What Happens After a Fire?

Name: SERVPRO of Vacaville / Dixon
Address: 69 Commerce Place, Vacaville, CA, 95687
Telephone: (707) 724-8977

8/13/2024 (Permalink)

Customers often tell us, “I don’t know how this process works.” Here at SERVPRO®, we are thankful for two things in this regard - first, that most of our customers do not have any experience with fire previously affecting their homes, and second, that we have an experienced and helpful group of professionals who are ready, willing and able to help at a moment’s notice. We thought it might be helpful to put together a narrative of what you should do in the event of a fire affecting your home, and how to get the help you need to get your home back "Like it never even happened."

If you are evacuated or forced to leave your home because of a fire either in your home or in the vicinity surrounding your neighborhood, be sure to stay out of your home until your local authorities give you the “all clear” to return to your residence. Once any restrictions regarding entering your home have been released, place a call to a restoration specialist, such as SERVPRO and schedule an appointment for an inspection as soon as possible. Be prepared to provide the SERVPRO scheduler with your name and address, along with a description of what is specifically happening in your home. For example, can you see evidence of ash inside your home or only outside? Did your oven catch fire and therefore walls and other areas in your home were burned or subsequently dampened with water due to firefighting efforts? In the event of a fire in your neighborhood, were windows left open during the firestorm? How close did the fire come to your home? Also, it is helpful if you have the name of your insurance company, your adjuster’s contact information and your claim number available to provide to the scheduler. This will help make the process go much faster down the road. Contact your homeowners' insurance company and file a claim regarding your potential loss. Be sure to have your policy number, policy holder’s name and address, and the date of the incident on hand when you make the call. Be sure to write down the name of the claim adjuster assigned to your specific claim and your claim number. You will need this information for future reference.

It is also a good idea to find a folder or binder to put all your information regarding your loss into for safe keeping, or we can provide you with a binder. This would include your insurance policy information, your insurance adjuster’s name, phone number and email address, your claim number and all the notes you take when you talk to your adjuster. Having one place for all this information makes it easier to find and organize this information, and much easier to reference your notes in case there are questions or issues later.

Once your inspection has been scheduled, an experienced professional will be dispatched to your home to perform an inspection and take photos. These will be used to produce an estimate for services, which will be submitted to your insurance adjuster. (This is why providing all the pertinent information to your scheduler is so vital and timesaving.) Once the estimate is complete and submitted, SERVPRO will work with your insurance adjuster to gain approval of the estimate so that work can begin as soon as possible on your property.

Once our estimate has been approved, we will schedule your services to begin as soon as possible and dispatch our highly trained production team to your home to begin the cleaning and restoration process. This often begins with pressure washing the outside of a home (in the event of a wildland or neighborhood fire), wiping down walls and surface areas inside the home, cleaning of carpets and floors, as well as cleaning of individual contents. We work directly with a vendor to help our customers have their “soft goods” cleaned, which include clothing, removable rugs and drapes. And when the job is complete, our Crew Chief walks the job with the homeowner to ensure that it is completed to their 100% satisfaction.

If you or anyone you know experiences a fire in or around your home, call the professionals at SERVPRO at (707) 724-8977. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year to respond to your emergency and we are Here to Help®.

Follow these Grilling Tips for a Safe Grilling Experience

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

When the weather warms up, one way to beat the heat is to turn off the oven and cook outside on the barbeque. Unfortunately, this causes the number of grill-related fires to increase. Each year, outdoor grilling causes over 10,000 home fires, but SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/ Davis has put together some easy safety tips you can follow to keep your home and family safe this grilling season.

The most common cause of fire involving a barbeque is related to cooking on an uncleaned grill. Grease that accumulates on the grill can cause fires, so just like clearing your dishes from the table and loading them in the dishwasher, cleaning your grill should be a part of your routine when you are done preparing your meal and cleaning up. Another important part of a clean grill involves your coals. Make sure they are completely cooled before cooling the grill and removing them. The safest thing to do with the coals is to put them in a fire safe bucket and allow them to remain there until you are ready to dispose of them. Hot coals can smolder for a very long time. It is always better to be safe and make sure they are completely cold before disposing of them in your trash. Many dumpster fires have been started by not-cooled coals.

The second most dangerous cause of fire from grilling comes from unattended barbeques. Just like inside your home, never leave an open flame unattended outside. Your grill can flare up while you aren’t watching and catch something nearby on fire, and if you are not immediately available to deal with the problem, it can quickly escalate into a much larger problem. Be vigilant and always stay near your barbeque when you are cooking. That means you will have to do quite a bit of prep work in order to have everything you need before you begin grilling so you won’t have to leave your grill unattended, but safety should be your number one concern.

Related to this previous point, always make sure your grill is on a stable surface and cannot easily tip over. Once you load up that barbeque with all those yummy steaks and veggies, you want to make sure it won’t topple on the ground, spilling all your food and the hot coals everywhere. If the unthinkable happens, and you do tip over your barbeque, think before you act. Remember those coals are hot and combustible. Pick them up with something that won’t catch on fire, like a metal shovel and put them in a fire-safe container or metal bucket.

Also, be sure your grill is not near any hanging tree branches or other structures that can easily catch fire. If the area you have designated as your barbeque area is beginning to become overgrown, be sure to trim those trees or bushes before you start grilling.

Although the taste of the grill is temping all year long, if you don’t have a safe area to barbeque during the winter, never barbeque inside any kind of structure, including your garage. Besides the obvious fire hazard that this would pose, barbequing in your garage would also release the deadly Carbon Monoxide gas, so please stick to outside grilling only. No, opening your garage door doesn’t make a difference.

And lastly, if you are using a gas grill, be sure to shut off the gas valve completely when you are done grilling. Make it a habit to turn it off as soon as you take your food off the grill so you won’t forget.

By using these easy-to-follow tips from SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis, you and your family should be able to enjoy a safe and fun grilling season.

Safely Storing Your Belongings

6/29/2023 (Permalink)

Photo shows employee loading contents into a SERVPRO truck

One of our friendly SERVPRO employees loading up customers' contents and getting them ready for storage.

Meet Barbara, one of our excellent employees! She is in charge of packing our customers' belongings and assuring that they are stored safely until they would like them returned. As you can see, Barbara brings a fun and positive attitude to work every day, and we are lucky to have her as part of our SERVPRO team.

If you experience a loss of any kind at your home or place of business, from water, fire, or mold, you can be assured that we have trained, professional staff ready to help you pack up your belongings safely and store them until you are ready to have them returned to you. We do the heavy lifting so you don't have to. Remember, we are always Here to Help.

Annual Inspect Your Fireplace to Avoid Fires

11/17/2022 (Permalink)

The end of daylight savings time brings darkness earlier and colder days, which causes many of us to stoke up the fire when we get home for some warm, comfy evenings watching television or reading on the couch. Unfortunately, this also brings with it an increase in the number of fires associated with fireplaces and wood burning stoves. Sometimes there is no way to avoid a fire involving a fireplace, but often there are steps we can take to reduce the risk and even prevent a fire from taking place.

First and most importantly, schedule an annual inspection and cleaning of your chimney and fireplace by a professionally trained chimney sweep. The layer of residue that is left after you burn in your fireplace or stove builds up and can catch fire. A professional will clean the inside of your unit, as well as the chimney, to rid the area of harmful residue. This will also help your fireplace to work more efficiently.

Also, make sure you are only burning dry, properly seasoned firewood. And do not burn anything besides wood in your fireplace – no garbage or miscellaneous items.

Burn your fire as hot as possible, which doesn’t allow creosote to build up on the walls inside of the chimney. Creosote can get thick and take on a glazy texture which catches fire very easily. If you keep your fire burning at a high temperature, creosote is less likely to develop.

Fireplaces can be a place of comfort and warmth during cold winter months and proper maintenance and care makes them a perfect alternative to electric heat.

SERVPRO of Davis Provides Fire Restoration Services

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

If your home is affected by a fire, the professionals at SERVPRO of Davis are Here to Help. We are dedicated to responding immediately to your emergency, which can help prevent secondary damage and reduce costs.

As fire restoration specialists, we have the training and specialized equipment to respond to your specific emergency and pride ourselves in offering excellent customer service.

When tragedy strikes, you want skilled professionals helping you restore your home or place of business to its pre-fire condition. SERVPRO of Davis is that company. We can help with emergency board up services, water removal and drying, removal of smoke and soot from surfaces, cleaning and repair issues.

If your home or business experience fire damage, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Davis to help at (707) 724-8977. We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Grilling Tips for a Safe Summer

7/26/2022 (Permalink)

When the weather warms up, one way to beat the heat is to turn off the oven and cook outside on the barbeque. Unfortunately, this causes the number of grill-related fires to increase. Each year, outdoor grilling causes over 10,000 home fires, but SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis has put together some easy-to-follow tips to keep your home and family safe this grilling season.

The most common cause of fire involving a barbeque is related to cooking on an uncleaned grill. Grease that accumulates on the grill can cause fires, so just like clearing your dishes from the table and loading them in the dishwasher, cleaning your grill should be a part of your routine when you are done preparing your meal and cleaning up. Another important part of a clean grill involves your coals. Make sure they are completely cooled before removing them. The safest thing to do with the coals is to put them in a fire safe bucket and allow them to remain there until you are ready to dispose of them. Hot coals can smolder for a very long time. It is always better to be safe and make sure they are completely cold before disposing of them in your trash. Many dumpster fires have been started by not-cooled coals.

The second most dangerous cause of fire from grilling comes from unattended barbeques. Just like inside your home, never leave an open flame unattended outside. Your grill can flare up while you aren’t watching and catch something nearby on fire, and if you are not immediately available to deal with the problem, it can quickly escalate into a much larger problem. Be vigilant and always stay near your barbeque when you are cooking. That means you will have to do quite a bit of prep work in order to have everything you need before you begin grilling so you won’t have to leave your grill unattended, but safety should be your number one concern.

Related to this previous point, always make sure your grill is on a stable surface and cannot easily tip over. Once you load up that barbeque with all those yummy steaks and veggies, you want to make sure it won’t topple on the ground, spilling all your food and the hot coals everywhere. If the unthinkable happens, and you do tip over your barbeque, think before you act. Remember those coals are hot and combustible. Pick them up with something that won’t catch on fire, like a metal shovel and put them in a fire-safe container or metal bucket.

Also, be sure your grill is not near any hanging tree branches or other structures that can easily catch fire. If the area you have designated as your barbeque area is beginning to become overgrown, be sure to trim those trees or bushes before you start grilling.

Although the taste of the grill is temping all year long, if you don’t have a safe area to barbeque during the winter, never barbeque inside any kind of structure, including your garage. Besides the obvious fire hazard that this would pose, barbequing in your garage would also release the deadly Carbon Monoxide gas, so please stick to outside grilling only. No, opening your garage door doesn’t make a difference.

And lastly, if you are using a gas grill, be sure to shut off the gas valve completely when you are done grilling. Make it a habit to turn it off as soon as you take your food off the grill so you won’t forget.

By using these easy-to-follow tips from SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis, you and your family should be able to enjoy a safe and fun grilling season.

This List of "P's" Will Help You In An Evacuation

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

In case of an emergency evacuation, there are certain items you should always remember to take from your home, and there is an easy way to remember what they are because they all start with the letter "P".

*People and Pets - Obviously the most important thing in your home are the people who you care about who live there with you, and your furry critters are an important part of that group. Secure their exit and safety before you consider removing anything else from your home. Remember, everything else is material and replaceable…people are not.

*Papers, Phone Numbers and Important Documents - This information will be helpful if you need to call various businesses and should include your account numbers. Think ahead and place all these documents in one location, and ideally, in a fire safe box that is easy to grab and exit your home with quickly. Make sure it doesn’t get buried underneath other items in your office or extra bedroom. Keep it out and readily available in case of emergency.

*Prescriptions, Vitamins & Eyeglasses – These are extremely important items to maintain your health, and you have to be able to read those labels! These are all relatively easy to replace, but if you do a little preplanning, it will make it easier to regroup if you need to be out of your home for any length of time.

*Pictures - Grab the ones you can't replace, like the ones that aren’t on your phone or are particularly old. It’s always a good idea to make some copies of the really valuable (sentimental or otherwise) pictures and put them in your bank’s safe deposit box for safe keeping.

*Personal computer hard drive and disks - Backup your information regularly to a portable hard drive so you can grab it and go. Make sure it is with your other important documents and ideally in a fireproof case, or one you can grab easily if necessary.

*"Plastic" - Bring your credit and ATM cards, driver's license and any cash you have in the house.

Print out this list and keep it in your home office or a prominent place in your home in case you need to reference it in case of emergency.

If your home or business does experience fire or smoke damage, call the experts at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis at (707) 724-8977 and we'll help make it "Like it never even happened." We hope you never have to call us, but if you do, we will be available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help.

Evacuation Plan Tips from SERVPRO

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

Image shows microwave melted from stove fire

Be sure to have an evacuation plan in place in case you experience a fire in your home. Use the tips provided by SERVPRO to stay safe.

With temperatures climbing, the risk of residential and wildfires increases each day. All families should have an evacuation plan in place in case of emergency. Here's a few tips to keep in mind when creating your own evacuation plan.

*Designate an emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. Ideas may be a local fire station or City Hall. Pick something that is familiar to every family member.

*Plan out several different escape routes from your home or community. Practice these so everyone in your family is familiar with these routes.

*If you have pets or large animals, have a plan in place to move them quickly if necessary, and a plan for where they can stay if you are displaced from your home.

*Print out a list of all the phone numbers of your family members, in case you get separated from your cell phone, and keep them in your wallet or with you at all times. Many of us rely on our phones to automatically dial our contact list and don't have important family members' and friends' phone numbers memorized.

The most important thing to remember is to be prepared and stay calm in the event of an emergency. Having the plans in place to respond to a fire or evacuation of any kind will help everyone be safely reunited with their loved ones.

If you do experience a fire, the experts at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis can help return your home or place to business to its pre-fire conditional. Call us 24 hours a day 7 days a week at (707) 724-8977. We're Here to Help.

Create an Evacuation Plan for Your Family in Case of Emergency

5/2/2022 (Permalink)

With temperatures climbing, the risk of residential and wildfires increases each day. All families should have an evacuation plan in place in case of emergency. Here's a few tips to keep in mind when creating your own evacuation plan.

*Designate an emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. Ideas may be a local fire station or City Hall.

*Plan out several different escape routes from your home or community. Practice these so everyone in your family is familiar with these routes.

*If you have pets or large animals, have a plan in place to move them quickly if necessary.

*Print out a list of all the phone numbers of your family members, in case you get separated from your cell phone, and keep them in your wallet or with you at all times. Many of us rely on our phones to automatically dial our contact list and don't have important family members' and friends' phone numbers memorized.

The most important thing to remember is to be prepared and stay calm in the event of an emergency. Having the plans in place to respond to a fire or evacuation of any kind will help everyone be safely reunited with their loved ones.

Soot Webs Often Appear After Fires

3/31/2022 (Permalink)

Soot webs often appear after a fire and resemble dirty cobwebs, but are actually made of soot and oxygen bonded together.

After a fire, many people think that soot settles on cobwebs near the ceilings of your home and appear darker or full of dirt. This is actually a misconception. The “dirty cobwebs” you see are actually airborne soot particles and oxygen that bond together to create floating soot strands or webs that will rise with warm air and cling to corners, molding, light fixtures and HVAC systems. They are called soot webs and are a clear indication that you have experienced fire damage in your home.

When it comes to cleaning your home after a fire, call the professionals who have experience dealing with cleaning soot, odor and fire damage. SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to respond to any emergency in your home and will be available to help you restore your home to its pre-fire condition. We also can help you clean the contents that were affected by the fire, and can even store those contents until you are ready to bring them back to your home. Call the experts today at 707-724-8977. We are Here to Help.

Choose the Right Fire Extinguisher for Your Home

2/12/2022 (Permalink)

Having a fire extinguisher in your home can be a lifesaver. Household extinguishers can put out a small fire before firefighters arrive or at least suppress flames, giving you and your family time to escape unharmed.

There are lots of choices in type and size of extinguishers, so here’s a quick reference guide on what to look for for each area of your home.

10 pound – Best for your garage.

5 pound – Great in your car; look for one with mounting hardware so it doesn’t roll around in the car and you can locate it quickly if necessary.

Stove Top – Can be mounted on range hood over the stove.

Always remember to pick an extinguisher that is light enough for you to maneuver. A 10-pound fire extinguisher might put out a fire, but if you can’t physically maneuver it easily, it won’t do you much good on the floor!

Lastly, make sure to check the expiration date of your extinguisher regularly to make sure that it has not expired. If it has, make sure to replace it immediately. A good time to remember to check your fire extinguishers is when you change your clocks, and also change the batteries in your smoke detectors at the same time.

If you have questions about fire damage at your home or place of business, call us at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis at 707-724-977.

Which Fire Extinguisher is Right For You?

1/12/2022 (Permalink)

Make sure you know which fire extinguisher is right for your needs.

You might think you don’t need a fire extinguisher in your home, but it can be a lifesaver. Household extinguishers can put out a small fire before firefighters arrive or at least suppress flames, giving you and your family time to escape unharmed.

There are lots of choices in type and size of extinguishers, so here’s a quick reference guide on what to look for for each area of your home.

10 pound – Best for your garage.

5 pound – Great in your car; look for one with mounting hardware so it doesn’t roll around in the car and you can locate it quickly if necessary.

Stove Top – Can be mounted on range hood over the stove.

Always remember to pick an extinguisher that is light enough for you to maneuver. A 10-pound fire extinguisher might put out a fire, but if you can’t physically maneuver it easily, it won’t do you much good on the floor!

Lastly, make sure to check the expiration date of your extinguisher regularly to make sure that it has not expired. If it has, make sure to replace it immediately. A good time to remember to check your fire extinguishers is when you change your clocks, and also change the batteries in your smoke detectors at the same time.

If you have questions about fire damage at your home or place of business, call us at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis at 707-724-977.

Keep These Tips in Mind for a Safe Thanksgiving

11/10/2021 (Permalink)

Thanksgiving is the day when more turkey is consumed per person in this Country than any other day of the year. Unfortunately, it is also the day that more home cooking fires occur than any other day of the year. SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis wants you all to be safe during this season of Thanksgiving, so take a few minutes to review these safety tips involving cooking and gatherings:

Never leave a flame unattended in the kitchen.
Keep all combustible items, such as dish towels and pot holders, far away from the stove and oven.
Don’t leave your turkey or other items in the oven cooking while you are not at home.
Make sure your smoke alarms are working and the batteries have been changed recently.
Do not leave lit candles unattended.

If you do experience a fire in your home, the professionals at SERVPRO are Here To Help. Call us anytime at 707-724-8977.

What To Do If There Is A Fire At or Near Your Home

10/28/2021 (Permalink)

A common thing we hear in the restoration industry by customers who are calling to schedule an appointment after a fire has come dangerously close or actually impacted their home is, “I don’t know how this process works.” Here at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon, we are thankful for two things in this regard - first, that most of our customers do not have any experience with fire previously affecting their homes, and second, that we have an experienced and helpful group of professionals who are ready, willing and able to help at a moment’s notice. We thought it might be helpful to put together a narrative of what you should do in the event of a fire affecting your home and how to get the help you need to get your home back "Like it never even happened."

If you are evacuated or forced to leave your home because of a fire either in your home or in the vicinity surrounding your neighborhood, be sure to stay out of your home until your local authorities give you the “all clear” to return to your residence. Once any restrictions regarding entering your home have been released, place a call to a restoration specialist, such as SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis and schedule an appointment for an inspection as soon as possible. Be prepared to provide the SERVPRO scheduler with your name and address, along with a description of what is specifically happening in your home. For example, can you see evidence of ash inside your home or only outside? Did your oven catch fire and therefore walls and other areas in your home were burned or subsequently dampened with water due to firefighting efforts? In the event of a fire in your neighborhood, were windows left open during the firestorm? How close did the fire come to your home? Also, it is helpful if you have the name of your insurance company, your adjuster’s contact information and your claim number available to provide to the scheduler. This will help make the process go much faster down the road. Contact your homeowners insurance company and file a claim regarding your potential loss. Be sure to have your policy number, policy holder’s name and address, and the date of the incident on hand when you make the call. Be sure to write down the name of the claim adjuster assigned to your specific claim and your claim number. You will need this information for future reference.

It is also a good idea to find a folder or binder to put all your information regarding your loss into for safe keeping, or we can provide you with a binder. This would include your insurance policy information, your insurance adjuster’s name, phone number and email address, your claim number and all the notes you take when you talk to your adjuster. Having one place for all this information makes it easier to find and organize this information, and much easier to reference your notes in case there are questions or issues later.

Once your inspection has been scheduled, an experienced professional will be dispatched to your home to perform an inspection and take photos. These will be used to produce an estimate for services, which will be submitted to your insurance adjuster. (This is why providing all the pertinent information to your scheduler is so vital and timesaving.) Once the estimate is complete and submitted, SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis will work with your insurance adjuster to gain approval of the estimate so that work can begin as soon as possible on your property.

Once our estimate has been approved, we will schedule your services to begin as soon as possible and dispatch our highly trained production team to your home to begin the cleaning and restoration process. This often begins with pressure washing the outside of a home (in the event of a wildland or neighborhood fire), wiping down walls and surface areas inside the home, cleaning of carpets and floors, as well as cleaning of individual contents. We work directly with a vendor to help our customers have their “soft goods” cleaned, which include clothing, removable rugs and drapes. And when the job is complete, our Crew Chief walks the job with the homeowner to ensure that it is completed to their 100% satisfaction.

If you or anyone you know experiences a fire in or around your home, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Dixon/Fairfield/Davis at (707) 724-8977. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year to respond to your emergency and we are Here To Help.

SERVPRO of Davis Can Help If You Experience Fire Damage

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

Image shows 3 individuals cleaning a wall and window

If you home is affected by fire, call the experts at SERVPRO of Davis for all your restoration and cleaning needs.

If your home is affected by a fire, the professionals at SERVPRO of Davis are Here to Help. We are dedicated to responding immediately to your emergency, which can help prevent secondary damage and reduce costs.

As fire restoration specialists, we have the training and specialized equipment to respond to your specific emergency and pride ourselves in offering excellent customer service.

When tragedy strikes, you want skilled professionals helping you restore your home or place of business to its pre-fire condition. SERVPRO of Davis is that company. We can help with emergency board up services, water removal and drying, removal of smoke and soot from surfaces, cleaning and repair issues.

If your home or business experience fire damage, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Davis to help at (707) 724-8977. We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Use These Grilling Tips for Safe Cooking Outside

7/28/2021 (Permalink)

When the weather warms up, one way to beat the heat is to turn off the oven and cook outside on the barbeque. Unfortunately, this causes the number of grill-related fires to increase. Each year, outdoor grilling causes over 10,000 home fires, but SERVPRO of Vacaville / Dixon / Fairfield / Davis has put together some easy safety tips you can follow to keep your home and family safe this grilling season.

The most common cause of fire involving a barbeque is related to cooking on an uncleaned grill. Grease that accumulates on the grill can cause fires, so just like clearing your dishes from the table and loading them in the dishwasher, cleaning your grill should be a part of your routine when you are done preparing your meal and cleaning up. Another important part of a clean grill involves your coals. Make sure they are completely cooled before cooling the grill and removing them. The safest thing to do with the coals is to put them in a fire safe bucket and allow them to remain there until you are ready to dispose of them. Hot coals can smolder for a very long time. It is always better to be safe and make sure they are completely cold before disposing of them in your trash. Many dumpster fires have been started by not-cooled coals.

The second most dangerous cause of fire from grilling comes from unattended barbeques. Just like inside your home, never leave an open flame unattended outside. Your grill can flare up while you aren’t watching and catch something nearby on fire, and if you are not immediately available to deal with the problem, it can quickly escalate into a much larger problem. Be vigilant and always stay near your barbeque when you are cooking. That means you will have to do quite a bit of prep work in order to have everything you need before you begin grilling so you won’t have to leave your grill unattended, but safety should be your number one concern.

Related to this previous point, always make sure your grill is on a stable surface and cannot easily tip over. Once you load up that barbeque with all those yummy steaks and veggies, you want to make sure it won’t topple on the ground, spilling all your food and the hot coals everywhere. If the unthinkable happens, and you do tip over your barbeque, think before you act. Remember those coals are hot and combustible. Pick them up with something that won’t catch on fire, like a metal shovel and put them in a fire-safe container or metal bucket.

Also, be sure your grill is not near any hanging tree branches or other structures that can easily catch fire. If the area you have designated as your barbeque area is beginning to become overgrown, be sure to trim those trees or bushes before you start grilling.

Although the taste of the grill is temping all year long, if you don’t have a safe area to barbeque during the winter, never barbeque inside any kind of structure, including your garage. Besides the obvious fire hazard that this would pose, barbequing in your garage would also release the deadly Carbon Monoxide gas, so please stick to outside grilling only. No, opening your garage door doesn’t make a difference.

And lastly, if you are using a gas grill, be sure to shut off the gas valve completely when you are done grilling. Make it a habit to turn it off as soon as you take your food off the grill so you won’t forget.

By using these easy-to-follow tips from SERVPRO of Vacaville / Dixon/ Fairfield / Davis, you and your family should be able to enjoy a safe and fun grilling season.

If You Have to Evacuate, Remember These "P's"

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

In case of an emergency evacuation, there are certain items you should always remember to take from your home, and there is an easy way to remember what they are because they all start with the letter "P".

*People and Pets - Obviously the most important thing in your home are the people who you care about who live there with you, and your furry critters are an important part of that group. Secure their exit and safety before you consider removing anything else from your home. Remember, everything else is material and replaceable…people are not.

*Papers, Phone Numbers and Important Documents - This information will be helpful if you need to call various businesses and should include your account numbers. Think ahead and place all these documents in one location, and ideally, in a fire safe box that is easy to grab and exit your home with quickly. Make sure it doesn’t get buried underneath other items in your office of extra bedroom. Keep it out and readily available in case of emergency.

*Prescriptions, Vitamins & Eyeglasses – These are extremely important items to maintain your health, and you have to be able to read those labels! These are all relatively easy to replace, but if you do a little preplanning, it will make it easier to regroup if you need to be out of your home for any length of time.

*Pictures - Grab the ones you can't replace, like the ones that aren’t on your phone or are particularly old. It’s always a good idea to make some copies of the really valuable (sentimental or otherwise) pictures and put them in your bank’s safe deposit box for safe keeping.

*Personal computer hard drive and disks - Backup your information regularly to a portable hard drive so you can grab it and go. Make sure it is with your other important documents and ideally in a fire proof case, or one you can grab easily if necessary.

*"Plastic" - Bring your credit and ATM cards, driver's license and any cash you have in the house.

Print out this list and keep it in your home office or a prominent place in your home in case you need to reference it in case of emergency.

If your home or business does experience fire or smoke damage, call the experts at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon/Davis at (707) 724-8977 and we'll help make it "Like it never even happened." We hope you never have to call us, but if you do, we will be available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help.

Let Us Help You Create An Evacuation Plan

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

Be sure to have an evacuation plan in place in case of a fire.

With temperatures climbing, the risk of residential and wildfires increases each day. All families should have an evacuation plan in place in case of emergency. Here's a few tips to keep in mind when creating your own evacuation plan.

*Designate an emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. Ideas may be a local fire station or City Hall.

*Plan out several different escape routes from your home or community. Practice these so everyone in your family is familiar with these routes.

*If you have pets or large animals, have a plan in place to move them quickly if necessary.

*Print out a list of all the phone numbers of your family members, in case you get separated from your cell phone, and keep them in your wallet or with you at all times. Many of us rely on our phones to automatically dial our contact list and don't have important family members' and friends' phone numbers memorized.

The most important thing to remember is to be prepared and stay calm in the event of an emergency. Having the plans in place to respond to a fire or evacuation of any kind will help everyone be safely reunited with their loved ones.

If you do experience a fire, the experts at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon/Davis can help return your home or place to business to its original conditional. Call us 24 hours a day 7 days a week at (707) 724-8977. We're Here to Help.

Help Picking the Right Fire Extinguisher for You

1/14/2021 (Permalink)

Be sure to buy the correct fire extinguisher to protect your home or business. Use these tips to know which one is right for you.

You might think you don’t need a fire extinguisher in your home, but it can be a lifesaver. Household extinguishers can put out a small fire before firefighters arrive or at least suppress flames, giving you and your family time to escape unharmed.

There are lots of choices in type and size of extinguishers, so here’s a quick reference guide on what to look for for each area of your home.

10 pound – Best for your garage.

5 pound – Great in your car; look for one with mounting hardware so it doesn’t roll around in the car and you can locate it quickly if necessary.

Stove Top – Can be mounted on range hood over the stove.

Always remember to pick an extinguisher that is light enough for you to maneuver. A 10-pound fire extinguisher might put out a fire, but if you can’t physically maneuver it easily, it won’t do you much good on the floor!

Lastly, make sure to check the expiration date of your extinguisher regularly to make sure that it has not expired. If it has, make sure to replace it immediately. A good time to remember to check your fire extinguishers is when you change your clocks, and also change the batteries in your smoke detectors at the same time.

What To Do If You Have A Fire In or Near Your Home

10/27/2020 (Permalink)

Picture shows a house partially burned by a fire

This home was severely burned by the Glass Fire in Santa Rosa, California.

A common thing we hear in the restoration industry by customers who are calling to schedule an appointment after a fire has come dangerously close or actually impacted their home is, “I don’t know how this process works.” Here at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon, we are thankful for two things in this regard - first, that most of our customers do not have any experience with fire previously affecting their homes, and second, that we have an experienced and helpful group of professionals who are ready, willing and able to help at a moment’s notice. We thought it might be helpful to put together a narrative of what you should do in the event of a fire affecting your home and how to get the help you need to get your home back "Like it never even happened."

If you are evacuated or forced to leave your home because of a fire either in your home or in the vicinity surrounding your neighborhood, be sure to stay out of your home until your local authorities give you the “all clear” to return to your residence. Once any restrictions regarding entering your home have been released, place a call to a restoration specialist, such as SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon and schedule an appointment for an inspection as soon as possible. Be prepared to provide the SERVPRO scheduler with your name and address, along with a description of what is specifically happening in your home. For example, can you see evidence of ash inside your home or only outside? Did your oven catch fire and therefore walls and other areas in your home were burned or subsequently dampened with water due to firefighting efforts? In the event of a fire in your neighborhood, were windows left open during the firestorm? How close did the fire come to your home? Also, it is helpful if you have the name of your insurance company, your adjuster’s contact information and your claim number available to provide to the scheduler. This will help make the process go much faster down the road. Contact your homeowners insurance company and file a claim regarding your potential loss. Be sure to have your policy number, policy holder’s name and address, and the date of the incident on hand when you make the call. Be sure to write down the name of the claim adjuster assigned to your specific claim and your claim number. You will need this information for future reference.

It is also a good idea to find a folder or binder to put all your information regarding your loss into for safe keeping, or we can provide you with a binder. This would include your insurance policy information, your insurance adjuster’s name, phone number and email address, your claim number and all the notes you take when you talk to your adjuster. Having one place for all this information makes it easier to find and organize this information, and much easier to reference your notes in case there are questions or issues later.

Once your inspection has been scheduled, an experienced professional will be dispatched to your home to perform an inspection and take photos. These will be used to produce an estimate for services, which will be submitted to your insurance adjuster. (This is why providing all the pertinent information to your scheduler is so vital and timesaving.) Once the estimate is complete and submitted, SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon will work with your insurance adjuster to gain approval of the estimate so that work can begin as soon as possible on your property.

Once our estimate has been approved, we will schedule your services to begin as soon as possible and dispatch our highly trained production team to your home to begin the cleaning and restoration process. This often begins with pressure washing the outside of a home (in the event of a wildland or neighborhood fire), wiping down walls and surface areas inside the home, cleaning of carpets and floors, as well as cleaning of individual contents. We work directly with a vendor to help our customers have their “soft goods” cleaned, which include clothing, removable rugs and drapes. And when the job is complete, our Crew Chief walks the job with the homeowner to ensure that it is completed to their 100% satisfaction.

Here’s some additional information about fires: On average, fire departments across the United States respond to an estimate average of 345,400 home structures fires each year. Can you guess what the number one cause of house fires is? Give that some thought and the answer will be revealed at the end of this article.

Let’s turn our attention to which appliances pose the greatest risk of fire in homes. As you can probably guess, stoves and ovens are the greatest source of appliance fires. And surprisingly, electric ranges cause more fires than gas ranges. Electric stoves are more silent and odorless than their gas counterparts, making them more of a fire hazard because they may get left on inadvertently. Dishwashers, that fabulous invention that keeps us from hand washing all those pots, pans and dishes we get dirty on a regular basis, are the largest source of kitchen fires caused by a non-cooking appliance. Electric fires begin when electronics and heating elements are mixed with water, which is exactly the scenario that happens when your dishwasher malfunctions, thus resulting in a fire. Refrigerators are the greatest culprit when it comes to fire-causing appliances in the United States. An electrical short or an overheated compressor can cause a fire. Clothes washer and dryers round out the top offenders of appliances in your home that are the greatest risk of causing a fire.

Did you remember the question posed earlier about the number one cause of house fires? If you answered cooking, you are correct. Unattended cooking causes more house fires in this country than any other source. So be sure to stay in the room while you are using any kind of heat source in your home.

If you or anyone you know experiences a fire in or around your home, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon at (707) 724-8977. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year to respond to your emergency and we are Here To Help.

LNU Fire Cleaning Information

9/18/2020 (Permalink)

Picture shows smokey image of house and fence

Thankfully this home was spared in the LNU fires, but will need significant cleaning of soot and ash. SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon can help.

SMOKE, ASH, SOOT and FIRE DAMAGE CLEANING

Did you know that Smoke and Ash particulates can be harmful and can cause
significant health issues and damage your home or business?

SERVPRO of Vacaville/Fairfield/Dixon are your local experts and have cleaned hundreds of homes and businesses over the last several years due to Wildfire & Structure Fire Damage in Northern California. We are here to help you through the LNU Lightning Complex Fire process. Our technicians are trained and IICRC FIRE Certified.

KNOW THE FACTS & RISKS:

Did you know every time you open your doors or windows, you are bringing air into your home that includes soot and ash particulates that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
Is there cause for concern or is a simple "sniff" test or wiping of a surface with a Chem-Sponge sufficient?
Why is it so common to hear customers complain of smelling smoke long after the restoration is completed?
What measures are being taken to protect homeowners, family, friends and workers from toxic particulate matter?

What is smoke? As burning materials decompose, they release solid particles, gases, and aerosols that become suspended in the air. Suspended particles, gases, and aerosols are smoke. Gases are the invisible components of smoke. Oxides of nitrogen are produced by burning organic compounds, and sulfur dioxide is produced by burning inorganic compounds. Some of the gaseous by-products generated in a fire, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, are extremely dangerous if people are exposed to the smoke while the fire is in progress. Smoke is the result of incomplete combustion which produces tiny particles of carbon in the air. When deposited, these particulates are identified as soot. Put simply, the particle size of smoke residue on a surface can present a respiratory hazard. The particle size of soot is approximately 2.5 microns, a size that is associated with deep lung penetration. Particles that are approximately 10 microns or larger get trapped in the upper respiratory tract. In order to offer some perspective on the size of these particles, the dust you see flying in the light coming through a sun lit window is about 40 microns in size. Airborne soot is too small to be seen with the naked eye and can easily be inhaled. As a fire dies down, the smoke it has caused will disperse leaving behind a residue of quickly cooling particles which is generally referred to as soot. Typically, soot is representative of what has burned, but may include byproducts that at first seem unrelated to the original material. For example, Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) are potential byproducts.

People who have their properties damaged by fire and smoke will be exposed to toxic elements long after the repairs are completed if proper measures are not taken to remove toxic particulate matter and restore the indoor air quality.
Residual smoke, soot, chemicals, and microscopic particulates generated from structure fires are hazardous to human health and can cause severe health issues.
Toxic particulate matter can enter the body through the lungs or by contact with the skin.
Toxic particulates can adversely affect the health of everyone. Those at the greatest risk of injury are infants and children, the elderly, and those with weakened respiratory systems or cardiac ailments.
Toxic smoke particulate matter must be properly remediated prior to the return of occupants who may live or work in or around the affected areas.

CLEANING PROCESS:

In order to restore the indoor air quality after a structure fire or wildfire, the following steps should be taken to properly clean and restore the indoor air quality, primarily by removing the particulates rather than relying solely on treating, deodorizing, or masking them. Steps would include but are not limited to (barring your insurance companies approval): Having a preliminary air sample test performed to determine what types and concentrations of chemicals and particulates are present, setting up containments, wearing proper personal protective equipment, running negative air filtration with proper HEPA filters, HEPA vacuuming surfaces, deodorizing, and encapsulation of exposed surfaces, etc. Once the cleaning process is completed, an independent environmental testing company should be hired to provide testing that includes, but is not limited to: 1) Surface dust wipe samples to test surfaces for combustion byproduct particulate matter including soot, char & ash. 2) Surface dust wipe samples to test for the presence of metals including lithium, chromium, lead, mercury, etc. 3) Air samples to test for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and smoke particulate matter associated with burned materials, paints, glues, plastic, synthetic materials, etc. 4) Air clearance sampling to verify that the air has been properly cleaned of toxic soot, char and ash particulate matter. An air clearance should be achieved prior to project completion and reentry of unprotected occupants. Without these steps, occupants could be left exposed to unseen toxins, which could lead to adverse health conditions.

Here is a checklist of what you can be a part of your cleaning process:

Pressure washing the exterior of your home and property
Cleaning of your gutters
Removing and replacing of your insulation
Cleaning of your attic
A detailed wipe down of your home’s ceilings, walls and floors
Inspect and clean your duct work and HVAC system
Air filtration with proper HEPA filters
Cleaning of your belongings or contents
Cleaning of your textiles
Hydroxyl Generator or Ozone for deodorization

Our customers have asked if it is necessary to clean their home and/or business following a wild or structural fire? The answer is yes to protect your property and belongings from the effects of soot. The longer soot remains the faster it will yellow painted walls, stain upholstery, rust metals and corrode electronics. This process begins within weeks because soot is acidic. Your property is your investment, so make sure your cleaning includes exterior, interior and all your contents and textiles. Your family, friends, employees, co-workers, and pets deserve to come back to a clean and safe environment.

We are here to help and make it “Like it never even happened.”

Summer Grilling Safety Tips

7/28/2020 (Permalink)

Use these safety tips to enjoy your barbeque this grilling season.

When the weather warms up, one way to beat the heat is to turn off the oven and cook outside on the barbeque. Unfortunately, this causes the number of grill-related fires to increase. Each year, outdoor grilling causes over 10,000 home fires, but SERVPRO of Vacaville / Fairfield / Dixon has put together some easy safety tips you can follow to keep your home and family safe this grilling season.

The most common cause of fire involving a barbeque is related to cooking on an uncleaned grill. Grease that accumulates on the grill can cause fires, so just like clearing your dishes from the table and loading them in the dishwasher, cleaning your grill should be a part of your routine when you are done preparing your meal and cleaning up. Another important part of a clean grill involves your coals. Make sure they are completely cooled before cooling the grill and removing them. The safest thing to do with the coals is to put them in a fire safe bucket and allow them to remain there until you are ready to dispose of them. Hot coals can smolder for a very long time. It is always better to be safe and make sure they are completely cold before disposing of them in your trash. Many dumpster fires have been started by not-cooled coals.

The second most dangerous cause of fire from grilling comes from unattended barbeques. Just like inside your home, never leave an open flame unattended outside. Your grill can flare up while you aren’t watching and catch something nearby on fire, and if you are not immediately available to deal with the problem, it can quickly escalate into a much larger problem. Be vigilant and always stay near your barbeque when you are cooking. That means you will have to do quite a bit of prep work in order to have everything you need before you begin grilling so you won’t have to leave your grill unattended, but safety should be your number one concern.

Related to this previous point, always make sure your grill is on a stable surface and cannot easily tip over. Once you load up that barbeque with all those yummy steaks and veggies, you want to make sure it won’t topple on the ground, spilling all your food and the hot coals everywhere. If the unthinkable happens, and you do tip over your barbeque, think before you act. Remember those coals are hot and combustible. Pick them up with something that won’t catch on fire, like a metal shovel and put them in a fire-safe container or metal bucket.

Also, be sure your grill is not near any hanging tree branches or other structures that can easily catch fire. If the area you have designated as your barbeque area is beginning to become overgrown, be sure to trim those trees or bushes before you start grilling.

Although the taste of the grill is temping all year long, if you don’t have a safe area to barbeque during the winter, never barbeque inside any kind of structure, including your garage. Besides the obvious fire hazard that this would pose, barbequing in your garage would also release the deadly Carbon Monoxide gas, so please stick to outside grilling only. No, opening your garage door doesn’t make a difference.

And lastly, if you are using a gas grill, be sure to shut off the gas valve completely when you are done grilling. Make it a habit to turn it off as soon as you take your food off the grill so you won’t forget.

By using these easy-to-follow tips from SERVPRO of Vacaville / Fairfield / Dixon, you and your family should be able to enjoy a safe and fun grilling season.

Remember These "P's" in an Evacuation

6/11/2020 (Permalink)