Deep-fried Danger

11/1/2023 (Permalink)

It's hard to believe that we're only 3 weeks away from Turkey Day, but here we are. It's time to dust off those recipe books, make your lists, and start planning how you're going to cook your turkey. 

Here at SERVPRO Franklin, Vance, and Granville Counties, we HIGHLY recommend any method but frying. But we know a fried turkey is a delicious turkey, so we're here with some tips on how to stay safe if your bird will be taking the plunge. 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) discourages the use of outdoor, gas-fueled turkey fryers, which can lead to devastating burns, destruction of property, and other injuries. Additionally, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the organization that certifies safe products, does not certify these types of fryers with its UL label. 

Both organizations discourage the use of open-flame fryers due to the following:

• Turkey fryers tip easily, spilling their contents, and causing oil to ignite.
• Overfilling the fryer is common. The oil spills out of the pot when the turkey is placed in the fryer, engulfing the whole unit in flames.
• With no thermostat controls, the oil is prone to overheating to the combustion point.
• The handles and lid get extremely hot, which can cause severe burns.
• Since the unit is designed for outdoor use, rain or snow can fall on the unit, splattering the oil and converting the water to scalding steam.

Despite these hazards, if you still plan on using a turkey fryer, please follow these safety guidelines:

• Always use the fryer outdoors on a flat surface, safely away from structures, wooden decks, and covered patios. No matter what, DO NOT be tempted to use the fryer in a garage.
• Have the correct kind of fire extinguisher nearby and ready to use.
• To ensure you are using the right amount of oil, place a thawed turkey in the fry pot and add enough water to cover the bird by ½". Remove the turkey and mark the water level. Dump the water and thoroughly dry the pot and turkey. Fill the pot with oil to the marked level.
• Do not leave the fryer unattended. Monitor the temperature of the oil with a thermometer to prevent the oil from overheating and catching fire. If the oil begins to smoke, immediately turn the gas off.
• Ensure the turkey is COMPLETELY THAWED to prevent a fire or explosion hazard.
• Raise and lower the turkey slowly to prevent oil splatter, burns, and fire.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer to prevent tipping, even after the turkey is done. The oil is dangerously hot for hours.
• Use your safety tools: Oven mitts, gloves, and safety goggles.
• Stand upwind of the propane tank and fryer so heat blows away from you.

If your Thanksgiving goes awry, or your turkey ends up more smoked than fried, SERVPRO Franklin, Vance, and Granville Counties is here to help 24/7.

We wish you and your family a safe, happy, and delicious Thanksgiving!

While You Wait For Us To Arrive

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

A home in Castalia, NC experienced a large kitchen fire. The belongings & fixtures in the home were left in place ready for the SERVPRO team to clean!

What to do until we get there...

The fire is out, the firefighters have gone. You are now left with the daunting task of getting your family back to normal. While we may not be able to help with scary dreams, we can definitely help with making it “Like it never even happened.”

So, what should you do and NOT do until SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties arrives? Here are a few ideas. DO limit your movements, so you don’t spread soot around. DON’T touch the walls. This can “set” the soot and make it harder to clean. If carpet is wet, DO put pieces of foil under furniture legs to keep water from seeping in. DON’T turn on a ceiling fan or light if the ceiling is wet. DO remove rugs that are on top of carpet, to keep from being stained. DON’T eat food that has been close to the fire, water or heat. DO contact family, friends and neighbors. People want to help in a disaster, and that includes SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties. Please call us at 252-433-0005 or at 919-339-4848 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Let us help you get your life back.

Wiping Away The Soot

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

Technicians are careful to go over every surface to remove harmful soot and smoke damage to your ceilings after a fire.

Did you know that SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties production technicians are specially trained in the best way to clean up your home after a fire?

One technique is dry sponging areas like your ceiling to remove soot! Dry sponges, or "chemical sponges," are made from natural rubber. These sponges safely scoop up and absorb soot and dirt into their pores. Because of the soft surface, dry cleaning sponges are ideal for removing soot and smoke from walls, ceilings and acoustic tiles. The sponge is also ideal for picking up dust and dirt from areas that cannot be cleaned by water or solvents. 

Often, when cleaning up from a fire, we are removing soot and smoke residue in order to leave the area prepared for painting during the repairs phase. So, while it might seem like "washing everything" is the right thing to do, cleaning without water serves an important role in getting your home back "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties if you experience a fire or smoke damage in your home! We can be reached 24/7 at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848! We're always here to help.

Fire Damage and Odor

3/29/2022 (Permalink)

One area that SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties makes sure to address when cleaning up from a fire damage is the odor. Once the area is thoroughly cleaned, our technicians can set up an Ozone Machine in the area.

The ozone generator is used to oxidize organic odors such as smoke, pet odors, mildew, organic pollutants, and more without chemicals. 

A transformer shoots several thousand volts of
electricity through a reactor, causing the atom of a water molecule to change from an O2 molecule to a very unstable O3 molecule. The extra O molecule then attaches itself to a contaminant, actually alternating its structure. The remaining O2 molecule becomes stable once again.

Once the area is fully dry, we remove living things from the containment area (humans, plants, and pets). Setting the unit as high as possible helps since ozone is heavier than air and will fall. When possible, an air mover can be set up to help circulate the ozone. The room/area is sealed off to prevent the ozone from dissipating into areas that do not need to be deodorized. 

Once the area has been deodorized, we ventilate the area thoroughly.

Keeping your family safe and your home cleaned and deodorized after a fire is very important to us! Every detail matters. 

If you have experienced a fire in your home, reach out to our office today to find out about cleaning and deodorization services we can provide. Call 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848. We're always here to help!

Ceilings, Walls, and Contents - Oh My!

3/14/2022 (Permalink)

A bathroom fire in Henderson, North Carolina caused damage throughout the room including the ceilings, trim, fixtures, and personal belongings.

Fire damage in your home or business needs to be addressed right away. Even a small fire can weaken your property’s structural integrity as well as leave hard-to-remove smoky odors and residue on surfaces. When you call SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties, the full extent of your damage will be examined by our highly trained technicians immediately upon arrival. Following this, we will perform all fire damage restoration tasks required, even including board-ups and structural repairs and support if needed.

We will work to clean and deodorize your premises. Our technicians are trained to pack your belongings with care and respect and to listen to your concerns. We office contents cleaning services for your belongings while you wait for your home to be restored.

Our technicians will arrive and hit the ground running by first assessing your property damage to the premises. Following this, the specialists will start removing items, cleaning what can be saved, and disposing of the unsalvageable items. Any soot or pollutants will then be abated from the air and surfaces. SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties can be trusted to respond as fast as possible to your fire damage restoration needs. We understand the devastation you’re going through caused by the damage to your home or business. Therefore we will be very careful while handling your personal belongings.

We’ll inspect and reinforce your structure if necessary and clean affected surfaces with our proprietary cleaning system. Your home or business will be smelling fresh in no time!

Fire Damage in Franklin County, NC

1/19/2022 (Permalink)

Who are you going to call for smoke and fire damage clean up needs? SERVPRO Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848

A kitchen fire in Franklin County, NC is never a welcome end result when you are cooking dinner for the family. Kitchen fires are a leading cause of fires in North Carolina. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher and/ or baking soda close when you are cooking. This fire in Franklin County got ahead of the homeowner and resulted in sending soot through out the entire home and resulted in extensive kitchen damage. Fortunately the adjuster recommended SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties to assist in the clean up needs of this homeowner.  We were able to provide  pack out with inventory of the contents, storage and cleaning of the contents, demolition, structure cleaning, and repairs/ construction. If you have a fire and don't know who to call, call SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties at 252-433-0005 or 19-339-4848

After The Fire

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

Detailed cleaning is necessary to ensure that all areas of your home affected by fire/smoke/soot are cleaned and restored.

When SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties comes out to your property following a fire, you can be sure we understand the assignment!

Q: Does SERVPRO follows standard practices in the industry related to fire damage?

A: The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has developed standards known as S740 Standard for Professional Restoration of Fire and Smoke Damaged Personal Items. This IICRC standard is the most widely used guideline for restoring fire and smoke damaged property to preloss condition. Our SERVPRO technicians are trained and take part in ongoing education to make sure that we continue to be the leader in the restoration industry, adhering to all guidelines.

Q: Can you help restore my belongings with contents restoration?

A: Yes! We can help with things like rugs, furniture, electronics, machinery, etc. If it has endured smoke or water damage, then there’s a chance that it can be restored to preloss condition. This is largely thanks to the advances in contents cleaning technologies today, as ultrasonic equipment, specialty dry cleaning, hand cleaning and electronics cleaning tools offer great potential to restore hard and soft goods alike. However, there is a chance that an item that has been engulfed in flames, will almost always need to be discarded during the contents pack out.

Q: Can you really get rid of it all? What’s the process for Clean Up & Smoke Removal

A: This is an intensive part of the fire damage restoration job: clean up. This step involves a lot of manual labor to properly clean smoke and soot from interior and exterior surfaces. In many cases, every inch of the affected area will need to be cleaned. Once proper clean up is complete, deodorizing agents are used to remove any lingering smoke odors. Off site, any contents that have been packed out are also likely being restored to preloss condition. Clean up also involves duct cleaning to remove any soot, smoke or debris that may have settled in ducts. We are with you from top to bottom, from beginning to end.

Where Do We Even Begin?

4/26/2021 (Permalink)

From wooden furniture and precious antiques, to delicate fabrics, SERVPRO cares about your personal property following a fire.

CONFIRM THE HOME IS STABILIZED AND SAFE TO ENTER...

After we are on the scene when you've experienced a fire at your home, the first step SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties will take is to confirm that the property is safe to enter. We will check for signs of structural damage that compromises the home and carefully inspect the property from the outside before opening the door. 

If you are concerned, you should wait for a home inspector to deem the property safe before you enter.

NEXT UP, WE WILL MINIMIZE DAMAGE...

Smoke and soot will cause damage even after the fire has been extinguished. You and the professionals from SERVPRO working in your home should be cautious of soot staining, mold and mildew, rust and corrosion as well as the air quality in your home.

Soot staining occurs when the soot particles in the air adhere to surfaces and cause discoloration. Depending on the surface material and the time elapsed, the soot staining may still be completely removable. In other cases, it will leave behind a permanent discoloration. Some sensitive materials include metals, plastics, grout, carpeting, textiles and wood. SERVPRO will examine these materials in your home and properly clean them to reduce the damage.

Mold and mildew can be a problem and form quickly, so you should look for signs of water damage. If water damage is suspected, the proper restoration and mold and mildew removal processes should begin as soon as possible to minimize further damage.

Cleaning up smoke damage begins by using an air scrubber to clean the air. If there is any smoke-damaged furniture that might be saved or you hope to save, our technicians will begin the smoke-damage restoration process immediately to increase the chance for a complete restoration. 

REMOVE SOOT AND DEBRIS...

Before any water damage or fire damage restoration processes can begin, all debris and soot must be removed from the home. The soot can cause more damage the longer it remains on a surface, while the debris is only going to get in the way the restoration process.

Removing the soot and debris will also improve air quality and reduce airborne odors. A vacuum can remove some of the remaining soot — it can be swept up or wiped. 

BEGIN DEODORIZING, DEEP CLEANING AND REMOVING STAINS...

It’s important to consider what items should be deep cleaned and restored and what items are too damaged and need to be replaced instead. SERVPRO uses specific cleaning products depending on the product being cleaned or deodorized. We consider the type of material and how much mold, mildew or smoke has penetrated the surface when determining which cleaning product to use. 

Carpets, curtains and other fabrics usually need special attention because they are easily ruined. In some cases, carpets can be shampooed and restored, while fabrics can be washed or cleaned. 

Throughout the restoration process, you will be updated by the professionals at SERVPRO as they determine what is salvageable and as we mitigate with your insurance company on your behalf.

Do you know what to do for kitchen fires?

4/22/2021 (Permalink)

Kitchen fires can cause a lot of damage but in this case, the homeowner quickly extinguished it with baking soda and a lid.

Do you know how many fires start in the kitchen per year?  Approximately 44% of all residential fires begin in the kitchen or about 173,000 per year.  Kitchen fires can be caused by grease, cooking that is left unattended, items placed too close to the fire or even burning poultry in the microwave. At SERVPRO of Franklin Vance and Granville Counties we have seen many of these causes. When  a fire happens people panic- Do NOT attempt to carry a grease fire outside- instead put a lid on the pan, put salt or baking soda on it. In this photo the homeowner put baking soda and a lid on it.  The fire did cause damage inside the home from the cabinets, ceilings and walls and sent smoke throughout the main living space but nobody was hurt, SERVPRO Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties was onsite quickly to begin the mitigation and cleaning process.

Unlikely Causes

4/9/2021 (Permalink)

When a fire strikes a home, the very first priority is to extinguish the flames and make sure that everyone is safe. However, once the fire is put out and everyone is accounted for, you could be left with a heavily damaged home that is unfit for living.  

Fire damage restoration is the act of cleaning and restoring property as well as personal belongings that have sustained smoke or fire damage. The goal of fire damage restoration services is to salvage damaged items and restore your home so that it can once again be inhabited.

No one plans to experience a house fire. Fires are among the most dangerous and destructive disasters that can happen to a home. Homeowners can reduce their risk of experiencing a fire with responsible behavior.  Cooking, candles, bad electronics, and malfunctioning appliances that generate heat such as dryers and furnaces are among the most common causes of house fires. Many homeowners take precautions to avoid home fires when cooking or using these objects. However, your fire prevention effort should not stop there. Here are five other causes of fire that are less likely but still deserve your attention.

Glass and Sunlight

Did you ever burn ants with a magnifying glass as a child? If so, you know that the heat from  sunlight intensifies as it passes through the glass. This same effect can occur in your home as sunlight passes through your windows. If sunlight passing through a window or glass object hits some flammable material on the other side such as paper or fabric, there is a possibility that this could lead to a fire. The best way to prevent fires from glass is to put glass objects in shaded areas and make sure that sunlight coming through your window does not hit anything flammable.

Dishwashers

Many homeowners are already aware of the potential for their appliances to start a fire. One appliance that may be overlooked is the dishwasher. The dishwasher does not generate heat like a furnace or hot water heater, but it does use water that can cause an electrical fire if it drips onto your internal components. You can prevent fires caused by the dishwasher by keeping it well maintained.

9-Volt Batteries

When you think of common causes of house fires, batteries are probably not the first thing that comes to your mind. However, 9-volt batteries in particular pose a fire hazard because the battery can become conductive if its posts touch a metal object. If a 9-volt battery comes into contact with something metal and then touches something flammable, this could result in a fire. Simply cover the battery posts with a piece of tape before disposing of them to reduce the risk of a fire.

Laptops

Laptops are another possible cause of house fires. Laptops generate a good amount of heat when operating. This heat can cause a fire if the laptop  cooling fan is smothered by a soft surface or if the laptop is resting on something flammable such as a couch or bed for an extended period of time. You can reduce the risk of a fire by keeping your laptop on a safe, flat and cool surface.

Dust

Dust is an unwelcome presence because it makes homes dirty and contributes to allergies and other health issues. Too much dust in certain areas is also a fire hazard. The heat from electrical outlets, electronics, and appliances can cause dust to start on fire, especially if there are sparks. You can decrease the risk of a fire from dust by cleaning your home and removing dust from areas near outlets and electronics on a regular basis.

Homeowners should always make fire prevention a point of emphasis and knowing these unlikely causes of house fires can help you better protect your home. It is very rare for these factors to trigger a house fire but because the possibility is there, you must take the right actions to reduce the risk of a fire. If you do experience any amount of fire damage in your home, you must call a fire damage restoration professional immediately. The professionals at SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties have the right tools and equipment to stop the damage from spreading and restore your home.

Call us immediately to help limit the damage and salvage your home! We're always here to help - 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848.

Fire Safety With Debris

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

Spring Time feelings are upon us! While we all work together to reduce social gatherings and travel during the pandemic, lots of families are taking advantage of the “at-home free time” by doing their Spring cleaning. If you are doing any deep spring cleaning, you may now be stocked with piles of items for donations or even piles of items to be disposed of.

The donation piles perhaps can wait out in your garage or shed. But, what do you do with the trash pile? If you are considering burning anything, you better play it safe and check with local authorities for any burn bans that might be in effect.

If you're given the go ahead, be sure you keep things safe! Keep burning piles far away from structures on your property. Also, be mindful of your distance from any forestry or public roads. Make sure that you're monitoring the flames well.

We want our friends and neighbors in our local communities to be safe this Spring!

Three Quick Tips

3/29/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties has the specialized fire and water damage restoration training, personnel, and equipment to handle fire and water damage so we can quickly restore your home to pre-fire condition.

We know there are so many emotions and so many questions following a house fire that it’s hard to know what to do next - who do you call, where do you begin, and when is it safe to re-enter your home? One simple call to SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties, and we will be with you every step of the way.

Here are a few tips:

• Do not enter your home until you’re given permission that it is safe.
• Do not turn on gas, water or electric utilities until a professional has deemed them safe.
• Do not try to clean any of the smoke or soot damage yourself. Leave that to professionals at SERVPRO who have the proper safety equipment and experience. 

Assisting You After A Fire

3/28/2021 (Permalink)

Even a small electrical fire can lead to lots of cleaning needs in a home!

The cold Winter weather is blending into the warmer afternoons of Spring here in North Carolina. We’re spending more time outdoors and less time sitting around the fireplace! However, staying safe around flames and fires is not seasonal. Here are some ways that SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties can help make it “Like it never even happened,” in your home or business if you experience a fire!

Taking Note of Damage

Once everyone is safe from the structure, firefighters work to ensure that the blaze is extinguished. Once we are on the scene, we work to survey to damage’s extent. Often, this can include board-up services to windows, doors, or affected walls to help seal the home and prevent looting or vandalism.

Repairing the Structure

If there are any safety concerns, those will be addressed first before any focus can be made on cleaning soot from walls. Fire-related water damage can cause floors to buckle and walls to sag, so when the structure is stable, SERVPRO will begin to focus on removing smoke odors and soot from the home or business.

Cleaning Personal Belongings

We know that your home is made up of more than walls and roof. Your belongings are important! Technicians from SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties take salvageable personal belongings off-site to clean. These are stored and cleaning takes places over time while your home or business is being repaired.

Removing Remaining Smoke

Odors from a fire can remain if restorers aren’t careful to remove them. We make sure to do a thorough duct cleaning to make sure that lingering soot and smoke is removed from your HVAC system and doesn’t recirculate through your home. Special filters and air cleaning machines are put to work to remove smoke and soot particles from the air.

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We always hope that our friends and neighbors in our communities are safe! However, if you experience damage from a fire or smoke, give us a call at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848. Vance County, Granville County, Franklin County, we are always here to help!

What does SERVPRO do with my contents?

1/19/2021 (Permalink)

Scanned boxes returned to customer home after fire.

Did you know that SERPVRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties cleans contents after a fire?  SERVPRO has a 13,000 sq. ft. warehouse space where we assess, clean, and repack your contents. All contents are bar coded upon packing at your home and then brought back to our facility where they are scanned again into the system to begin the assessing and cleaning process. During cleaning the items are sorted and marked as cleaned, questionable, or replace.  Then a copy of the sorted boxed items will be given to the customer and insurance company for review.

Green Thumb Tip

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties offers help to homeowners to get them through any disaster, including a fire in their home.

When you experience a fire in your home, the to-do list can seem insurmountable. Don't fret! When you call SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties, we'll work right alongside you to make it "Like it never even happened." Not only are our technicians trained to handle all the needs of your home, restoring your property to before-fire (or better!) conditions, but we'll be there to offer tips and tricks to help you!

If you experience a fire in your home, it's good to remember that your house plants need love, too! Soot and ash could be choking the leaves' natural function and growth. Wipe gently with a mild detergent (since soot is greasy) and water.

We're here for you! Call us at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848

What DON'T I Do: Fire Damage

3/30/2020 (Permalink)

When fires happen, and smoke billows around, soot settles on everything in your home - decorations, walls, furniture. SERVPRO is always here to help!

If you have experienced a fire in your home or office space, there are many steps you can take to restore the building and regain normalcy.  Actually, there are a few things to avoid so that you aren't causing yourself more worry and frustration in an already stressful situation, or even prolong fire cleanup efforts. Avoid such a scenario, and ensure that you leave most of the fire restoration to the professionals.

SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties has properly certified and trained fire damage restoration experts available to come to your property who make fire cleanup a breeze. We have the proper tools and equipment to safely restore your property without the added worry and headache. 

Here are some of the 'DON'Ts':

Don't Salvage Food

Food costs a lot of money, and usually, tossing it out is the last thing you want to do. Under normal circumstances, it'd be easy to maintain your foods, but after fire damage, nothing is safe. Soot damage, smoke smell, and smoke damage can contaminate foods, and considerably change the taste. Don't preserve any food that was inside the home during the fire. It is far too risky to your well-being.

Don't Go Inside

Although fire department officials may have extinguished the flames, the building may still be unsafe. It is possible for a fire to reignite, and the smoke may linger for days, leaving an undeniably, unpleasant smoke smell in its path. The smoke smell is easily removed with a deodorizer when SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance * Granville Counties steps in for fire damage restoration. Smoke damage left behind on furniture, pictures, clothing, etc. is also a concern. Don't let smoke damage worry you! Soot damage is also of concern after a fire. This fine dusting of powder contains many toxins that cause health concerns, including an increased risk of heart problems. Soot damage is left behind on furniture, clothing, appliances, and even the floor. When you stay away, these dangers are invalid.

Don't Forget Board Up

Board up of windows and doors is important after a fire in home or fire in business. Board up minimizes dangers and keeps people from entering the building. It is dangerous to re-enter a building after commercial fire damage or a fire in home. SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties offers board-up services to help minimize these risks. Whether you've experienced a fire in business or a fire in home, using this service is highly recommended.

Don't Panic

After commercial fire damage or a fire in home, you're left with many emotions and likely wonder what the future holds after such devastation has occurred. It is easy to panic and lose focus, but this is the worst thing that you can do. As the fire damage restoration pros at SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties work on fire cleanup and getting the building back-to normal, you should be making calls to the insurance agency, choosing new paints and colors for the building, and planning other details of restoration.

Call SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties to take the worry out of Fire Restoration. 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848

Don't Ignore The Smell!

3/19/2020 (Permalink)

Even your outdoor spaces and porch areas are susceptible to heat, smoke, and soot damage!

One of the worst disasters we can ever face is a fire. With our fast paced lives today, things can happen in the blink of an eye. Always be mindful of things going on around you to avoid a tragedy like this.

It's happened to us all, we see it every day.  If this happens to you call SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties, and we'll come out and repair the damage. Not all smoke and soot are the same, and trained professionals like we have at SERVPRO know how to deal with each type that occurs.

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care. SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties is here to help - 252-433-0009 or 919-339-4848

Keeping Your Candle Burning

3/16/2020 (Permalink)

Be sure you monitor your candles while they burn, and that you trim the wicks after each use to reduce residual soot.

Some of the most popular home decor items are candles. The calming flicker of light, the soft crackle of fire, the many scents you can select from to waft through your home... but did you know candle burning can leave soot on your walls, ceilings, furniture and belongings? It happens when black smoke billows from the wick either while lighting it, burning it, or when extinguishing it.

SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties has cleaned up soot in several homes from candle soot. SERVPRO always recommends burning the candles only while someone is at home and staying in the same room while it burns. Many homeowners overlook this easy and simple step. Candles can leave a fragrant scent in your home, but you don't want residual soot.

Make sure you clip the wick after each use so you can enjoy the candles without the soot. Call SERVPRO at 252-433-0005 if you start to see dark areas on your ceiling, walls, or while you dust. The soot particle is very small and can travel throughout your home via you HVAC air ducts. Be wise and give us a call! We're always here to help!

Smoke: When It Lingers

1/2/2020 (Permalink)

Even a small kitchen fire can feel devastating!

As the fall temperatures blend into the chill of winter weather in our area, it's time for campfires! If you have ever sat around a campfire, you know how annoying smoke can be. Not only can it cause your eyes and lungs to burn, but lingering smoke odor can feel impossible to eliminate. Especially on clothing and fabrics. While no one wants to experience a house fire in Henderson or Oxford, everyone should be prepared for what is often the worst part of a residential house fire: having a smoke-damaged home. Whether your home is damaged from a candle, space heater, cooking or even an electrical fire, our fire restoration service professionals have the expertise to combat smoke using the following four steps:

1. Taking Note of Damage

The minutes, hours, and days following a home fire can be very stressful. First, firefighters must ensure that no one remains inside the house. Then, they often must use extraordinary measures to extinguish blazes. When restorers arrive to survey the extent of fire damage, they often must board up windows and seal doors to prevent looting, vandalism, and other criminal acts.

2. Repairing the Structure

Before restorers can focus on cleaning soot from walls, they usually must repair the structure. Since fire-related water damage can cause floors to buckle and walls to sag, initial repairs are often costly and time consuming. When the structure is safe to enter, the fire restoration service can focus on removing smoke odors from your smoke-damaged home.

3. Cleaning Personal Belongings

Your home is more than just a roof and walls. Rather, it is important to you because of the things inside it. Since fire restorers take salvageable personal belongings off-site to clean, they often can work on restoring your keepsakes while your house is being repaired. This can include furniture, fabrics, electronics, and even family photos!

4. Removing Remaining Smoke

Smoke odors can linger forever if restorers aren’t careful to completely remove them. Using deep-cleaning methods, the restoration service clears soot from HVAC systems. Then, they use special filters to remove smoke and soot particles from the air. Smoke is often the worst part of a residential house fire. Generally, though, by working with a fire restoration service in Henderson, NC, you can restore your smoke-damaged home to normal.

SERVPRO handles all kinds of fire damage

2/23/2019 (Permalink)

Sifting through charred debris to find items that can't be replaced

SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties handles fire damages both big and small. When the call comes in, we quickly dispatch our trained project managers to the site to meet with the homeowners.  We listen to  the homeowners, many who are so overwhelmed with emotions. If the fire is bad enough, we will actually sift through the debris to find anything that can be salvaged. The items that the homeowners request in this situation are photo albums, collectibles - from stamp collections, coin collections to antique spoon collections. All the sentimental items. The  homeowners are astonished that we will take the time and  be thorough in looking for as many  items that we can. SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties  takes a terrible fire damage situation and tries to ease the mind of the homeowner that all is not lost and there is hope.  If you want a caring restoration company at your disaster- call SERVPRO at 252-433-0005.

FIRE Clean up Damage

2/23/2019 (Permalink)

Sifting thorough fire debris to find sentimental customer items!

According to the National Fire Protection Association, one out of 320 homeowners may experience a fire in their home. Commercial fire damage is also very common in the United States, averaging around 80,000 yearly due to kitchen fires, electrical problems, or even arson.

Experiencing fire damage can be devastating for homeowners or business owners. Whether you have experienced commercial fire damage or a fire in your home, not knowing what to do next can add to your frustration.

After a fire, it is essential to start fire damage restoration immediately to avoid the skyrocketing costs associated with delayed repair. Below are some tips to help you with the process fire cleanup, typical services of a restoration company and problems to expect after fire damage.

If you have a fire in your home or if you have commercial fire damage, some common issues that you likely face will be:

Soot damage: It is best to hire a restoration company to do fire cleanup for ash residue. Soot is highly acid. Therefore, expect discoloration and deterioration of anything within the vicinity of the fire.

Smoke damage and smoke smells: Unfortunately, getting rid of smoke damage can be a pain, especially after commercial fire damage. If not fixed immediately with appropriate fire damage restoration techniques, smoke smells can potentially reappear later, which can potentially turn off customers. Also, smoke damage will leave a film over any materials in the area. Also, furniture may rust or the paint may stain your carpet after a prolonged period of time.

Broken windows and collapsed walls: After a fire, it's possible that you will need to board up your walls or windows. If you delay in boarding up after a fire in your business or home, however, you run a risk of potential theft or vandalization inside your property.

SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties can help in all your fire damage needs call us at 252-433-0005

Fire Damage to both commercial and residential properties

1/16/2019 (Permalink)

We here at SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people in our community during some of their worst times in their lives. A fire can take such a long time to recover from. We are with them from the beginning until the end and work closely with our customers to make sure that we are successful in restoring their property and make them happy with the results. Our technicians spend many hours in training in order to clean and reconstruct your home or business and once everything was done, the end results were incredible. If you need help with Fire Restoration, damage, smoke, odor or contents, give SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties a call at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848 any time day or night.

Fire at Apartment building

10/20/2018 (Permalink)

This fire was caused by a tenant smoking in the bed, It affected 6 apartments. in this apartment light amounts of soot was throughout the apartment

Fires happen ever second of the day and can cause a lot of life interruptions and stress. Let SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties help alleviate some of your stress by being faster to any size of disaster and mitigate the fire damage and begin the clean up. Our courteous technicians will arrive quickly to your site and assess the damage and put to together a plan to minimize the disruption for your tenants. We will work with you on submitting the claim to the insurance company and assist your tenants with their contents. We strive to provide quality work and excellent customer service for one and all.  We value for customers both residential and commercial because want you to get back to the more important things in your life.  Call SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848.  We service Youngsville, Creedmoor, Franklinton, Henderson and Oxford. Call us today

National Fire Prevention Week

9/19/2018 (Permalink)

Kitchen Fire in Oxford, NC

National Fire Prevention Week

October 8th - 14th is National Fire Prevention Week.

In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between residents of our community escaping safely from a fire or having their lives end in tragedy.

That’s why this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme: “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” is so important. It reinforces why everyone needs to have an escape plan. Here’s this year’s key campaign messages:

• Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
• Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
• Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
• Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
• Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.

 Source: National Fire Protection Association,  http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week

DON'T IGNORE THE SMELL

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

Kitchen Fire. The entire apartment affected. Don't ignore the smell of a fire or what is going on in your kitchen!

One of the worst disasters we can ever face is a fire. With our fast paced lives today, things can happen in the blink of an eye. Always be mindful of things going on around you to avoid a tragedy like this.

It's happened to us all, we see it every day.  If this happens to you call SERVPRO and we'll come out and repair the damage.  Not all smoke and soot are the same, and trained professionals like we have at SERVPRO know how to deal with each type that occurs.

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

FIRE DAMAGE RESTORATION

10/26/2017 (Permalink)

According to the National Fire Protection Association, one out of 320 homeowners may experience a fire in their home. Commercial fire damage is also very common in the United States, averaging around 80,000 yearly due to kitchen fires, electrical problems, or even arson.

Experiencing fire damage can be devastating for homeowners or business owners. Whether you have experienced commercial fire damage or a fire in your home, not knowing what to do next can add to your frustration.

After a fire, it is essential to start fire damage restoration immediately to avoid the skyrocketing costs associated with delayed repair. Below are some tips to help you with the process fire cleanup, typical services of a restoration company and problems to expect after fire damage.

If you have a fire in your home or if you have commercial fire damage, some common issues that you likely face will be:

Soot damage: It is best to hire a restoration company to do fire cleanup for ash residue. Soot is highly acid. Therefore, expect discoloration and deterioration of anything within the vicinity of the fire.

Smoke damage and smoke smells: Unfortunately, getting rid of smoke damage can be a pain, especially after commercial fire damage. If not fixed immediately with appropriate fire damage restoration techniques, smoke smells can potentially reappear later, which can potentially turn off customers. Also, smoke damage will leave a film over any materials in the area. Also, furniture may rust or the paint may stain your carpet after a prolonged period of time.

Broken windows and collapsed walls: After a fire, it's possible that you will need to board up your walls or windows. If you delay in boarding up after a fire in your business or home, however, you run a risk of potential theft or vandalization inside your property.

SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance & Granville Counties can help in all your fire damage needs so call us at 252-433-0005.

FIRE DAMAGE RESTORATION

10/19/2017 (Permalink)

Bedroom of a home that had to be completely gutted after an electrical fire started.

What is Fire Damage Restoration?  It is a multi-step process that minimizes the extenT of a fire loss and ultimately saves the Homeowner money through restoration vs. replacement.  This is a brief overview of our Emergency Fire Damage Process:

1. One Hour: Within one hour of notice of loss, through the Homeowner or an Insurance Agent, a SERVPRO® Franchise Professional will contact you to arrange for service.
2. Four Hours: Within four hours of loss notification, a SERVPRO® Franchise Professional will be on-site to start mitigation services.  The key to reducing damage and saving money is responding quickly to your damage.

*A fire damage consists of several kinds of damages.  Materials suffer burning, charring, heat damage, smoke damage, and even water damage.

3. Detailed Explanation: A trained, uniformed and equipped SERVPRO® Franchise Professional will walk you through the job process step-by-step, explaining what to expect and the anticipated outcome.

*Not all fires result in the same level of damage (Minor, Medium, and Major).

• Minor - Smoke residues affect only certain rooms or areas. The amount of smoke residues is light to moderate.  Restoration may involve dry cleaning and/or wet cleaning of ceilings, walls, floors and contents.  Few areas need to be repainted and only minor items require replacement.
• Medium - Smoke residue is moderate, and more materials require wet cleaning to remove residues. The number of areas requiring repainting and items requiring replacement increase.  Floors may need to be refinished.  Heat damage to drywall, cabinets, and contents requires more materials to be replaced.  Contents might be cleaned at the jobsite.  Smoke odors are noticeable, possibly requiring additional deodorization procedures after cleaning.
• Major - Structural framing and finishes may be charred, requiring structural repairs. Smoke residues are distributed through a large portion of the building, and strong smoke odors.  Emergency services are needed, such as Board-up, establishing a source of electricity, winterizing the building in cold weather and removing smoke-filled and charred debris.  Restoration will involve extensive cleaning of the structure and probably require restorers to pack and move out all salvageable contents for off-site cleaning.  Multiple methods of deodorization are needed to remove smoke odors.

4. Pretesting: A SERVPRO® Franchise Professional will begin pretesting for restorability, working from the source of the damage outward.
5. Eight Hours: Within eight business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the appropriate person, normally your adjuster or property manager.
6. Cleaning, Restoration & Deodorization: SERVPRO® Franchise Professionals will work neatly and efficiently to help you regain control of your property when a damage event has taken over. Depending on how severe the fire damage is will determine how long & how much work is required. However, we will use state-of-the-art restoration techniques to ensure your property is taken care of right the first time.
7. Final Walk-Through: After the work has been completed, a final walk-through will be conducted with you to help ensure your satisfaction.

As you have read, sometimes a damage requires more than just cleaning soot or removing debris.  Some damages require replacement of drywall, paint, flooring or even electrical and plumbing services.  Here at SERVPRO® of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties, we can provide many general contractor services to help return your home or business to preloss condition.

In some cases, Mitigation, Restoration or Replacement may not be the best option.  If a home or buildings structural integrity is compromised beyond repair it may be considered a TOTAL LOSS & often becomes a much bigger project than one can handle.  Most often than not, these homes become condemned.  At this point it is important to secure openings to prevent children, wild animals or squatters from trespassing on the property.  Also it is important to relocate salvageable contents for cleaning and storage.  This is why SERVPRO® of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties also provides Board-up Services and Move-Outs.

Contact us today for more information on our wide variety of services or stop by our Office.  We would love to discuss our FREE Emergency Ready Profile and how it would benefit you during a disaster.

The 'Don'ts' of Fire Damage Restoration

10/19/2017 (Permalink)

If you've experienced a fire in home or fire in business, there's many steps you can take to restore the building and regain normalcy after such a catastrophic event. There's also a few steps that you can take that cause more worry and frustration to an already stressful situation, and even prolong fire cleanup efforts. Avoid such a scenario, and ensure that you leave most of the fire restoration to the professionals.

A restoration company has properly certified and trained fire damage restoration experts at your building who make fire cleanup a breeze, whether it is a fire in business or at your home. They have the proper tools and equipment to safely restore your property without the added worry and headache.

Don't Salvage Food

Food costs a lot of money, and tossing it out is the last thing you want to do. Under normal circumstances, it'd be easy to maintain your foods, but after fire damage, nothing is safe. Soot damage, smoke smell, and smoke damage can contaminate foods, and usually considerably change the taste. Don't preserve any food that was inside the home during the fire. It is far too risky to your well-being.

Don't Go Inside

Although fire department officials may have extinguished the flames, the building may still be unsafe. It is possible for a fire to reignite, and the smoke may linger for days, leaving an undeniably, unpleasant smoke smell in its path. The smoke smell is easily removed with a deodorizer when the restoration company comes in for fire damage restoration. Smoke damage left behind on furniture, pictures, clothing, etc. is also a concern. Don't let smoke damage worry you! Soot damage is also of concern after a fire. This fine dusting of powder contains many toxins that cause health concerns, including an increased risk of heart problems. Soot damage is left behind on furniture, clothing, appliances, and even the floor. When you stay away, these dangers are invalid.

Don't Forget Board Up

Board up of windows and doors is important after a fire in home or fire in business. Board up minimizes dangers and keeps people from entering the building. It is dangerous to re-enter a building after commercial fire damage or a fire in home. Board up is offered from the restoration company and minimizes these risks. Whether you've experienced a fire in business or a fire in home, using this service is highly recommended.

Don't Panic

After commercial fire damage or a fire in home, you're left with many emotions and likely wonder what the future holds after such devastation has occurred. It is easy to panic and lose focus, but this is the worst thing that you can do. As the fire damage restoration pros work on fire cleanup and getting the building back-to normal, you should be making calls to the insurance agency, choosing new paints and colors for the building, and planning other details of restoration.

Call SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties to take the worry out of Fire Restoration. 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848

THE JOURNEY OF A FIRE

10/5/2017 (Permalink)

Kitchen fire that affected entire house.

We here at SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people in our community during some of their worst times in their lives. A fire can take such a long time to recover from. We are with them from the beginning until the end and work closely with our customers to make sure that we are successful in restoring their property and make them happy with the results. We spend many hours cleaning and reconstructing this residence and once everything was done, the end results were incredible. If you need help with Fire Restoration, give SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties a call at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848 any time day or night.

Life Saving Holiday Tips

10/4/2017 (Permalink)

House Fire in Henderson, NC caused by unattended appliance.

With the Holiday Season quickly approaching, SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties would like to provide you with some tips this holiday season:

First, Supervise all items on the stove top as 58% of kitchen fires involve ranges with electric ranges having a higher risk than homes with gas cook tops. Fires can spread quickly. make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen!

Never leave a candle unattended... 32 candle fires are reported daily in the month of December!  That is 992 preventable fires!

Be Safe and Supervise! These people weren't so fortunate and this is what can happened. This was a candle left unattended in the bathroom.

SERVPRO of Franklin,Vance and Granville Counties - are here to help! Call us at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848

Supervise and be Safe

8/18/2017 (Permalink)

House Fire in Vance County, NC

With the summer months quickly drawing to a close, we will be spending a lot more time indoors, which means more cooking and more fire safety knowledge to share. SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties would like to provide you with some tips to remember:

First, Supervise all items on the stove top as 58% of kitchen fires involve ranges with electric ranges having a higher risk than homes with gas cook tops. Fires can spread quickly. make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen!

Never leave a candle unattended... 32 candle fires are reported daily in the month of December!  That is 992 preventable fires!

Be Safe and Supervise! These people weren't so fortunate and this is what can happened. 

SERVPRO of Franklin,Vance and Granville Counties - are here to help! Call us at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848

Fire in Youngsville, NC

10/28/2016 (Permalink)

kerosene heaters need to be supervised is used indoors! One homeowner learned the hard way.

WITH COLD WEATHER APPROACHING, A FIRE DAMAGE IS NOT WANTED. FIRE DAMAGE IN YOUNGSVILLE WAS CAUSE BY USING A KEROSENE HEATER INSIDE. THE HEATER CAUSED EXTENSIVE SMOKE AND SOOT DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. KEROSENE HEATERS SHOULD BE SUPERVISED TO ENSURE THAT IT IS FUCNTIONING PROPERLY. 

SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties successfully and quickly cleaned the smoke damage. The homeowners were delighted to return to their normal routine so quickly! This damage could have easily occurred in any one of our communities of Henderson, Oxford, Louisburg, Littleton, Franklinton, or Creedmoor/ Butner areas.

Please don't let this happen to you, but in the event you have a similar situation know that SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties can restore your property "Like it never even happened!" Call us today at 252-433-0005.

HOLIDAY TIPS

11/22/2013 (Permalink)

Fire damage in Youngsville, NC. Result of an Unattended candle- don't let this happen to you!

With the Holiday Season quickly approaching SERVPRO of Franklin, Vance and Granville Counties would like to provide you with some tips this holiday season:

First, Supervise all items on the stove top as 58% of kitchen fires involve ranges with electric ranges having a higher risk than homes with gas cook tops. Fires can spread quickly. make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen!

Never leave a candle unattended... 32 candle fires are reported daily in the month of December!  That is 992 preventable fires!

Be Safe and Supervise! These people weren't so fortunate and this is what can happened. This was a candle left unattended in the bathroom.

SERVPRO of Franklin,Vance and Granville Counties - are here to help! Call us at 252-433-0005 or 919-339-4848