How Water Damage and Fires go Hand in Hand

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damage and Fires: What's the Connection?

If a fire starts in your Melrose District, CA, office, your first priority is to get everyone out safely without harm. You also trust fire crews to put out the fire quickly to minimize damage. Ironically, the very thing firefighters use to eliminate the blaze can cause further problems to your office space and equipment. Water cleanup is part of the recovery process.

Firefighters’ Response

Water is a firefighter’s best friend, as it will, in most cases, control and put out fires in offices. However, crews may use so much water on the flames that flooding and other damage will require massive water cleanup.

• Firefighters pump out large volumes of water from their hoses.
  
• Smoke in your office will trigger the sprinklers on the ceiling, which can spray gallons of water on the floor.
  
• The crew’s most immediate concern is to eliminate the fire, not worry about issues water will cause with the floor, walls, ceiling or equipment.
  
  

Potential Problems

In the wake of a fire, smoke cleanup isn’t the only matter professional restoration teams handle. With the amount of water firefighters use to battle fires, flooding can occur. You may also see major damage to carpet, hardwood floors, sheetrock, furniture and electronics.

What the Pros Will Do

A professional company can handle water cleanup and fire cleanup all at once. The team will tear out and replace carpet and other flooring and will also remove damaged walls and ceiling tiles. The professionals will then clean and sanitize the affected area in order to prevent the growth of mold.

Why Call the Pros

You wouldn’t trust a novice to put out a fire in your office, so you shouldn’t call anyone other than an experienced expert to clean up the water and the effects it can have on your building. The professionals have proven experience, state-of-the-art equipment and effective techniques to do the job correctly.

Be aware that water cleanup and fire come in tandem. If you want to avoid costly and time-consuming processes, call a restoration company you can trust.