Recent Fire Damage Posts

Some Fire Extinguisher Tips To Help You Out

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Extinguisher Tips

Fire Extinguishers can be life and property saving tools when used correctly. In order to operate an extinguisher, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests remembering the word PASS: 

Pull the pin. Hold the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism. 

Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.  

Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly. 

Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side. 

Read the instructions on the fire extinguisher and become familiar with them before a fire breaks out. Remember, extinguishers do have limitations and it's also important to ensure you have the correct type of extinguisher for your facility. To find more information on choosing the appropriate class of extinguisher, please visit the NFPA website at https://www.nfpa.org/ 

Clean Those Dryers!!

11/24/2021 (Permalink)

Many common ways a fire is started is because people forget to change out the lint traps before putting a new load to dry. Every year, firefighters across the country respond to around 13,820 home fires caused by clothes dryers, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Dryer fires are responsible for seven deaths, 344 civilian injuries, and $233 million in property damage annually. Here are 4 tips to prevent a house fire due to lint. 

  1. Clean out lint traps: Clean it out every single load, this helps prevent fire and helps your laundry dry faster.
  2. Replace accordion style ducts: Generally, dryers are equipped with a 4-inch vent in the back, which homeowners or installers connect to the exterior vent with a duct. But not all ducts will do. If you see a plastic or foil accordion-style duct connecting your appliance to the vent, it’s a good idea to replace it. These are risky because they can sag, allowing lint to build up at low points and trapping lint in their ridges
  3. Clean the dryer duct annually: If you notice that your dryer takes longer to dry laundry than it used to, that’s a clue that there may be a blockage in the dryer vent system
  4. Handle chemical stains with care: Clothes stained with gas, cooking oil, cleaning agents, or other flammable chemicals or substances need special care. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends washing such stained clothing more than once to minimize volatile chemicals, then hanging to dry

Here at SERVPRO Kempsville/Military Circle we can help get things back to normal with any fire that happens. Give us a call at 757-479-4447 and we will be glad to help.

Office Fire Plan

11/24/2021 (Permalink)

Fires happen fast, know your escape plan.

Have you ever thought what would happen if a fire were to happen? What stairwell will you use? What emergency exit will you go to? Do you know where to meet the others so you know everyone is out? Having a fire escape plan before the fire can help keep everything organized when the fire does occur. You should also practice a fire escape plan at least twice a year so every employee knows exactly what to do. Here are a few steps to do when trying to figure out your plan.

  1. Visualize multiple situations that might occur: Ask yourself. Where might the fire occur? How and where would they start? What if this happens? Make sure you are always prepared for every situation that may occur. 
  2. Establish roles and responsibilities: When a fire emerges and your business must evacuate, employees will look to their leaders for reassurance and guidance. Create a clear chain of command with backups that states who has the authority to order an evacuation. Knowing who to go to helps ensure no one is stuck inside 
  3. Plan and map routes: Once your people are out of the building, where do they go?Designate an assembly area for employees to gather. Someone should be at the assembly area collecting a head count and providing updates.
  4. Know your tools and inspect them: always test fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors, and escape ladders. Also make sure every employee knows where the fire extinguisher is.
  5. Rehearse fire evacuation: Having your employees know what to do during a fire helps the process go smoothly so there's not so much chaos when the fire does occur. 

Here at SERVPRO of Kempsville/Military Circle we are ready to help with any damage that may occur due to a fire. Give us a call at 757-479-4447! 

Food After A Fire

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

Call the professionals who know what can be salvaged and not salvaged after a kitchen fire.

Some wonder what food can be saved and eaten after a fire.  It's understandable to want to save as much as possible and not let food go to waste.  However, it must be taken into account that food, opened or unopened, do become contaminated by fires and can cause health effects.   

Unfortunately, not only can food be affected by fire directly, but can also become affected by the water, chemicals, smoke and by heat damages caused by fires.  The toxic fumes from fires also contaminates the food.  Strong smoke odor or rotten food odor is a sign the food is no good. 

The smoke, soot, toxic fumes along with other contaminates in the fire permeate through the air which taints the food.  The food can be fresh, packaged, sealed and even in the refrigerator or freezer and can still become contaminated because the seals are not all completely air tight.  Even canned food, food in jars, bottles can be affected by the heat of the fire causing the food to slowly cook within which can be harmful to eat.    

It's not recommended to try and eat the food to see if it's good or not.  It's highly recommended to throw away and dispose of food that have been in or around a fire to avoid getting sick. 

If you have questions give SERVPRO of Kempsville/Military Circle a call at 757-479-4447.  We are Here to Help! 

Fourth of July Weekend

7/2/2021 (Permalink)

Give us a call at 7574794447!

SERVPRO of Kempsville/ Military Circle wishes all of you a Happy 4th of July! 

When it comes to Fourth of July most of us have cookouts, fireworks, and get togethers but make sure we stay safe while enjoying family time. 

When it comes to fireworks make sure they are legal in Virginia as such fireworks are illegal.

Make sure your pointing the fireworks away from buildings, tress, and others as it can cause a fire in seconds. 

When it comes to the grill try to have to grill away from your home. 

SERVPRO of Kempsville/ Military Circle is here if anything might go wrong but we hope nothing goes wrong! 

We want to rep that red, white, and blue but on our clothes not with firetrucks, police, and the ambulance. 

You can always give us a call at 757-479-4447 if anything happens whether its fire or water we are here to help! 

Are you using your grill this Fourth of July?

7/2/2021 (Permalink)

Give us a call at 757-479-4447

When it comes to Fourth of July we think of burgers, hot dogs, and some yummy good stuff on the grill. 

But, SERVPRO of Kempsville/ Military Circle thinks "Oh man, here comes a bunch of fire jobs" as so many things go wrong when people dont know the safety precautions when it comes to using their grill. 

  • Make sure your grill is ATLEAST 10 feet away from your home. 
  • Clean your grill regularly
  • Keep decorations away from the grill
  • Keep a spray bottle of water handy
  • Know where your fire extinguisher is
  • Turn on the gas while your grill is CLOSED
  • Never leave the grill unattended
  • Dont overload the grill with food
  • Lastly, which seems pretty obvious DO NOT use a grill indoors! 

Following these precautions could avoid us going out to help you with a fire loss. But if it may occur we are here to help with any of your needs!