Thanksgiving Fire Damage Restoration with SERVPRO of Indianapolis East

11/8/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is ready when the unfortunate happens!

With the holiday season upon us, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is committed to providing comprehensive fire damage restoration services for both residential and commercial clients. As a turn-key company, we handle every aspect of the restoration process from start to finish, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience.

Thanksgiving and the festive season bring joy, but it's crucial to stay proactive in preventing fire damage. Here are some essential safety tips to safeguard your home or business:

Mind the Kitchen: Keep a close eye on the stove and oven, and never leave cooking unattended. Ensure that flammable items are kept away from heat sources.

Check Electrical Decorations: Inspect holiday lights and decorations for any signs of wear or damage. Avoid overloading electrical outlets and use surge protectors.

Candle Caution: If using candles for ambiance, place them in sturdy holders on a stable surface, away from flammable materials. Never leave candles burning unattended.

Heating Safety: Maintain a safe distance between space heaters and flammable materials. Ensure proper ventilation and turn off heaters when leaving the room.

Smoke Alarms: Test smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed. Make sure alarms are strategically placed throughout your home or business.

In the unfortunate event of fire damage, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is available 24/7 to respond promptly to your call. Our experienced team is equipped to handle the restoration process efficiently, providing peace of mind during the holiday season.

Call us for immediate assistance with any water damage or fire damage at (317) 222-5068. Wishing you a safe and joyful Thanksgiving!

Fire Damage: Ice Blasting Services

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Damage In Your Indianapolis East Home

Fire and smoke damage can be devastating to commercial structures and homes. In times of disaster, SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is Here to Help! We have an advanced cleaning method that could be the solution for you and called ice blasting.

Ice Blasting

Ice blasting is the process of using dry ice to clean and restore your home or business. Dry ice blasting uses compressed air at supersonic speed. Ice blasting is the perfect solution for mitigating fire damage to the ceiling and rafters of your property. SERVPRO® of Indianapolis East will efficiently use this method in cases, including fire, smoke restoration, mold mitigation & remediation, and odor elimination. Ice blasting provides several benefits to you as a homeowner, including:

• Thorough method: when removing soot and odor, ice blasting will get the affected areas prepped and ready for the next step of encapsulating.
• Cleaning standards: ice basting is a higher standard of cleaning without toxins or residues left behind.
• A quicker restoration process: instead of having 2 to 3 people wet wiping the affected area or dry sponging, ice blasting can expedite the cleaning process.

Fire Damage Restoration

SERVPRO® is the #1 industry leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services. For more information about our fire and water damage restoration services, please visit our website at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. Give us a call today for fire and water damage restoration at 317-222-5068.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East's innovative cleaning methods is another reason to choose our restoration and cleanup services

Fire Damage in Your Indianapolis Home or Business

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis can fully restore your home or business.

Even a small fire can be devastating for an Indianapolis home or business. For example, a little grease fire in the kitchen can produce smoke and soot that spreads throughout the house, sticking to everything in its path. The fire damage can be overwhelming, but as long as everyone got out safely, your home or business and all your possessions can usually be replaced or cleaned. 

 What do once the smoke and fire is over?

• Always check to ensure it's safe to enter the home or business. There could be standing water from the fire department or broken glass on the floors. 
• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets. You can make the cleaning process more difficult by walking on the carpets and sitting on the furniture. 
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open. Foods will spoil quickly and can ruin the appliance. 

We specialize in fire and smoke restoration and can quickly access the damage and stop any further damage from happening. For instance, ash and smoke not only leave a strong odor behind but can also cause corrosion and etching that needs to be stopped before it becomes an even bigger problem. 

Things you should NOT do after a fire. 

• First and foremost, ensure you have permission from the fire department to enter your home after the fire is extinguished. Some fires can damage the structure and make it unsafe to enter.
• If you have any electronics exposed to fire or smoke, do not try turning them on. Not only could you be electrocuted or cause a new fire, but the smoke and ash could also cause further damage to the internals. We can examine your electronics and determine whether they can be professionally cleaned and restored. 
• Do not take or use clothes that have smoke odors from the fire. The smells can be transferred to your car's upholstery or the home or place you take them. 
• Don't try cleaning any walls, surfaces, fabrics, carpets, or furniture, as you could cause further damage. To remove smoke and ash requires specialized cleaning solutions, tools, and processes. It's best to leave everything untouched and wait for us to arrive to assess what can be cleaned and what needs to be replaced.

Who to Call After a Disaster

If you have questions about particular possessions or cleaning processes, we will be happy to answer them. We know a fire can be devastating, and our highly trained restoration specialists will work hard to get your home or business and your life back to normal as quickly as possible. So, call SSRVPRO of Indianapolis East at 317-222-5068, and we will make it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East Emergency Fire and Water Damage

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East Fire Damage

Dealing with emergency fire damage restoration can be extremely stressful especially when soot has made its way through your house and completely covered all of your belongings.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East is trained and licensed to give you an optimal experience as we care for your residential or commercial property as your SERVPRO of Indianapolis, independently owned and operated location. It should be known that soot restoration is one of the most difficult aspects of a house fire as it can be very damaging.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), three of every five home fire deaths could have been prevented.

Most fatal fires happen when families are asleep giving them less than adequate time to escape. A smoke alarm stands guard around the clock, and when it first senses smoke, it sounds a shrill alarm. Smoke alarms are crucial elements in the early detection of fires.

National Fire Safety is important all year round and while the main focus is preventing residential fires, our team here at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East  would like to remind everyone this is a great time to revisit workplace fire prevention & safety.

 Below are 12 tips to ensure a fire-safe workplace:

Step 1. Get Organized– Practice good workplace housekeeping. Clutter contributes to fires by providing fuel and by preventing access to exits and emergency equipment.

Step 2. Designated Smoking Areas – Smoke only in designated areas and extinguish smoking materials safely. Never smoke in storerooms or chemical storage areas.

Step 3. Fire Extinguishers – Maintaining the appropriate type and number of fire extinguishers and learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher.

Step 4. Electrical Hazards – Report all electrical hazards. Many fires start in faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical equipment.

Step 5. Access to Control Panels – Electrical control panels need to have free access maintained so that the electric could be shut off easily.

Step 6. Maintenance – Maintain machinery to prevent overheating and friction sparks.

Step 7. Sprinkler Systems & Smoke Detectors – Never block sprinklers, firefighting equipment or emergency exits. Observe clearances when stacking materials. Testing of sprinkler systems and smoke detectors at least annually.

Step 8. Chemical Safety – Use and store chemicals safely. Read the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet to determine flammability and other fire hazards. Provide adequate ventilation when using and storing these substances.

Step 9. Waste Control & Storage – Control the accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues so that they do not contribute to a fire emergency.

Step 10. Prevent Ignition – Use all precautions to prevent ignition in potentially explosive atmospheres such as those containing flammable liquid vapors or fine particles. Use non-sparking tools, and control static electricity as required.

Step 11. Exits – Emergency exit diagrams should be posted and emergency exits should be well lit with neon-regulation signs.

Step 12. Contact Info – Employees should have a list of emergency contact phone numbers in case of emergency. Remember that people will often panic in an intense situation; therefore basics such as the company address, phone number and floor plan should be posted.

Planning to ensure fire protection and safety is key to avoiding unwanted fire issues.

Residential and Commercial Fire Clean Up

Soot can be one of the hardest parts of fire restoration clean up and is developed through three different methods:

• Wet soot residue—results from smoldering, low-heat fires. This residue is sticky, smeary, and has a very pungent odor.
• Dry soot residue—results from fast-burning fires with high temperatures. This residue is typically dry, powdery, and non-smeary.
• Protein residue—almost invisible but can discolor paints and varnishes in your home. This residue also has an extremely pungent odor.

Each type of soot is different and requires specific expertise to clean for such needs or concerns.

Our fire repair process is outlined online for your review.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, your SERVPRO of Indianapolis, faster to any size disaster, for all your fire and restoration needs.

Common Fires And How To Stay Safe

6/29/2020 (Permalink)

Be prepared to help you and your family stay safe.

Every day homes and businesses in and around the Indianapolis area experience an accidental fires. It may not seem like it, but structure fires happen often. These are often smaller fires that are extinguished quickly by either the owner or the fire department. We don't usually hear about the smaller fires; it's the more massive fires that make the news where significant damage has happened, or worse when someone might have been injured.

These fires disrupt the lives of homeowners, tenants, and businesses and can cause thousands of dollars to repair. Even the smaller fires can cause severe smoke and soot damage throughout the building. The flames are often extinguished quickly, but the smoke moves everywhere, getting into every nook and cranny. While there will be flame damage right near the source, most of the damage will be from the smoke of the fire.

The smoke will cause some discoloration on the ceiling and walls nearby. Smoke will often gather in the corners of the room, causing discoloration and smoke webs or soot tags. These webs or tags are often in corners and look like a spider web that caught the smoke and soot. So while it seems like a lot of soot got stuck on a pre-existing spider web, it is actually a whole new structure that happened because of the fire.

A fire in your home can be devastating financially and emotionally for your family. Many times the occupants are displaced, and their entire lives disrupted. Although there is no way to prevent every fire, there are steps that you can take to minimize your family's risk of being victims.

Install Smoke Alarms

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside sleeping areas, and outside every bedroom. Check once a month to be sure these alarms are functioning and replace batteries as needed. To reduce false smoke alarms, you will want to make sure the smoke alarm in the kitchen area is 10 feet away from the stove and cooking appliances.

Develop A Fire Escape Plan

Decide on a fire escape plan with your family members and practice this plan often. This plan should outline a safe way to get out of every room and every level of the structure. Establish a safe place to meet outside of your home in case of fire or smoke. This might be across the street at a neighbors house or at least a safe distance away from the house.

Install A Fire Extinguisher

Having a fire extinguisher in your kitchen is essential. This will can help you in case a fire starts while cooking. The best place for the fire extinguisher is away from the higher risk fire areas like the oven and stovetop. A good storage area would be under the kitchen sink, or in the food pantry.

Close Bedroom Doors

It is recommended to close the bedrooms doors while sleeping. If a fire should start outside your bedroom, you want to lower the risk of smoke inhalation by keeping your door closed while sleeping. By closing your bedroom door, the smoke alarm located nearest to the fire should wake you up before smoke has had a chance to infiltrate your bedroom.

Why Call SERVPRO

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.
We carefully inspect and pre-test every area of your property and your belongings to determine the extent of the fire and smoke damage. This step is crucial to developing a plan of action best suited to restore your property.

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East has 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. Call us 24/7/365 even on holidays, were always open, and ready to respond to your call. You can click here to contact us or call 317-222-5068.

After The Fire Is Out

6/24/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East and we will make it "Like it never even happened."

Once the fire trucks leave, the first step to clean up and restoration is the board-up process . This is part of the emergency services provided by SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. Firefighters will often break windows cut holes in the roof to help air out the property from all the smoke and heat. The board-up is essential to secure your property from theft and liability.

How The Smoke Travels

Even small-scale fires in a home can result in large amounts of fire and smoke damage. If your HVAC (your heater or A/C) system is on, then the smoke will most likely enter through the return vents and be spread throughout the duct system. This will not only carry the smoke and the smoke damage throughout the house but also cause smoke damage to your ducts.

Your ducts might have dust throughout the system, which can absorb the smoke, meaning every time your air conditioner or heater turns on, you'll smell the residual smoke for weeks and months after the fire.

You won't need to worry about that if you call service professionals at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. We will clean the furnace and HVAC system thoroughly to remove the smoke from your ducts.

Get The Water Out As Soon As Possible

SERVPRO of Indianapolis East responded to a fire damage call that received water damage that nearly equaled the amount of damage from the fire. Sometimes fires are put out by extinguishers, and water is not a factor in the cleanup process. When there is water damage in tandem with fire loss, the water's extraction must happen as quickly as possible.

The water removal process begins almost immediately. It is essential to remove the majority of the water as soon as possible to avoid mold growth. Our technicians use state of the art moisture detection equipment and years of experience to find the water trapped behind the walls and under floors. We then use dehumidifiers and air movers to remove the remaining water and complete the drying process.

Saving Your Belongings

Once our SERVPRO professionals arrive at your Indianapolis home or business, always in properly marked SERVPRO vehicles and uniforms, we can get to work on mitigation techniques designed to preserve your property and its contents. Processes like pack-outs remove the at-risk furniture and contents from your property to our secured warehouse.

Pack-outs provide a safe place for their storage and specialized attention until it is time to return them to your fully restored home. Separating the two gives us a better opportunity to clean and restore the structure. During their time with our Contents Department, individual items get cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized to be ready for their return to the property.

Our crews hand wrap and protect every large item, such as furniture, tables, chairs, and artwork. Smaller items are sorted and put into boxes. For inventory purposes, we photograph and label each item packed out and removed, and organize these pictures and labels in our proprietary software to keep track of your items during the entire process accurately.

Call The Service Professionals

If you experience a fire in your Indianapolis-area home or business, call the fire damage restoration specialist at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. We will respond immediately to your call, day or night 24/7/365.

We have the knowledge and equipment to remove all the fire and smoke damage and restore your property to how it was before the fire. We are a trusted leader in the restoration industry that business owners and homeowners have turned to for over 50 years to restore and repair their property.

Cleaning smoke damaged homes and businesses requires specialized training, materials, and equipment. Insurance companies trust SERVPRO of Indianapolis East to get the job done right. If your home experiences a fire or water damage, call the professional restoration at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, and we will make it "Like it never even happened."