6 Steps of Fire Damage Restoration

8/24/2022 (Permalink)

A house fire can be devastating.

What Can You Expect During Professional Fire Restoration?

A house fire can be devastating enough, but what happens after firefighters extinguish the flames? There will be fire damage directly from the fire and the smoke, soot, extinguishing chemicals and water. The cleanup process must begin immediately to avoid additional loss. 

1. Inspection
Once the flames are out, professionals will do a thorough inspection of all of the affected areas. The assessment tells them the extent of destruction and the best remediation method.

2. Content Removal and Cleaning
All damaged materials is removed from the home, including personal belongings, appliances and furniture. Fire remediation professionals can determine what is salvageable and what isn’t.

3. Structure Stabilization
A fire can cause significant damage to the roof and structural core of a home. Therefore, the structure needs board-up services and roof tarping to secure it from further loss (e.g., vandalism or weather).

4. Water Damage Restoration
Cleaning up water damage is a significant part of most fire restoration jobs. Unsalvageable water-soaked materials are then removed and thrown out. The cleanup professionals continue the drying process by extracting standing water and using industrial fans and dehumidifiers to dry the area. It needs to be dried as quickly as possible to avoid more damage such as mold growth and wood rot.

5. Cleaning and Disinfection
Powerful cleaning products remove soot from all surfaces. The professionals use ozone generators and other industrial equipment to remove smoke odor from all areas with smoke damage. The fire damage cleanup specialists then thoroughly clean and disinfect the entire home and the remaining contents.

6. Rebuilding
Finally, the final reconstruction begins returning the home to its original condition. Structural damage is rebuilt. Then, new drywall and flooring is installed.
If your home in Providence, RI, goes up in flames, the damage cleaning and fire restoration process will need to begin as soon as possible. Taking quick action helps avoid additional damage to the property.