame for the services carried out. 

The Core Tasks for Your Home Restoration

• Mitigation is the process of reducing losses, including covering surfaces to protect them from falling ash, drying the property, and securing it against theft.
• A cleaning phase allows technicians to salvage as much of the structure, fittings, and belongings as possible. Cleaning can also help to reduce odors significantly.
• Restoration usually involves the replacement of non-salvageable materials. Special services like wood refinishing, carpet cleaning, deodorization, and repainting are common tasks in the restoration phase.

Cleaning smoke residues can be challenging without the correct training, equipment, and experience. In property fires, chemical cleaning is usually necessary to remove stubborn soot deposits. In broad terms, chemical cleaners are split between water-based cleaning agents like detergents and oil-based solvents. Detergents can help rinse light to moderate smoke residues but can have the opposite effect on the greasy smoke residues usually found in a kitchen. We use solvents that suspend soot particles in the chemical solution for wet smoke. Our team can then wash away the solvent and the soot in a rinsing agent. 

If a fire breaks out at your property, contact SERVPRO of Little Rock for fire damage restoration at (501) 803-9700.

Fire Damage Restoration Services in Little Rock Help Homeowners Recover from Disaster

3/13/2023 (Permalink)

Removing fire damaged debris from a Little Rock kitchen is crucial for restoring a home to a safe place. SERVPRO can help.

Appliances and Open Flames Can Cause Home Fires in Little Rock

Something as small as a scented candle can be behind an unfortunate event in Little Rock. Appliances such as crock pots and toaster ovens can also cause a disaster despite a homeowner’s careful watch. The blame may lie on your appliance or the wiring itself, but the result is always unpleasant. Even when the fire is small, and a home fire extinguisher is enough to snuff out the flames, the residue and the odor left behind require a seasoned team to help you deal with it.

In Little Rock, your fire damage restoration expert team is SERVPRO. The first step in a successful remediation job is understanding that no job is too large or small for our team to handle. Each fire is different, and depending on what it destroys in its path, the aftermath may require multiple cleanup and deodorization processes.

For example, when wooden cabinets burn, the residue is fine dust, but if your plastic storage containers ignite in the fire, the sludge-like residue requires a different set of cleaning techniques and solutions. Our certified team has within reach the latest equipment to handle your specific needs. To improve our efficiency, we look at the following-

• Removing unsalvageable items from the home avoids cross-contamination and facilitates the actual work.
• Relocating certain items to an off-site location and treating them with specialized cleaning and drying solutions while work continues in the house.
• Pre-testing surfaces to ensure that selected cleaning solutions won’t cause further damage, thanks to their abrasive nature.

At SERVPRO of Little Rock, we treat your home like our own. Call us at (501) 803-9700 and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

The Cleaning Actions of Fire Restoration in Little Rock Homes

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

Cleaning up after soot and smoke soils can be one of the most significant challenges of fire recovery services.

There Are Multiple Cleaning Methods for Fire Restoration

Cleaning up after soot and smoke soils can be one of the most significant challenges of fire recovery services our SERVPRO team provides. With our substantial inventory of cleaning products and agents, we can tailor our cleanup to the specific situation. Typical cleaning actions for soot removal include:

• Mechanical
• Lubrication
• Chemical
• Suspension

Mechanical Actions 

Various forms of mechanical action can greatly aid fire restoration of Little Rock homes. SERVPRO can often use agitation before applying cleaning agents to improve the effectiveness of these products and their intended results. HEPA vacuuming loose soil and debris from soot-covered surfaces is an example of this helpful agitation. 

The Benefit of Lubrication

The premise of lubrication cleaning is to create a slippery surface so that soils can no longer adhere to the surface and can be wiped away. Detergents used in this process can also emulsify the soils, aiding in this approach's effectiveness. 

Chemical Actions to Clean Homes 

Certain chemical products will alter the composition of the soot or its effect on surfaces. These alterations, such as stain removal and brightening, can be a step towards completely removing the appearance of soot and smoke residue damage.  

The Science of Suspension/Dispersion 

After soils loosen, suspension and dispersion of soils are among the most common approaches to cleaning after fire damage. Suspension involves soot dissolving into the cleaning product with a solution of similar composition. Emulsification acts like oil and water repel one another, where soils are pushed from a surface and prevented from reattaching so wipe cleaning can be successful.

Multiple cleaning approaches are possible when overcoming soot, smoke residues, and soil deposits on building materials and contents. Our commitment to continued training ensures we have the latest techniques and products to resolve surface damage issues efficiently. Our SERVPRO of Little Rock team is ready anytime to help at (501) 803-9700.

Fire Damage Restoration Inspection Goals for Little Rock Homes

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

Soot webs or tags are produced from carbon and tar being released as a fire burns. SERVPRO has the cleaners to remove the soot and smoke.

Identifying the Focus of Fire Damage Restoration 

Fires are among the most destructive and overwhelming disasters a home can face, especially if the blaze spreads through multiple rooms or floors of the property. Restoration services must first focus on the most pressing concerns to protect the property and its contents from unnecessary harm. We begin cleanup tasks with a thorough inspection that can document hazards like:

• Soot
• Smoke
• Structural Damage
• Water Damage
• Odors

What Does an Inspection Achieve? 

By dispatching skilled professionals like our production management to get Little Rock fire damage restoration inspections started, we can learn much about the state of the property and the needed mitigation. Objectives of the assessment include answering questions like:

• Where is controlled demolition required?
• Are there safety concerns?
• What are restoration priorities?
• What can be salvaged?

Washable Surfaces and Salvageability 

While part of the fire damage assessment determines the condition of specific contents and building materials, it is also necessary to document if these elements are salvageable. Washability is a low-scale part of this evaluation, as only superficial damage can often be cleaned on these designated washable surfaces. With more extreme damage, the likelihood of recovery drops respectively.

Getting Emergency Services and Mitigation Started

Armed with the information collected through the inspection process and the condition of the impacted materials in the house, we can start mitigation services. Keeping a quick pace with these efforts ensures that the data gathered by the damage assessment is still relevant and conditions do not worsen while restoration gets underway.

There is a benefit to getting post-fire damage inspections started as soon as possible. The more technicians can learn about the condition of the house and needed restoration actions, the more efficient these cleanup processes can become. Give our SERVPRO of Little Rock team a call whenever disaster strikes to help at (501) 803-9700.

What Few People Know About Little Rock Fire Damage Remediation Steps

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

A fire in your home can cause drastic changes that make your Little Rock residence unlivable and extremely messy.

Fire Mitigation and Packout for Your Damaged Little Rock Home

Mitigation is a vital component of disaster recovery for your Little Rock home. Our technicians respond to emergencies like fires quickly to ensure that we can limit the loss to your property and your home's contents. Homeowners need to react swiftly to get trained personnel into their homes following the extinguishment of the fire so that strategies like pack-outs can be most effective.

While you might have many concerns for your property after the incident, fire removal efforts in Little Rock and content protection are the first steps that professional restoration technicians like ours take when we arrive at your damaged house. Much of this initial work that we do also goes to help provide your insurance company with the necessary information and documentation required to approve a damage claim and afford restoration work for your property.

Mitigation work often involves assessing the damage and beginning to remove debris and overly damaged structural elements to get down to the skeleton of your home in the damaged areas and ultimately rebuild it. We can test materials for structural integrity to exercise our controlled demolition techniques that only remove the portions of your home's construction that are too severely damaged to preserve.

Additionally, our contents department works throughout the initial mitigation phase to tag items requiring removal and relocation until the restoration work is completed. We can move them to our facility for safekeeping and focused cleaning and deodorization as needed. Once the restoration work in your home ends, we can return these items to their original positions on the property to make it "Like it never even happened."

You might find a fire in your home an overwhelming experience, but you can count on our SERVPRO of Little Rock to respond quickly with the expertise and tools to help recover your home. Call us anytime that disaster strikes at (501) 803-9700.

Removing Soot, Smoke and Staining From Your Ferndale Home After Fire Damage

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

When a fire has caused damage to your home, you need the expertise of a remediation company to work for you. Contact SERVPRO right away.

Team SERVPRO Understands That Remediation Response Speed Can Help Prevent Secondary Damages

Fire is not always a disaster, but it is debilitating. Soot and smoke residue can stain your walls, furniture, and fittings. Synthetics can react with heat to produce harmful toxins. After firefighters leave, there is also secondary water damage to consider which, if left alone, can lead to mold, mildew or other permanent damages.

The impact of fire damage to Ferndale homes is significantly reduced by reacting quickly and efficiently. The extent of damage is complicated and is caused by a myriad of different factors. That could include the type of material burnt, the amount of heat, oxygen or moisture in the air, the type and temperature of surfaces as well as your building's airflow.

Given that there are many factors to consider, effective cleaning solutions can be hard to come by. For that reason, SERVPRO always conducts a pre-test of your furnishings, smoke residue, and wet/ dry soot. A pre-test ensures that we are not going to waste time applying standardized cleaning techniques to areas that would benefit from a tailored approach.

One of the main factors during a SERVPRO pretest is to assess the materials in your home. Porous materials tend to be harder to clean because they absorb damage beneath the surface, leading to stains. Heat causes materials to expand making materials that may not be porous, like synthetics, absorb burnt materials. Moisture, which could come from firefighters or even something as simple as wet weather, also sets residue causing staining.

For these reasons, SERVPRO IICRC-certified technicians are trained to act quickly to mitigate loss. Settled soot that is absorbed by surfaces becomes very difficult to restore and may need replacement. However, if you act fast enough, we can work towards a restore over replace method and save that which can be saved.

Dealing with fire damage is stressful. As part of our service, we can create an itinerary with you to be handed over to your insurer. We can also give you a detailed explanation of the work to be done, the tools needed to complete the job as well as predicted outcomes. Once work has started, we can use all of our 40 years experience in fire and water damage to bring you the best possible results.

So if your home has been damaged by a recent fire, SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock is on hand to help bring your home back to its best. Call us 24/7 at (501) 803-9700 to arrange a service.

Can a Little Rock Home Benefit from Fire Damage Services After a Nearby Fire?

3/2/2022 (Permalink)

When a fire strikes home, SERVPRO fire damage restoration techs are ready to help 24/7 36 days a year.

SERVPRO Helps Tackle Secondary Fire Damage in Little Rock Homes

It is reasonable to think that fire restoration services should focus on the Little Rock home where the fire started. However, if you live in an area where houses are close together or in an apartment building, you may suffer the aftermath of the flames and smoke. Rather than attempt to clean it and achieve short-term relief, it is better to call a professional fire restoration team to help you solve the problem.

Even when the fire damage to your Little Rock home didn’t start within your property, SERVPRO and its certified team of experts are ready to help. The fine dust typical of a fire, as well as the smoke, can travel easily from unit to unit, regardless of where your property line is. When you enlist the help of an expert team like ours, you can be assured that soot, debris, and odors are no match for our advanced equipment and techniques. All you need to do is call our hotline, which is answered around the clock to serve you when you most need us.

Among the most valuable aspects of delegating fire damage restoration to SERVPRO is that our state-of-the-art equipment helps us detect threats even when they aren’t visible to the naked eye. 

Fires can deposit a fine layer of dust-like residue on your walls, furniture, and belongings which has the potential of causing damage in time. Our staff takes great care in the following to protect your home from the threat becoming real-

• Pre-treat all surfaces before applying EPA-approved cleaning solutions
• Assessing humidity levels and using equipment to restore normal measurements
• Utilize airborne deodorizers to counteract the smell of smoke

SERVPRO of Little Rock is ready to help when you call us at (501) 803-9700. Whether the damage seems big or small, our team is prepared to leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

How Much Is Too Much Fire Damage to Handle with DIY in Little Rock?

12/27/2021 (Permalink)

No matter the level of fire damage or the materials burned, SERVPRO will formulate an action plan to restore your home to its pre-fire condition.

SERVPRO Wants Little Rock Residents and Business Owners to Know Fire Damage Can Worsen with Failed or Improper DIY Cleanup

Fires are the type of emergency that nobody wants to have in their home or place of business. However, these events can and do happen, but it is all about the manner you address it to restore your Little Rock property that counts. Many people go wrong when handling fire emergencies by tackling different aspects of the house fire clean-up themselves. It is essential to know that soot and smoke damage can resurface even when you think it has been eradicated, which is where SERVPRO can help!

Our SERVPRO team can be there within hours to begin work whenever faced with fire damage in Little Rock. We have a team of highly-trained and experienced technicians dedicated to bringing your interior and contents back to pre-fire condition.

Handling Smoke and Soot

You may have heard the saying that wherever there is smoke, there is fire. The two go hand-in-hand, so any fire restoration project must address every element to achieve the best results. Our technicians are trained to deal with varying kinds of soot, including:

• Protein smoke residues
• Dry smoke residues
• Wet smoke residues
• Fuel oil smoke residues
• And more

When called to assess fire damaged homes, some of the factors that dictate whether we use dry or wet cleaning methods include:

• The kinds of materials or substances that burned
• The amount of oxygen present
• The overall rate of combustion

Natural materials usually produce dry smoke that calls for mild cleaning procedures because stains and particles are not embedded. Wet smoke residues often contain solvents or aerosols, becoming more challenging and calling for detailed restoration procedures.

No matter the level of fire damage or the materials burned, SERVPRO of Little Rock will formulate an action plan to restore your home to its pre-fire condition. Call (501) 803-9700 to mobilize a crew for restoration.  

Why Do Fire Restoration Professionals Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage restoration is no DIY project. SERVPRO has the manpower and equipment for every size of disaster.

Safeguarding Residents from Toxic Residues and Airborne Contaminants Starts with Deep Cleaning, Possible Only When North Little Rock Fire Restoration Technicians Wear PPE

Burning structural components and contents in your North Little Rock residence can release toxic gases. Organic materials produce nitrogen, and inorganic materials produce sulfur during burning. Both nitrogen and sulfur are hydrocarbons, potential carcinogens. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen, cyanide, and hydrogen chloride can be present inside your home after a fire, and all can be toxic. Inhaling these substances or contacting them through the skin is hazardous to you, your family, and restoration workers.

How Can Fire Damage Restoration Happen Amid Toxic Residues?

When planning for your residential fire damage restoration in North Little Rock, we make sure our crews wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Some articles of PPE, such as respirators, must fit precisely the dimensions of each worker. The sharing of PPE is contraindicated unless it is cleaned per OSHA and other regulations between users.

What Kinds of PPE Should I Expect to See On Restorers?

SERVPRO fire damage restoration technicians wear comprehensive PPE when responding to your fire loss. You might see all or most of the following:

What PPE Protects the Head and Face?

• Hard hats
• Face shields
• Goggles
• Earplugs if noisy machinery causes concerns

What PPE Protects Respiratory Function?

Respirators -- professional-grade, subject to proper:

• Fit
• Use training
• Maintenance
• Periodic inspection

What PPE Protects Skin, Hands, and Feet?

"Head to toe" covering including:

• Gowns (Tyvek suits)
• Gloves
• Shoe coverings
• Boots (preferable in fire settings because of water damage)

I Can See How PPE Protects Technicians -- How Does It Protect My Family and Me?

An adjunct to PPE's use by SERVPRO crews is the construction of containment areas within which our employees work while wearing the PPE. The contained space plus the PPE pair up to prevent tracking of soot drift of contaminated air into the rest of your home. These containment areas can be erected with tension pipes and 6-mil polyethylene sheets. Using air movers and air scrubbers, negative air pressure may be deployed to channel foul odors and airborne particulates to the exterior.

Count on SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock to complete fire restoration comprehensively and safely. Call (501) 803-9700 day or night to schedule an assessment.

During Any Fire Damage Incident In Little Rock, Water Can Be A Factor

7/30/2021 (Permalink)

fire damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none when it comes to home restoration.

Water Can Be A Factor During A Fire Damage Incident

If a fire ever starts on a property in Little Rock, several different occurrences can negatively affect your home. If a blaze gets hot enough, it can burn and combust any substance in its way, using it as fuel to grow. Once part of your house becomes ablaze, flames can spread throughout the building very quickly. Smoke coming from the burn also travels around a structure and causes damage in areas not close to the source.

As a result of the fire igniting on your property, it is also possible that the fire causes issues with water and the heat and smoke the blaze creates. When mitigating fire damage near Little Rock, our SERVPRO technicians inspect moisture levels inside your home to see if there is destruction due to water along with the heat-related problems. Once a fire starts, it can cause excessive moisture to exist inside a structure after being put out in a few different ways.

Everyone knows that the best way to extinguish a fire is to use water. When the fire department gets called, they often use copious amounts of water to extinguish the blaze. Some buildings have an automatic sprinkler system that can flood houses when they get activated by heat. In other scenarios, burnt walls or structural components can fall into water pipes causing them to burst and squirt water all over the place.

Water & Fire Damage Restorations

If water gets into your home either after or during a fire, it can cause additional problems with the restoration process. Some materials can be more challenging to clean if they got wet. Water can soak soot residues deeper into porous substances making the soils nearly impossible to remove. Water can also cause soot to streak and create more issues.

If water stays inside organic materials for too long, microbial growth can occur, creating more replacement and cleaning in addition to the smoke and soot residue removal. In most situations, our SERVPRO technicians dry out the area affected by moisture before cleaning takes place. Drying out structural components before treating them for smoke damage can prevent secondary damage during the cleaning process and make soot removal easier. 

If you ever need help with issues related to water and fire damage, call SERVPRO of Little Rock at (501) 803-9700 any day of the week.

What Causes Most Residential Fire Damage in Little Rock?

7/16/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage remediation by SERVPRO technicians is a one-of-a-kind service. We will be onsite within 4 hours of the initial call.

Most Fire Damage in Little Rock Results from Everyday Household Accidents. 

When many of us think about the causes of house fires in Little Rock, we generally imagine extraordinary situations. The reality, however, often contradicts these envisioned sources of fire damage. Many times, residential fires are caused by everyday household mishaps. 

SERVPRO, experts in Little Rock water & fire damage restorations, has encountered and effectively dealt with the effects of all types of house fires. In our experience, most of these fires are not caused by dramatic events like lightning strikes, wildfires, or arson. More often, they result from fairly common accidents that most of us have had or have almost had.

Some common mishaps that can lead to fire and smoke damage:

• Forgetting to turn off cooking appliances and electric devices like clothes irons
• Out of control grease fires that start while frying foods
• Falling asleep on a couch or in your bed with a lit cigarette
• Electrical shorts or exposed wiring that ignite nearby materials
• Overheating halogen lamps and other light sources that start fires
• Children playing with appliances, electrical devices, lighters, or matches

When remediating fire-damaged homes, our house fire clean-up and fire damage restoration technicians usually find that one or more of these situations has caused the blaze. 

With all that said, if your home is ever damaged in a fire and you need help cleaning up the resulting fire damage, call your helpful neighbors at SERVPRO of Little Rock. Our skilled and well-equipped professionals are ready for your call 24/7 at (501) 803-9700.

Why a Full-Service Restoration Company is the Best Choice to Remediate Fire Damage in Little Rock

5/21/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know that water damage is a result of extinguishing fires? SERVPRO can remediate your fire and water damaged home. Call us today.

SERVPRO is Here to Help Restore Your Home after Fire Damage

A fire in your Little Rock home is much more than an inconvenience. The damage done is often severe and more pervasive than you might at first fear. Cleanup and restoration require a broad skill set and specialized equipment. Our team has the training, experience, and tools to quickly and efficiently turn a fire damage scenario back to preloss condition.

One consideration few homeowners fully understand before they experience fire damage in their Little Rock home is the severity of water harm to building structure and contents following a fire. Before our crews tackle the smoke, soot, and charring, we must be sure to remove the water used to extinguish the flames and then dry out your home. Water damage leads to secondary issues such as mold growth or progressive deterioration of the wood, metal, and other materials providing the structure of your home. Our highly qualified employees are adept at resolving water damage issues.

Once SERVPRO resolves the water damage, we move swiftly on developing and implementing a plan for fire damage cleanup and restoration. The residues deposited on surfaces, fabrics, furnishings, and possession after a fire are highly acidic, corroding all they touch. Harm begins within minutes and worsens as time passes. Plastics discolor, metal and glass etch, and wood deteriorates. Evaluation of the safety of stored food in pantry areas and even refrigerators and freezers must occur.

Our crews know how to approach different types of soot, matching tools, and cleaning products to ensure a fast but professional-grade effort. Because of the advanced training, our crews master in the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration (IICRC) classes, we work through every space quickly and without duplicative efforts. SERVPRO can inventory and pack out personal belongings and removable household goods and furnishings for targeted attention. Our experts can coax back to a previous condition many items a homeowner might discard, believing they are ruined. Utilizing our skills and experience saves time and money.

SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock is ready to prove the difference a full-spectrum restoration company can make when your home experiences fire damage. Call (501) 803-9700 to set up an inspection and develop a plan.

Is Smoke Remediation Necessary After a House Fire in Little Rock?

4/15/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot can damage your belongings as much as the flames. SERVPRO can make your fire damaged home “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Technicians in Little Rock Hold National Qualifications for Smoke Removal and Air Filtration after Property Fire Damage

Little Rock is an urban center in America's "Natural State," Arkansas. Separated between the enormous Arkansas River and the sublime Ouachita Mountains, the city has become a thriving center for creativity, startups, and, up and coming, culinary masters. The mini city of 197,312 residents has enjoyed a growing population in recent years. It remains the state capital for Arkansas and blends traditional southern hospitality with cutting-edge innovation, artistry, and design. Historically, Little Rock was a central part of the Civil Rights movement, with many of the city's tourist attractions centered around this history. Since its incorporation in 1831, the city has been a central tourist attraction in the South, offering scenic trails, hikes, and water sports and a unique lifestyle that has become its signature.

The city has a burgeoning reputation as one of the finest places for live music in the South. The three-day-long Riverfest takes place each year and has hosted global names in hip-hop, country, and blues. An equally famous music venue and restaurant in the area is South on Main, which is known for giving traditional southern food a modern twist while guests can move from the dining room to the live venue in the back. Arkansas has a reputation for producing Bourbon Whiskies, so visiting the many craft breweries like the Rock Town Distillery and Stone's throw brewing should be top of the list for a visit to Little Rock. Hiking on the nearby mountains or riverside trails is also a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

• The Clinton Presidential Center is a 30 acre stretch of land along the wetlands that celebrates and preserves the life of the 42nd President of the United States. The building itself is a stunning architecture with an all-glass wall overlooking the nearby conservation area. Inside interactive exhibits and a life-size replica of the Oval Office are some of the displays.
• Big Dam Bridge is an intersecting point between over twenty miles of trails and hikes. The area is known for its excellent visages and jogging opportunities. For a faster exploration of the nature trails, bike rentals are available on Little Rock City's outskirts.
• The South is famous for its pit barbecues and red meat. Doe's Eat Place is a traditional steakhouse that celebrates the South's culinary traditions. It has also become a stopover point for some of Arkansas' politicians, with President Clinton counted among some of its illustrious patrons.

SERVPRO of Little Rock Can Help Tackle Smoke Residue Removal in Your Home

Fires can produce all kinds of damage in a residential property. We are a local service that can help with:

• Fire damage restoration
• Fire and smoke damage
• Fire damaged homes

By working closely together with insurance adjusters and customers, our technicians can ensure that your home returns to its preloss condition as quickly as possible. We also endeavor to produce a timely verbal estimate that can help you organize your schedule and minimize the inconvenience of a property fire and a consequent restoration project.

• We use dry sponges and light cleaning products to pre-test your home, producing a more accurate estimate.
• By sorting through salvageable and non-salvageable materials, we can reduce the timeframe of restoring the saveable items.
• Immersion cleaning machines and solvent cleaning are just some of the specialist services we offer to residents.

Get your home back to its normal condition after a fire. Contact SERVPRO of Little Rock for fire restoration at (501) 803-9700.

Can You Eat Tinned Food after Fire Damage Restoration?

2/16/2021 (Permalink)

The situation can feel quite overwhelming when your home is affected by fire damage. Contact SERVPRO for effective remediation services.

SERVPRO Helps Little Rock Residents with Fire Damage

After the initial shock of fire damage has passed, most people find their minds turning to what can be salvaged and what they need to throw away.

Our clients often ask us if it is safe to use tinned food after fire damage in their Little Rock homes. Our advice is to be very cautious of using canned goods after a fire because:

• If there is even a small breach in the wall of the can, food can spoil.
• If any firefighting chemicals enter the can, the food is not safe to eat.
• The heat of the fire can partially cook the food in the can, causing it to spoil.

Food is only safe if you are one hundred percent certain the can is not pierced, and there is zero chance that it came into contact with firefighting chemicals. You must also be sure that the food was far enough from the heat to be unaffected. A good rule of thumb is: If in doubt, throw it out.

Although food is not usually salvageable, SERVPRO can use HEPA vacuuming, spot cleaning, scrubbing, and other techniques to restore furniture, walls, floors, and even soft furnishings.

For fire damage restoration you can trust, call SERVPRO of Little Rock at (501) 803-9700.

Seasoned Restorers Help with Fire Damage Restoration in Little Rock

1/12/2021 (Permalink)

Fire restoration is no easy task. Leave it to the professionals at SERVPRO. Their technicians are trained and certified for the job at hand.

SERVPRO Provides Qualified Personnel to Inspect Fire Losses in Little Rock and Deliver the Best Solutions

Little Rock is popular for various reasons. For starters, it is the capital of the state of Arkansas. It covers a total area of 116.8 square miles. The city also hosts the William J Clinton Presidential Library, which is renowned for a unique design that maximizes the acreage of the public park surrounding it. The main building is elevated above the ground allowing the city park lying along the Arkansas River's southern bank to flow freely underneath the structure. Its bridge-like construction is meant to emphasize the idea of connection. It is also a reference to the six bridges crossing the river.

Apart from the library, there are several other cultural centers and institutions in Little Rock, making the city a center of culture and arts in central Arkansas. It is a vibrant hub of performing arts, live music, galleries, and museums. Some of its renowned centers include:

• Arkansas Arts Center
• Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
• Arkansas Repertory Theater
• L&L Beck Art Gallery

History of Little Rock

This city was incorporated in 1831. However, the city's roots trace back to 1722, when Frenchman Bernard De La Harper led an exploratory party up the Arkansas River. He noticed a unique outcropping of the rock that set it apart from more extensive cliffs across the river and named it 'La petite Roche,' later translated to The Little Rock. The French first governed the area, then Spain and later France. The United States finally purchased it in 1803. Settlers from the East coast started arriving in the area as early as 1806, and by 1819 it had become a renowned crossing point, thus leading to the establishment of settlements.

Little Rock also played a crucial role in the desegregation of public schools. In 1957 a group of nine African-American students joined Little Rock Central High after the historic supreme court ruling on Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954, which declared segregation rules unconstitutional. The nine students were restricted from entering the school by the governor of the state of Arkansas at the time, Orval Faubus. President Dwight D Eisenhower intervened, deploying the National Guard to 'preserve the peace.'

Various monuments and buildings preserve the varied history of the area and include:

• Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail located on 201 West Markham Street commemorates the freedom rides, which were meant to pressure the federal government to enforce court-ordered bus terminus desegregation. The trail is a collection of sites starting just outside the old state house and meant to stretch to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library.
• Quapaw Line Markers indicate the original boundary between lands meant for white settlers and the Quapaw Indians. The markers stretch from the River Front Park to the MacArthur Park.
• Quatie Ross Gravestone and Memorial which commemorates the life of Quatie Ross, the wife of John Ross, a Cherokee Chief. Mystery and myths surround her life story. She reportedly died on a forced match along the Trail of Tears in February first, 1839, after freezing to death when she gave up her covering to warm a child.
• Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum displays a World War II navy tugboat, USS Hoga, and submarine USS Razorback. The facility is unique, considering Arkansas is a landlocked area. 

Fun Things to do in Little Rock

The city is a pleasant place to spend time considering the variety of attractions and activities people can partake. Attractions range from indoor and outdoor sites, food and drink, spas and wellness centers, concerts, and shows.

• Pinnacle Mountain State Park

The park was established in 1977 and is a perfect location for people interested in outdoor fun activities like canoeing, hiking, Frisbee, and games such as soccer and volleyball. A moderately easy trail goes around the entire park at the bottom of the mountain and is known as the Base Trail. Some trails go up Pinnacle Mountain offering visitors amazing views.

• Museum of Discovery

The museum is a unique science and technology center with various exhibits and activities meant to fuel the passion for technology, science, engineering, math, and art. It was founded in 1927 and converted to the Museum of Discovery in 1998. Some of the top exhibits include a Tesla coil, mini log cabin, bed of nails, among others.

• Riverfront Park

It is arguably the country's best public park that offers a wide range of outdoor activities.  It stretches 11 blocks on the Arkansas River's southern bank, providing 33 acres of outdoor space for various activities. Several bars, shops, restaurants, and art centers lie a walking distance from the park. There are several sculptures and bridges that visitors can explore while walking along the park.

How Does SERVPRO Help Little Rock Residents Perform Fire Damage Restoration?

Fire incidences can affect properties in Little Rock at any time. Fire leads to deep soiling and deterioration of surfaces and contents in the affected properties. SERVPRO helps perform cleanup of soiled areas and remove deteriorated materials, restoring the property to its preloss state. 

The restoration process takes several steps to achieve the desired goal. The IICRC certified Fire Restoration Technicians in our SERVPRO teams first inspect the property to establish the residue spread patterns.  We use simple approaches such as wiping vast flat surfaces such as walls starting close to the fire seat to establish the level of residue buildup around the house.  We also perform physical and chemical tests to establish residue types and thus determine the best approaches to use during cleaning. 

Some of the top cleaning methods our SERVPRO technicians utilize include:

• Vacuuming to remove particles attached loosely to surfaces
• Dissolving oily soils using solvents eliminating substances insoluble in water
• Emulsifying soils with detergents, thus lifting them off surfaces
• Mechanical agitation such as wire brushing or wiping surfaces with cleaning sponges

After cleaning up affected properties, our SERVPRO technicians also dry and deodorize properties preventing secondary problems such as mold development and bad odor.

SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock is a seasoned restoration company that offers a wide array of services to help homeowners recover from fire damage incidents. Call us at (501) 803-9700.

What Can Little Rock Homeowners Do to Restore their Homes After a Fire Caused by Faulty Wiring?

10/24/2020 (Permalink)

It is essential to hire a reliable restoration company after a fire loss.

Property Owners can Talk to SERVPRO technicians in Little Rock to Handle the Fire Damage.

A fire of any size can cause costly secondary damage in a Little Rock home. If not restored on time, it can lead to permanent damage that can lower a property’s value. Therefore, it is essential to engage with reliable experts like SERVPRO technicians immediately after the unfortunate incident.

Can I handle the restoration myself?
To avoid more damage, you should hire professionals to clean the affected surfaces. Using home remedies to clean furniture, and carpets, among other surfaces, can increase the fire damage in your Little Rock property. Smoke and soot residues can sink further into surfaces, discoloration may occur, and odors may persist if you handle the restoration process without a professional.

However, you can help sort through valuable content by setting aside essential items until our restorers get to your property. Fragile items need to be restored fast. Therefore, separate items by priority.

How long does the restoration take?
The intensity of the fire loss determines the complexity of the restoration process and duration. Also, if the damage is ignored for an extended period, the restoration process can take longer. A small room fire can take a few days to restore compared to the entire property.

Do I have to vacate the property?
That depends on the extent of the destruction. You may need to find temporary accommodation if your property has:

• Sustained extensive damage
• Its structural stability is jeopardized
• No utilities are available

The other factors that can influence the decision to leave your home include sounds of the restoration work, and odors, among other concerns.

Can I turn on my air conditioner?
It is essential to wait until our technicians inspect and clean your HVAC system. The fire could have damaged the structure, and switching it on could cause more problems. The unit can pump smoke and soot residues back into your property. We have state-of-the-art equipment and tools that we use to clean HVAC systems. We can use a duct cleaning system that contains all the equipment and accessories necessary for cleaning HVAC units. It has brushes, air whips, and augers that help in removing soils from the HVAC unit.

Is the odor permanent?
Before we leave a property, we combat odors using our innovative techniques and equipment. Odors may persist in your property, depending on the items burned during the unfortunate incident. Our SERVPRO crew can use a ventilation box fan that generates high-velocity airflow to remove some odors. The air movement that the equipment generates removes fumes, vapor, and odors from the affected property.

It is essential to hire a reliable restoration company after a fire loss. Contact SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock at (501) 803-9700 for effective restoration services. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

After a Fire in a Home, Why are Smoke Residues So Hard to Remove?

10/15/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke residues can overrun your home after a fire, so let SERVPRO handle the damage.

SERVPRO techs bring the equipment and cleaners to handle any type of post-fire cleanup in Little Rock homes

When SERVPRO techs tackle the fire and smoke damage residues left behind in Little Rock homes, it takes both experience and knowledge to avoid doing more harm to surfaces instead of cleaning them. The reason that soot can be difficult to remove is because of the following factors:   

• Different types of residues can exist in the same work-site  
• Residues bond with the surfaces they contact, sometimes requiring stout methods to remove such as the use of solvents
• Testing the smoke type shows the dry or wet cleaning that will best suit the removal type needed

Do Homeowners Need Fire Restoration After a Kitchen Fire With No Visible Smoke Residues?  

• When a kitchen needs cleanup and fire restoration services in a Little Rock home, SERVPRO techs test the residues, and they can get divided into three distinct categories:   
• Dry smoke gets created by high heat fires, and while it is easier to remove, the heat levels needed to incur it tend to leave behind more significant damage to the structure
• Wet smoke gets created primarily when articles containing plastic or rubber burn, and it leaves a thick, greasy residue that is hard to remove without the use of solvents   
• Protein residues occur when something containing protein such as a chicken, turkey, or pot roast, for example, catches aflame and burns to release the oils as airborne vapor droplets. These get deposited on nearby surfaces and, while nearly invisible, are highly pungent

Before any of the residues can get removed, whether dry, wet, or protein-based, SERVPRO technicians scope the area and make a note of the types of damage left in the room and then they:  

• Test the residues to determine the type  
• Note the building materials or surfaces affected to ensure the correct removal methods get chosen
• There are three main ways to get rid of residues through pick up using dry cleaning sponges, vacuuming, and use of solvents to dissolve the grip on the surface

After the initial cleanup, SERVPRO technicians must carefully dispose of dry cleaning solvents carefully and avoid sewers or septic systems per regulations. The techs follow the rules and regulations during the cleanup to the letter to ensure they always work within the law during the restoration service.  

Some surfaces require disposal because they have too much charring or residues deeply embedded to remain on-site. The techs carefully remove these articles and dispose of them. Sheetrock generally has a poor outcome after exposure to high heat or the water used to extinguish a fire. The techs only remove the minimum amount necessary, so whenever possible, they can save homeowners the cost of replacing a whole wall. 

One unusual type of residue that occasionally occurs and requires a light hand to clean up is smoke webs. They look exactly like black cobwebs and are lightweight, and do not stick to surfaces. The techs use dry cleaning sponges to lift them away from ceilings in corners where they typically gather. When homeowners attempt to clean up smoke residues on their own, this is one of the types that sometimes they get the technique wrong and wind up grinding the soot into the walls. Worse, if they use liquid cleaning agents, it can result in the complete ruination of the wall or ceiling.

Once the cleanup efforts complete, the technicians turn their attention to the air quality in the home. Air scrubbers run through the process to capture airborne particulates. If the restoration services got limited to a smaller area inside the house, the techs routinely use containment. This action gets accomplished by using heavy gauge plastic over doorways and vents or negative air chambers.   

In particular, the techs want to avoid soot traveling into the ductwork of the home. Once the services complete, as a final step, the techs can inspect the ductwork and determine if it requires mitigation for cross-contamination. SERVPRO technicians have vacuums and other equipment for cleaning out the ducts and leaving it without a trace of fire odors.   

Because soot has the potential to be both skin and breathing irritant and bring pungent odors, the techs perform any needed odor control treatments to ensure the home is ready for any repairs that need to occur. 

Reach SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock at (501) 803-9700 has the training and equipment to take on any size or type of fire restoration your property needs. The certified techs arrive quickly and work until the damage is, "Like it never even happened."

My Little Rock Home Looks Devastated After the Housefire, How Can it Get Cleaned Up?

6/15/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage leaves behind not only charred contents but lingering odors as well. Contact SERVPRO for thorough remediation services.

Fire Restoration is Something we Specialize in at SERVPRO – Trust Us with Your Little Rock Home

A fire inside your Little Rock house leaves behind a trail of devastation ranging from charred belongings and debris to smelly smoke residue. Not only do unsalvageable materials in your home need to be disposed of properly, but you must also pay attention to hidden moisture left behind from the water that extinguished the fire. The best way to restore your interior is by looking to the help of trained restoration professionals, and SERVPRO is available 24/7 to make it “Like it never even happened.” We are here with all of the training, technology, and efficient methods to tackle the messy debris while ensuring we do whatever possible to save your belongings.

How Does the Cleanup Begin?

For prompt, reliable fire restoration in Little Rock, SERVPRO arrives with our Green Fleet. All of our vehicles are loaded with industrial-strength tools and products made for the job. Our crew chief assesses your interior once first responders deem the home safe for entry. This helps determine the scope of the project, including the amount of damage, areas directly impacted by flames, and zones where soot and smoke residue traveled. Once the plan gets formulated, the team sets each phase into motion, starting with the cleanup of all unsalvageable materials, belongings, and debris.

Handling the Fire Loss Zone

Soot particles and stubborn smoke residue in Little Rock can pose a challenge, but this is nothing that our skilled IICRC-certified technicians cannot handle. We take special care while moving from one room to the next so that we can limit debris tracking. Just a couple of areas we address when getting started in the fire loss zone include:

•   Securing the space – This is the time to make sure that the structure is strong enough so that we can proceed with the debris cleanup and restoration steps.
•   Hazard planning – If any areas call for special attention during the walk-through, the plan is designed to address all hazards safely.
•   Safety issue check – We ensure all safety concerns get handled in the beginning phase of restoration. During this time, we handle exposed wires, broken and hanging light fixtures, burnt drywall, and other debris.

After the assessment is complete, severely burned, and unsalvageable materials and belongings get removed from the home. Any materials that have been significant damage are disposed of to be replaced later. All unsalvageable belongings are logged to keep a record for yourself as well as your insurance company. SERVPRO always does whatever we can to clean up and salvage items while using our broad range of cleaning and advanced restoration methods.

Is There Protocol in Place for Debris Removal?

We are serious about debris disposal with any restoration project we take on. We always follow guidelines set forth by the EPA, including careful discarding of waste products. This not only helps to reduce the potential for worksite injury, but it also cuts back on the impact on our environment. The disposal protocols that we follow allows us to efficiently and safely remove things like:

•   Ash
•   Rubble
•   Charred wood
•   Burned drywall
•   Unsalvageable materials
•   Unsalvageable personal belongings, and more

Will Fire-Damaged Building Materials Get Replaced After Removal?

We treat every project on a case-by-case basis, with removal and replacement depending on many factors.

-    If you have a quarter-inch of charring on wooden studs in the fire-loss zone, our team may be able to take away some of it rather than replacing the studs. We may use techniques such as steel brushings or agitation to take away some of the charred portions.

-    Should there be significant charring, our team may use specialized techniques. These methods include dry ice blasting, sanding, or soda blasting to take away the burnt portion.

-    When treating charred building materials does not work, we perform controlled demolition. This is when the unsalvageable materials are removed entirely, and then they get fully replaced with brand-new materials.

What About These Awful Smoke Odors?

Soot and smoke residue become challenging with any fire damage project. Wet smoke is present when the fire burns at a lower temperature and creates a sticky, web-like residue. Dry smoke begins to develop with higher-temperature fires that burn quickly. This happens when paper and wood burn, thus creating powdery soot.

Our team has a broad range of techniques and technology to handle foul fire odors, including:

•   Dry fogging equipment
•   Thermal fogging equipment
•   Wet fogging equipment
•   Air scrubbers
•   Hydroxyl generators
•   Injection devices

Our goal with any fire restoration project is to ensure your home gets returned to the pre-fire loss condition. Call us at (501) 803-9700 when you need us at SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock, and we can deploy a crew to your location in as little as four hours to begin restoration services.