Know the Facts: National & Ohio-Specific Fire Damage Statistics
4/11/2023 (Permalink)
The unpredictable nature of fires can lead to so much devastation and loss for your home or business.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are around 346,800 house fires per year causing on average 2,620 fatalities.
Understanding the facts when it comes to fires can help you to better prepare your family and employees in case of disaster.
General Fire Facts & Stats
- Cooking is the leading cause of house fires, followed by:
- Heating
- Electrical Systems & Equipment
- Candles
- Smoking
- In 2020, fire and lightning insurance claims had the highest average payout of $77,340.
- On average, across the US, a fire department responded to a fire every 23 seconds in 2021.
- In 2021, there were 1,353,500 fires reported, including residential and non-residential structures.
- In 2020, per 1,000 fires, the national average was 2 deaths and 8 injuries.
Ohio Fire Facts & Stats
- Ohio has the 7th most fatal home fires per capita in relation to the other 50 states, with Texas being the first.
- Smoking is the top cause of fire deaths in the state of Ohio, making up 20% of fatalities.
It's difficult and scary to imagine your home or business experiencing a fire. It can be hard to determine where to start when a disaster like this occurs.
If your home or business falls victim to a fire, SERVPRO of SE Summit/Lake County is "here to help." Our experienced technicians handle the care and restoration of your property and its contents. We handle the cleanup and the reconstruction, so you don't have to worry about juggling multiple companies.
If you find yourself in need of fire damage restoration, give us a call today!
SERVPRO Helps Restore Your Akron Home After a Fire
11/21/2022 (Permalink)
We're there every step of the way to handle all of your fire damage restoration needs!
Cleaning Your Akron Area Home Following a Fire
Cleaning up after a fire loss incident in Akron is one of the considerable challenges to making these disasters “Like it never even happened.” Without adequate and thorough cleaning and restoration practices implemented at the right times, surfaces and contents could suffer irreparable damages. Trust our SERVPRO professionals to get to work quickly on the recovery steps required.
Effective cleaning and restoration after fire damages your home begins with a fast and confident response. Because our technicians stay prepared to answer the call 24/7, we can often reach damaged addresses while there is still time and opportunity to protect many of the surfaces and exposed contents. Entrusting your home to responding technicians can often make the return to preloss conditions more efficient and cost-effective.
What is Debris Removal?
Among the first steps in cleaning and restoring your fire-damaged home is debris removal. This process is one of the emergency services that our professionals offer, and it can help our technicians to gain control of an increasingly difficult situation. Shoveling out piles of ash and charred remnants of materials can help in many ways. Some advantages of beginning debris removal or muck-out for your home include:
• Reduces the concentration of soot
• Makes odors less intense
• Allows our professionals to inspect the property better
Is Soot Dangerous to Be Around?
Soot can be one of the most challenging obstacles for responding technicians, as this residue can react differently with each of the materials that it becomes exposed to after a fire. Also, the presence of soot can present health effects for those in direct contact, which requires our professionals to always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment. The primary concerns about soot include:
• Acidic Nature – Because soot has an acidic base to its composition, its presence in a layer resting on organic surfaces can have a destructive effect. When residue goes prolonged periods without getting removed, it can mar or stain surfaces underneath it.
• Microscopic Particles – the size of soot particles is also an alarming concern because these microscopic particulates can get easily inhaled and travel deep into the lungs.
• High Concentrations – Circulating soot in the environment can present hazards like unclean breathing air and more substantial concentrations of soot residues on exposed surfaces.
How Can Residues Like Soot Get Cleaned?
Removing Soot and Smoke residues from the house requires several approaches and potent cleaning products. The best approach and technique to remove soot damage in the house gets determined often during the initial assessment and evaluation of the property following a fire loss. Our project manager can walk through the damaged building to begin cataloging loss and noting wherever soot removal techniques are necessary. These might include:
• Chemical Solvents – Emulsification can be an excellent method for removing oily soils from surfaces, and many of our chemical solvents can also have a positive effect on present soot damage. Pretesting is a way to determine what potent products are the best choice for the affected material.
• Soda/Media Blasting – Using a high-pressure output, soda, and media blasting equipment can help to restore the surface of a damaged structural element by eliminating soot without destroying the construction material beneath it.
• Controlled Demolition – There are some situations where material removal might be the only suitable solution. If soot has stained or marred a surface or item, our in-house contractors can remove only the damaged portions to make build back and reconstruction as efficient as possible.
What If Contents in My House Get Soot-Damaged?
Your belongings are just as susceptible and sensitive to soot exposure and damage as the construction materials used in your home. While you might not have the time to relocate everything of value or significance, our SERVPRO professionals can work on content management beginning as soon as we arrive. From on-site cleaning and relocation efforts, to more intricate cleaning practices that can happen in our nearby facility and warehouse, we can improve the look and feel of damaged items efficiently.
Fires can be highly destructive to your home, especially surfaces battling the presence of soot and other residues. Addressing these concerns can involve multiple strategies, including surface cleaning, media blasting, and controlled demolition. No matter what your home needs, you can count on our SERVPRO of SE Summit County/Lake Township to help by calling (330) 786-0505.
Preventative Measures: House Fires
11/14/2022 (Permalink)
No matter the size, we handle all of your fire damage restoration needs!
Cooking with Caution
Cooking is a great way to bring family and friends together, provide an outlet for creativity, and can be relaxing. But it can also be dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions. Below are some safety tips to help prevent fires and keep everyone safe.
- Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or oven.
- Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains — away from your stovetop.
- Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
If you have a grease fire, here are some tips to stop it.
- On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
Preventing an Outlet Fire
Home electrical fires cause around 51,000 fires each year, with 5,300 of those being directly caused by electrical outlets. It is important to understand the risks that come with something as common as a household outlet, and how to avoid disaster from them:
- Watch out for extension cords and multiple wires that are hidden behind carpets and curtains
- Overloading Circuits is a common mistake especially for families who possess multiple electronics because they do not split the devices and run a different circuit.
- Install an operating fire extinguisher and smoke detector
- Prepare a plan for emergencies
- Having a plan prepared can prevent injuries and accelerating the process of leading everyone back to safety.
Fire and smoke damage should not be taken lightly due to the dangers it may cause; action should be taken immediately to prevent further destruction. Smoke can spread throughout an entire structure under a couple of minutes.
If any damages occur after a fire, SERVPRO of Southeast Summit County/Lake Township specializes in residential or commercial services, back to “Like it never even happened.”
Avoiding Furnace Fires
Like many homeowners, you may wonder what you can do to keep your furnace well-maintained and when you should perform such maintenance. After all, a functioning furnace reduces the chance of a fire and related fire cleaning in your Southeast Summit home.
- Keep It Clean
Dirt is a troublesome yet common nuisance that can lead to furnace-related fires. The blower, motor, and system itself all need regular cleaning to remove troublesome dirt and debris. Research how to clean your particular unit, or get help from a local professional. Leaving dirt to sit can cause your unit to malfunction and cause a fire-related issue.
2. Replace Filters
Your furnace filters should be replaced regularly. A good rule of thumb is to change them once before cold weather hits, and then once a month during the times that the furnace is in heavy use. Dirty filters can lead to situations that require fire cleaning, much like with other furnace components, and will also not function properly when you are relying on them to keep you and your family warm.
3. Perform Maintenance Early
One of the most important things to remember is that any repairs or other maintenance tasks need to be completed before the cold comes. Otherwise, you will risk using the furnace while it is not in top shape, possibly causing a fire and leading to smoke cleaning. You also will likely have an under-performing furnace that does not quite do its job.
Furnace maintenance is not exactly fun, but neither is a fire. You owe it to yourself and your wallet to take precautions against having a furnace malfunction at home. You will not only avoid fire cleaning in the future - you will also have better peace-of-mind knowing your furnace is ready to keep you heated.
General Fire Preparation
While you take the necessary steps to prevent fires in your Southeast Summit/Lake Township home, sometimes things happen that are out of our control. In those instances, you need to already have a plan in place. Here are five things you can do to be ready should there be a fire in your home.
- Maintain Your Smoke Alarms Properly
This includes making sure your smoke alarms are in the proper places, have fresh batteries, and are tested at least once a month to make sure they are ready to alert you in case of danger.
- Ensure You Have an Exit Plan
Develop an exit strategy with your family. Keep in mind that you should have at least two exit options so that if a fire is blocking one, there is another option for everyone to use. Make sure everyone in your household knows these exits like the backs of their hands.
- Have Emergency Contacts
Picking an emergency contact is vital to ensure the safety of your entire family, especially if a family member were to get separated. Make sure that your kids especially memorize the phone number of a neighbor, or a family member who lives close to ensure that they have a safe place to go.
- Practice
Practice makes perfect when it comes to fire safety. During a real fire, emotions or panic can make it difficult to think. You should run drills every four to six months, so that, in the event of a fire, everyone knows what to do like second nature, despite the emotions and panic.
- Calling 911
Make sure everyone in the family knows to call 911 and can recite their address so the first responders can get there as soon as possible.
If you find yourself in need of fire damage restoration, call our pros at SERVPRO of SE Summit/Lake Township today!
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