Unusual Reasons Upper West Side Homes Experienced Fire Damage

4/12/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says Diligence and Safe Practices Can Help Prevent House Fires in the Upper West Side

Fire Damage Happens! Be Prepared and Call SERVPRO for Swift Cleanup and Restoration

While an average of 1.3 million fires occurs each year in the United States, the majority of them have their ground zero in the kitchen. There are some not-so-common reasons fires started, many of which were preventable such as improper storage of flammable chemicals or loose electrical outlets in your Upper West Side Unit.

Before a fire damage event occurs in an Upper West Side home, it is a good idea to establish a disaster-ready plan. If a fire happened, who would you call? What items are most important to save? It is a good practice to inspect your property monthly for things that could be fire hazards and correct them. Test your smoke detectors to make sure they are in working order. And then, learn from the following out-of-the-ordinary reasons a fire loss happened.

Glass Bottles and Jars Have Started Fires
When sunlight shines through a glass jar or bottle, the light has the potential for refraction. This action results in heat, and it can be intense enough to start a fire. One homeowner had a fire start from a jar in the window that directed a beam of sunlight onto the kitchen curtains, which ignited.

Animals and Fire Loss
From damaged electrical wiring from mice to a cat knocking an unattended candle onto the floor, both can result in fires. A home security system with video monitoring can help, and if signs of a rodent infestation get noticed-handle it as fast as possible to lessen the possibility of a loss.

Malfunctioning Appliances
Most people know that dryers and ovens cause fires in the home on occasion. Another culprit is the humble dishwasher. Filling an electrical appliance with water, what could go wrong? Due to the presence of the heating element, if water leaks around it, the outcome can be a fire. If you detect any signs of leakage around your dishwasher, do not use it until it gets repaired.

What to Do When a Fire Loss Does Occur
One of the best things to do is bring in professional help for the cleanup and restoration. SERVPRO technicians have the equipment and advanced methods to bring your home back to its preloss condition.

What About Other Fire Hazards?
After the restoration efforts complete, SERVPRO techs are happy to assist homeowners in an inspection of their home and show them elements to look for to lower the risk of another fire or a water leak.

SERVPRO of Upper West Side, when called at (917) 498-1362, restores properties affected by fire damage. The technicians bring their knowledge, skills, and equipment to make the fire loss to your property, "Like it never even happened."