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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Fire Damage Blog Posts

Be Aware of Your Fire Pits!

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

Though we’re still feeling the summer heat and fall seems to be far away, we’ll start to experience colder temperatures as we approach October. Fall is prime time for s’mores, apple cider, time spent outdoors, and of course, fire pits. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire pits and campfires can facilitate accidents that may lead to injury if safety guidelines are not followed. Keep reading to learn ways in which you can safely use a fire pit and prevent fire damage to your property this fall.

Fire Safety at the Fire Pit

Two different types of fire pits can be purchased for properties: in-ground and above-ground. Both types must be kept at a safe distance away from your home, in addition to any combustible objects on your property, like sheds, trees, bushes, and other types of brush. Your fire pit should also be built from a non-combustible material, heavy metal, brick, or stone, in order to reduce fire risks. To prevent a fire emergency, a responsible adult should supervise the fire pit at all times whenever a fire is actively burning in the fire pit. 

Make Safety a Priority

Be informed about your fire pit’s fuel safety protocols in order to protect your property. If you have a wood-burning fire pit, be sure that you use dry, clean wood. If your fire pit is not wood-burning, it is crucial that you follow the safety guidelines of your fuel type. These safety precautions may seem obvious, but a small oversight can have a significant impact on the safety of your property. Taking fire safety precautions such as those listed in this blog can decrease the risk of fire damage to your property, but accidents happen. For this reason, it is beneficial to always have a fire extinguishing device at the ready when using your fire pit. A fire extinguisher is a helpful tool, but a garden hose or bucket of water sitting nearby are also sufficient tools that can quickly douse a fire in an emergency.

Have a Fire? Call SERVPRO 

Emphasizing fire safety is of the utmost importance, but if disaster strikes unexpectedly, SERVPRO Team Wall has your back. Available to you 24/7 with our 24-Hour Emergency Services, our professional team of experienced fire damage restoration technicians will work diligently to restore your property to its preloss condition. We'll help make it “Like it never even happened” after fire emergencies large and small. To learn more about our fire restoration services, pick up the phone and call us today at 952-403-1050!

SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake: Count on Us for Fire Damage Restoration

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

As a water and fire restoration company, our number one priority at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake is returning water and fire damaged areas back to preloss condition. Every single day we strive to make it "Like it never even happened."

How do we handle Fire Damage Restoration?

Structural Cleaning: After smoke damage or fire damage occurs, ceilings, woodwork, walls, carpets, and flooring will often need to be thoroughly cleaned. Our professionals at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake will begin to clean from the source of the damage and move outwards. They will scrub every last inch until it is cleaned! By determining the extent of the damage first, our team can determine the most cost efficient and time efficient method for your individual circumstance. Our team are highly-trained individuals who will clean any damage and prepare it for painting. By ensure that locations such as walls are deodorized and properly cleaned, the new layer of paint will adhere properly to the surface and you will never be able to tell that there was smoke damage or fire damage!

Contents Cleaning: Another one of our top concerns here at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake is to repair versus replace. Our technicians will sift through the damaged contents and determine if it is salvageable or not. If the contents are repairable, not only will the affected areas be cleaned but items such as rugs, furniture, draperies, and upholstery will be cleaned and deodorized, too! We are vigilant when it comes down to wiping all content materials of soot as we know that soot residue can be hard to see or extremely overwhelming. We will use our documentation process to inventory all "to be claimed" items if requested so that handling insurance is less of a nightmare.

Deodorization: You can count on SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake to use the best quality specialized services that will rid your home or place of business of offensive odors that are often left by smoke damage or fire damage. Every technician is trained to use top of the line deodorization equipment and environmentally friendly chemicals to remove the source of odor. 

We're a one stop shop!

If significant fire damage has erupted in your home, you can call us for the remediation and for all of your reconstruction needs! Our Construction Division has exploded this year and we have built out a team of intelligent, capable individuals to handle all of your needs.

When disaster strikes, don't hesitate to give the professionals a call! SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake is available 24/7 at 952-403-1050!

Proper Ingredients for Fire Safety

5/2/2022 (Permalink)

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen-more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries. Most of these fires start because people aren't paying attention. While a few minutes may not seem like much time to be away from what's cooking, that is all it takes to start a fire. 

Leaving cooking unattended and other unsafe kitchen practices are a recipe for disaster. Review the cooking safety tips provided below to learn how to help prevent kitchen fires before they start.

- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. 

- When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you. 

- Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles such as towels, drapes, and pot holders. 

- Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid free zone" of three feet around the stove. 

- If an oven fire starts, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If the fire does not go out, get out of the home and call the fire department. 

- If you have a fire in your microwave, turn it off and keep the door closed. Don't open the door until the fire is completely out. If in doubt, get out of the home and call the fire department. 

- Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan (wearing the oven mitt). Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, do not remove the lid until it is completely cool. NEVER pour water on a grease fire. 

There is no substitute for training and experience. Here at SERVPRO of Shakopee Savage Prior Lake, we are built on a foundation of fire damage restoration expertise. If your property suffers from fire damage, smoke damage, or anything in between, give us a call at 952-403-1050! We're here to service Shakopee, Prior Lake, Chanhassen, New Prague, Jordan, Elko New Market, Savage, Chaska, Victoria, Belle Plaine, Carver, Cologne, and the whole greater Twin Cities.

Fire Safety Tips for Warmer Months

3/15/2022 (Permalink)

Warm weather is on the horizon! It's time to switch from sweaters to shorts, deep fryers to grills, and indoor parties to backyard barbecues. Just because we're less inclined to switch on the heat does not mean that we shouldn't be vigilant when it comes to protecting ourselves and our property from fire hazards. See below for high-risk areas for fire damage and how to maintain them.

Spring Fire Safety Tips

Fire cannot be avoided when you're preparing a perfectly cooked steak or patty on the grill. From the get-go, you've got inherent risks. Before starting a grill, be sure to check all potential problematic points including the propane tank, the hose, and all connecting points. You can do this while your meat is marinating or while you're trimming your chicken!

We understand that every house has a pyro-happy Boy/Girl Scout around. When starting a charcoal grill, charcoal should only be soaked with charcoal starter fluid. Avoid using lighter fluid as that can create a burst of heat and flames can get out of control quickly!

Every Dad loves a shiny, clean grill. Nearly 20% of all grill structure fires occur due to failing to clean the grill before and after use. Give your grill a nice scrape down while it's hot so it's ready to go for next time!

There's nothing worse than dropping your smore into a fire, right? Wrong! There's nothing worse than falling into a fire yourself! Never leave young children unattended near a fire pit. 

Safety first, safety first, safety first! Fill a bucket with water and set it next to your put before your even build a fire. Avoid throwing leaves, pine cones, pine needs, and paper into a fire pit as they catch fire quickly and can result in dangerous floating embers.

When things go awry, we're your guy!

In any emergency situation, always call 9-1-1 before calling SERVPRO of Shakopee / Savage / Prior Lake. Once a fire has been properly handled by the fire department, give us a call at 952-403-1050! We're always "Here to Help!"

Maintaining Your Smoke Alarm

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

smoke damage in a home To avoid a total fire damage disaster, properly maintain your smoke alarms so that you're notified of any suspicious situations immediately!

Experiencing a fire on your property can be one of the most stressful situations you can have as a property owner. Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Not only can fire damage restoration be expensive, but the process can take much longer than drying out a flooded room.

Smoke and Fire Alarms

In more than half of the homes that reported fires to U.S fire departments, the fire alarm sounded to alert the residents of the property. The death rate per 1,000 reported home fires was more than twice as high in homes that did not have working smoke alarms (NFPA).

Here's what you need to know!

Smoke alarms should be interconnected. when one sounds in the basement, all other alarms around the house should alert you of potential smoke damage.

Test your smoke alarms at least once a month. As you're sweeping the floors, vacuuming, or moving around the house doing chores, take a second to press the test button to be sure the alarm is working. 

Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years. With the advancement of time, smoke alarms will be more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions, in addition to mitigating false alarms.

What do you do when you experience fire damage?

Call us, of course! We are one of the top fire damage restoration companies near you. We are available 24/7 and have crews ready round the clock to respond to any emergency that you might have. We've got the committed people and the  most advanced tools to make restoring your home as painless as possible.

We Handle All Cases of Fire Damage!

12/9/2021 (Permalink)

fire damage in a home We specialize in the tough jobs and never lose site that a person's home is their most prized asset.

Fires are one of the most destructive events that can happen in anyone's life. Whether a fire damage event occurs in a residential home or commercial building, we are the fire damage restoration experts that have the power to change your life!

Not All Fire Damage is Created Equal

Nuances in technique, equipment, and technology can make a drastic difference in cost and results. Read the following techniques that we use to get results in the best timeframe, in the most cost efficient manner, and to help more people who have experienced the devastating destruction of fire.

Matterport Scanning

We take pride in using the most technically advanced and up-to-date equipment as possible. The Matterport camera allows us to take high-quality 3D images in a virtual reality platform, allowing us to examine the site without ever having to step foot in the actual building. By creating a doll house view of the property, documentation reaches a higher level for all materially interested parties. Not only can this aid in the speed at which the scope for restoration and fire repair occurs, but it can be used to create a plan for returning the job side to pre-fire condition. 

Choosing Deodorizing Tools and Products Sensibly

We take full advantage of having a full network of franchises to discuss the efficiency of tools and products to use when it comes to repairing fire damage or deodorizing the affected areas. We have access to suppliers that have products ranging from odor absorbent crystals, smoke odor counteractant and deodorants, degreasing cleaners, woodcraft cleaners, and many more options.

Caring for Contents

If your personal belongings have been affected by fire or smoke damage, we have the capabilities and mindset to restore rather than replace your precious items. Our technicians are cert-ified through the IICRC and are experienced in removing smoke damage that can cause long-lasting health hazards for the occupants. We use activated carbon or charcoal filters for maximum results when addressing odors, making the site easier and healthier to work in.

Here at SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake, we're always "Here to Help!"

When fire damage ravages your property, give us a call at 952-403-1050. Our certified team and fast disaster response will save you precious time and money.

Including Your Pets in Your Fire Evacuation Plan

11/22/2021 (Permalink)

fire damage ceiling in fire damage home Pictured is a ceiling damaged by a raging fire. All 3 levels were affected after a fire broke out while a family was cooking.

Although not everyone may entirely agree... pets are family too! It is crucial for families to create a fire evacuation plan that they can quickly put into action in the event that there is an emergency. When you ensure that all members of your family understand what to do if a fire breaks out in your home, it decreases the need to take unnecessary risks and is a helpful tool to use in case of panic. Even if you do have to consider fire damage restoration in the aftermath, you will find excellent consolation knowing that you have created a plan to follow. In case of a fire emergency, the tips below will help you include every family member - even the ones with paws, wings, or scales!

Planning with Pets

Prepare an Emergency Food Kit

When a fire sparks in your home, you won't have time to think about how many cans of wet food to grab or be able to count out a sufficient amount of daily cups for your pet. By compiling these items beforehand, you will be able to grab and go, saving you precious time in a dangerous situation. Don't forget to pack water, bowls, doggy bags, potential litter. A spare collar with your animal's information wouldn't be a bad idea either!

Create a Form of Shelter

By putting your pet's emergency kit into a crate or some form of travel shelter, you won't have to think about grabbing multiple bags and forgetting the necessities. Even something as simple as a blanket will help keep your pet comfortable in a stressful situation like a fire.

Medication

Fire damage can sometimes make it impossible to return to your property until it is safe, which may take longer than you think. If you are unable to return to your home, you won't be able to access your pet's vital medication. A simple plastic bag will do the trick - just toss it in with your food and other essential materials.

Many people become extremely overwhelmed during and after a fire damage event. We know that coping with the aftermath can be confusing, scary, and just plain difficult. That's why we're always here to help whether you are in downtown Minneapolis, Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, Scott County, or anywhere in the greater Twin Cities area. Our team can assist you in every step of the way. 

Shakopee Career Expo - On Fire!

11/19/2021 (Permalink)

aimee and tierney hosting a booth at the shakopee career expo Here are Aimee and Tierney with their fully setup table with freebies and informational flyers!

Getting Involved

Shakopee High School, through the Academies of Shakopee, hosted the 2021 Career Expo this November! The Career Expo is a free annual event for high school students and community partners alike, serving as an opportunity for students to learn about occupations and businesses, and partners to provide information on their industries and companies. The Expo also serves as an opportunity for employers/partners and students to discuss future internship and career/job openings.

Aimee and Tierney had an awesome time being a part of the Shakopee High School Career Expo. with a focus on fire damage, these two were able to share finer details about the processes of our company with prospective employees. Although most students are currently too young to be hired, it gives them a golden opportunity in the future.

Aimee and Tierney were asked questions ranging from simple processes to detailed methods of fire damage restoration. Some examples include:

  • How long does fire damage restoration take?
  • Is fire damage cleanup a dangerous process?
  • How many people does it take to clean up after fire damage?
  • What products do you use to clean soot damage?
  • What is the most difficult part about smoke damage cleanup?

We promise you - that list barely scratches the surface!

Overall, the opportunity to engage students and inform them about how our company works was a blast! We're very fortunate to be able to educate anyone at any age about the restoration industry.

Do you have more questions about our company? Give us a call today!

Winter Fire Damage Prevention

11/17/2021 (Permalink)

holiday themed snow backdrop As fire and water restoration specialists, we have the training, experience and specialized equipment necessary to restore your home or business!

Believe it or not, fire damage occurs more often during the winter months. Many homeowners will light their chimneys, cook out, and crank up the thermostat when the temperature drops. In the event of fire damage, timely mitigation is the best way to reduce your fire damage costs. We know that restoration is virtually a requirement after fire damage occurs, but how about measures to prevent fire damage? Look no further!

Main Fire Hazards

Holiday Lights - for those of us who put up holiday lights right after Halloween (Thanksgiving, who?), your home's holiday lights might become hazardous. While hanging up your lights, be sure to double-check any wires or bulbs that might become hazardous. 

Electronics - technology is always advancing and you might receive a fancy new piece of electronics for the holidays. Untested electronics are a major fire hazard and every single year people light up their living rooms with more than their Christmas tree. 

The Holiday Tree - Speaking of trees.... many people begin their holiday season with a bushy, green, pine-smelling bunch of branches. However, as time goes on, these supple branches die and can become a nasty problem (and we're not talking about the cleanup). Be sure your tree is properly watered, at least a couple feet away from an outlet, and for Pete's sake don't put any candles nearby!

Holiday's never stop our fire restoration services!

Here at SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake, even if it is the holiday season, we are still faster to any sized disaster! The fire department will have to put our your fire, but we will zip in immediately after it is safe to handle deeper restorations. As your local water damage and fire damage company, we can handle it all! From start to finish (yes that means reconstruction services, too!), we're here to help. Call 952-403-1050 today with any questions about our services.

An Informational Tidbit on Fire Damage

11/16/2021 (Permalink)

the fire triangle: oxygen, heat fuel The fire triangle illustrates the three elements a fire needs to ignite: heat, fuel, and an oxidizing agent.

A Little Lesson About Fire

When the leaves begin to fall and snowflakes begin to flurry around, people begin to dread the cold weather. "Time to crank up the heat!" As much as we adore our HVAC heating systems and indoor fireplaces, it is important to be cognizant of the hazards of fires.

Each year, from 2017 to 2019, there was an estimated average of 106,700 multifamily residential building fires. These fires results in 400 deaths, 3,875 injuries, and over $1.7 billion dollars in property losses. Wow!

It is important to be aware of the obvious concerns like avoiding crowding your furnace or keeping things by an open flame, but it is important to consider other threats. Cooking (around 74%) was the leading cause of multifamily residential building homes. In addition to cooking, cooking areas and kitchens were the primary areas of origin for non-confined multifamily residential building fires. Holiday lights are also on the list! Be aware of how many cords you're plugging into an extension cord.

24/7 Fire Restoration Services

Our certified technicians are on the clock 24 hours a day, seven days a week year round. Even though multifamily residential building fires occur most commonly from 4pm-9pm, you could be in the 3% that occur at 1am. In that case, we are the ones to call! Once the firefighters take care of business, we will follow with the water damage and fire damage mitigation steps.

If your property has been affected by fire damage, call SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake today at 952-473-4837. We're here to service Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, and the greater Twin Cities area in general. We're always "Here to Help!"


Source

Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter!

11/12/2021 (Permalink)

We're back in full swing for school, the leaves are dropping like flies, and your Starbucks Pumpkin flavored beverage is only doing so much to stave off the morning chill. It's that dreaded time of year again: turning your HVAC system from "Cool" to "Heat." Take a quick moment to check the following list to be sure that your furnace is good to go for the upcoming winter and dropping temperatures.

Tips to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter

  1. Change your air filters. More than likely, you have air filters behind a vent grill in a wall or ceiling, or potentially a single filter in the HVAC system itself. By cleaning or replacing your filter, you will keep nasty particles out of you HVAC system and the air that you breathe in general will be cleaner.
  2. Clean the heat exchanger. By hiring a trained professional, your heat exchanger should be brushed and vacuumed out annually. Why? The technician will check for cracks or damages that could lead to a dangerous carbon monoxide leak. 
  3. Inspect your carbon monoxide detectors. Just like your fire detectors, you should be routinely inspecting and replacing your carbon monoxide detectors. These alarms will help protect you from the "silent killer."
  4. Remove any items you have stored near your furnace. Especially the flammable ones! It is extremely dangerous to congest your furnace with items, particularly anything that is likely to catch fire. Remove any items that are sitting on top or in front of your air vents, too.
  5. Inspect the exhaust flue that is outside. Surprisingly enough, you might have a smart animal that has built a nest in your flue or a tree that has grown just a little too much and is now blocking the way. Clear any obstruction to ensure that your HVAC system can work properly.

If you have any issues with these tips, don't be afraid to contact your local HVAC professional. It'll always be better to prepare than to deal with fire damage later. If fire damage occurs in your home, don't hesitate to call us! We're here to help all day every day!

Preventing Furnace Fires in your Home

10/25/2021 (Permalink)

furnace within a home Diminish the chances that a furnace starts a fire in your home by following these tips!

The National Fire Protection Association claims that more than one in six home fires originate from heating equipment, which is the second most common cause of a fire behind cooking. Even though a large majority of these pieces of heating equipment are space heaters or fire places, one out of every ten starts with a central heating system.

Follow the tips below to minimize your chances for a furnace fire!

  • Have your furnace serviced - Prior to the cold season, hire a professional to inspect your equipment to ensure your furnace is working properly.
  • Replace the air filter - You should replace your filter every month or so, depending on the manufacturer's specifications. Furnace filters help prevent air contamination in your home.
  • Check and clean air vents and ducts - it's as simple as getting out your vacuum and removing the dust in your vents and ducts. We know this job can suckso you can always hire a professional!
  • Inspect the exhaust vent - Ensure that your exhaust vent is clear from any obstruction such as a rodent's nest, leaves, or snow. 
  • Remove items from around the furnace - if there are flammable items near a flame, need we say more? Clear the area of all flammable objects. 

When winterizing your home or preparing for cold season, your furnace should be on the list! All of these maintenance tasks can be complete in just a few hours. If you're not comfortable with any of these processes, call a professional! For professional fire, water, and mold remediation services, give us a jingle at 952-403-1050!

Content Cleaning: What is it and how do we do it?

9/7/2021 (Permalink)

before and after of a fire damage toy Here is an example of a children's toy that was damaged by fire and then cleaned up by our certified technicians.

As one of the top SERVPRO franchises in Minnesota, SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake is there to help you when everything has been turned upside down by fire damage. When your property has been ravaged by flames, many important belongings and documents can be severely damaged by flames, soot, and smoke odors. With our expansive cleaning capabilities, we are able to salvage many of your items and restore them to make it look "Like it never even happened." By doing this, we can save you money by restoring your contents instead of having to replace them.

Packing Out the Contents

The first thing to do after you experience fire damage is to assess the entire property for damage. By assessing the damage, we will be able to figure out what our next steps are regarding cleaning your personal belongings. Our certified technicians will determine whether or not the items are salvageable, they will take photos of all of the contents, they will take inventory of items that are restorable, and then we will safely and carefully pack up all of the items to be moved. Once boxed up, the items will be labeled by name and stored in our 18,000 square foot warehouse in climate-controlled vault storage.

The Cleaning

Once the contents have been safely moved to our warehouse, they are brought into our cleaning room where our certified technicians will dictate the best method of cleaning. They will determine the best path of cleaning based on several factors:

  • Are they hard or soft contents?
  • Do they need to be hand washed or machine washed?
  • What sort of chemical can be used that won't damage the material?

Hard contents, such as dishes, vases, and other sturdy objects will be cleaned in machines like  ultrasonic equipment and deodorizers for smoke odor. For objects that cannot handle the harshness of an automated machine, we will hand-clean the item with environmentally-friendly degreaser or odor counteractants.

Moving Back Home

After our technicians mitigate the fire damage and our reconstruction division repairs your property back to normal, our team will pack up your contents and send them to your home. With your fire damaged contents repair back to normal, you can enjoy living life the way it was prior to your properties' fire.

If you find yourself in need of water or fire damage mitigation, content cleaning, or reconstruction services, give us a ring today at 952-403-1050. We service Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, and the greater Twin Cities Area (Minneapolis and St. Paul).

Fire Damage Restoration Process

7/22/2021 (Permalink)

The fire damage restoration process includes the removal of soot residues from various surfaces and materials. Depending on the severity of the fire, the soot that remains can be drastically different from one fire to the next.

Fires that give off smoke produce smoke-filled residues and soot. When smoke is released into the air when various materials are decomposing, the soot is in the form of suspended particles, gases, and aerosols.

The fire damage restoration process is dependent on what types of residue is on the material. Different cleaning and restoration methods will be used for each residue.

  1. Cleaning Dry Smoke Residue
  2. Cleaning Wet Smoke Residue
  3. Protein Residue
  4. Fuel Oil Soot Residue

During a fire, soot and smoke particles love to settle on and adhere to any surface they can get their hands on. Our fire damage restoration process is top-notch and means we have the capability to remove and clean these residues. Put confidence in your local professionals that provide you with the best fire restoration services available!

Tackling Fire Odors

6/10/2021 (Permalink)

fire damage in Shakopee In this photo, Ryan examines fire damage in Shakopee.

Anyone that ever shares space with a smoker knows how hard it is to get the smell out of your clothes, hair, and skin. Imagine flames in your home and that smoke is making its way through the ventilation system, going from room to room and settling upon your bed sheets, upholstery, curtains, and even your wallpaper. Regardless of the extent of fire damage to your home, it almost seems like the smoke, and its residual smell is an even bigger problem than sweeping ashes and cleaning soot.

In Shakopee, Savage, or Prior Lake, your smoke and fire damage is ideal for our SERVPRO team to tackle. Our team of experts trains specifically to address all consequences of a home fire, regardless of its size. Once we arrive at your home, we invite you to trust our knowledge and expertise as we attack all aspects of fire damage, including ridding your home of the unpleasant smell of smoke.

The term deodorizing is the all-inclusive name we use for agents capable of neutralizing or eliminating odor molecules. In practice, there are quite a few options to expel smells from your home. Our SERVPRO team considers each option and its benefits before applying it to your home. In some cases, we may bring special equipment such as an ozone generator, ventilators, or pressure sprayers to help us in deodorizing your home. In other instances, such as the use of deodorizing pellets, the application is straightforward and does not require extra equipment or space. When we exhaust our resources, and the smell remains, we may opt to use a sealant in your home, which permanently traps odor molecules, so your senses do not pick up on them.

SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake is available to you around the clock. Our hotline is available 24/7 to meet your needs. Call us at 952-403-1050 as soon as it is safe to enter your home and let us address the smoke and soot remains as quickly as possible. Our careful and knowledgeable approach helps us leave your home, "Like it never even happened."

Don't get Fired up, Just give SERVPRO a Call

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

fire damaged kitchen in Savage We will clean belongings, furniture, keepsakes, clothes and anything else in your house that makes it your "home."

How does SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake determine what to do with smoke damaged items?

Fire damage is an intriguing issue because temperature, whether the fire is smoldering or blazing, affects necessary cleanup measures differently.  Similarly to water damage, smoke odor and particles can easily penetrate any crack and crevice on your property. If these particles are not handled in a proper manner, the smoke odor has the potential to stick around for months after a fire. Proper cleaning, immediate odor neutralizing efforts, proper ventilation, and consistent debris removal efforts are critical to saving as many of your belongings as possible. Timing is the most crucial component of successful smoke remediation. 

Are you running out of time?

The IICRC, a global leader in all types of remediation, identifies these time windows:

  1. Within minutes: Porous materials and synthetics must be immediately addressed to prevent permanent discoloration.
  2. Within hours to days: wooden furniture, flooring, painted walls, and clothing can become permanently stained. Metal surfaces will begin to rust, pit, and corrode which often requires refinishing or replacement.
  3. Within weeks: Prolonged soot exposure will embed itself in the fibers and surfaces resulting in a longer, more pricey restoration with a higher likelihood of replacement.

With our restore versus replace mentality, SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake does everything within our capabilities to bring your items back to preloss conditions. 

Give us a call today at 952-403-1050 so we can help make your home seem "Like it never even happened." 

Putting Out Your Fire Extinguisher Questions

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

three fire damage extinguishers We specialize in fire and water damage restoration, the cornerstone of our business.

Do you know where your nearest fire extinguisher is at work? Do you know how to use one? It is imperative to have a fire extinguisher on your property that is in proper working condition. In addition to knowing the location, it is important to know the type of extinguisher to put out fires and how to properly use them.

Q&A

Q: What are the different kinds of fire extinguishers?

A: The U.S. Fire Administration defines five separate fire extinguishers used on a variety of fires.

       A - used for ordinary material fires, such as wood, cloth, or paper

       B - for use with combustible or flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, or oil

       C - for use with electrical equipment like appliances and tools

       D - for use with metals that are flammable

       K - used for animal oils, vegetable oils, and fats in cooking appliances.

Although there are five separate categories for fire extinguishers, many of the types are multipurpose. If you look at the label, they carry multiple letter definitions and can put out many material fires.

Q: What is the proper way to use a fire extinguisher?

A: The U.S. Fire Administration uses the acronym "PASS" as a way to remember how to use an extinguisher properly.

       P - Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism. 

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

       S - Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.

       S - Sweep the nozzle from side to side. 

If the fire becomes too hot to handle, be sure to call 9-1-1. To keep yourself safe, it is important to use extreme caution within a fire damaged structure. SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake offers a full line of fire clean up and restoration services. Give us a call at 952-403-1050 to learn more. 

Fire Up your Holiday Spirits - Not the Holiday Tree!

12/15/2020 (Permalink)

holiday lights Ensure you're properly using your holiday lights to prevent household fires.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas lights cause 40% of Christmas tree fires.

Whether you put your lights up before the turkey goes into the oven or if you're a week-of decorator, safety for you and your loved ones is the most important thing. Christmas lights are not only one of the most time-consuming tasks for the holidays but are surprisingly one of the most dangerous as well.

3 Tips for Christmas Light Safety

1) Follow The Rule of Three.

The general rule of thumb is this: more than three sets of Christmas lights into a single extension cord may cause overheating. Be sure to check (and re-check) the wattage of our home or use a power strip with a built-in circuit breaker. 

2) Replace Old or Damaged Christmas Lights

Just as you would check your oil on your car or replace the tires on your vehicle when they become worn, inspect the condition of your Christmas lights. SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake provides time and money saving services, but lights are much cheaper to replace rather than fire damage.

3) Read the labels! Indoor lights belong indoors, and outdoor lights belong outside.

Indoor-only lights are not sufficiently insulated compared to outdoor lights and will not be friendly with moisture from the outdoors. Indoor lights often become hazardous once they encounter water, snow, or any other outdoor element. 

Even if you follow guideline after guideline and take tender care of your lights, holiday lights still have the potential to cause fires. That's where we come in!

Steps to Take after Household Fire Damage:

  • Prepare yourself for what to expect.
  • Wait to enter your home.
  • Contact your insurance company.
  • Document the damages.
  • Contact your restoration companythat's where SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake comes in!

How can SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake help revive your holiday light fire mishap?

SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

  • 24-Hour Emergency Service
  • Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
  • Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
  • A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
  • Locally Owned and Operated
  • Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment 

Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

If your home becomes damaged in a house fire, you can count on SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake to help you. Call 952-403-1050 for all of your restoration needs. 

How To Get Your House Back After A Fire

11/16/2020 (Permalink)

How to Get Your House (and Life) Back After a Fire

When your family is the victim of a fire that takes down your home, it can feel like your whole life is over. That doesn't have to be the case. An expert, caring fire damage restoration service serving the Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, New Prague, Jordan and Belle Plain areas can get your life back.

Getting Your Life Back Again

When you call for help from a professional fire damage restoration service, the goal is to make it almost like the fire never happened. While some things may not be the same again, the right service can get you as close as possible.

Cleaning Up the Damage

The first step is to clean up the damage. That means drying out water damage from fighting the fire, removing debris and recovering anything that can be restored. When the area is cleaned out and the damage assessed, the process of rebuilding can begin.

Restoring Your Possessions

The next step is for the restoration service company to restore your possessions. Anything that survived the fire and can be restored is cleaned up and repaired so that it's as close to its pre-fire condition as possible. This helps you to preserve some of those lost memories.

Restoring Your Home

Next up, the building is restored to pre-fire condition, whether one room or many. This includes everything from new carpet and paint to full construction jobs.

Call SERVPRO Shakopee Today

If you're in the Shakopee, Savage or Prior Lake areas and your home or business has suffered fire damage, let SERVPRO help. We're ready any time of day or night to respond and get your home back, and make the fire "Like it never even happened." Call 952-403-1050 today. 

Recovering From A Residential Fire Loss

11/16/2020 (Permalink)

Experiencing a fire loss in Prior Lake. Shakopee or Savage that you and your loved ones made a home over the years with unique personal possessions and priceless memories takes a heavy emotional toll. Few homeowners have any idea how best to respond or what actions to take concerning the situation. 

WE ARE FIRE DAMAGE RECOVERY SPECIALISTS

The restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Shakopee are always ready to offer expert assistance after a household fire. Responding after a residential fire emergency is one of our cornerstone services. We always prepare our fire damage mitigation and remediation crews through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification training in a variety of specialties that address all aspects of residential fire damage. 

WE UNDERSTAND YOUR STRESS

It is not enough to master the skills and acquire the equipment needed to restore a fire-damaged residential property. Our approach at SERVPRO also includes building a company climate that respects our customers and shows compassion for the fear, worry, and disruption suffered by the individuals and families we assist. 

WE TREAT YOU WITH INTEGRITY

Clear and consistent communication forms the foundation of our partnership with you. As we develop a customized plan for recovery, we adhere to restoration industry best practices. 

WE EDUCATE OUR CUSTOMERS

As we strive to work together with homeowners as a team, SERVPRO shares crucial information about the characteristics of household fire damage.

CONTACT SERVPRO SHAKOPEE/SAVAGE/PRIOR LAKE

Leave restoration to the professionals. Reach out to us 24 hours a day. Our phone number is 952-403-1050.

Fire Damage Restoration in Savage, MN

6/10/2020 (Permalink)

House Fire Damage Fire Damage Restoration in Savage MN

When your home is ravaged by fire damage, SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake is a phone call away. Safety and attention to detail during the cleanup process is our forte, especially where the remnants of fire damage like ash, soot and water have left their marks. Our disaster cleanup teams know how to use the right cleaning chemicals and avoid causing secondary damage. 

If you're in a fire damaged home, remember, conventional cleaning methods won't typically work and may actually cause further damage. Cleaning chemicals and other tools like steam cleaners can leave harmful residue and more deeply enmesh the fire damage with additional toxic fumes. Our clients often tell us that fire damage restoration was more difficult then they initially imagined, but they're thankful for the professional help.

We've served hundreds of commercial and residential properties at SERVPRO of Shakopee/Savage/Prior Lake, for fire restoration, smoke damage, and disaster cleanups and we're honored to be called no matter your unique circumstance. We treat your property like our own, and take special delight in saving special items  you might initially be tempted to throw away.

Fire Damage Restoration

When a fire has destroyed some or all of your property in Shakopee, Savage or Prior Lake--and anywhere in the greater Minneapolis area--we're here for you! Call us and we''ll come to you for an immediate onsite evaluation of damages caused by fire, smoke, water, mold and any other disaster. We're available 24/7 and it's our privilege to help you restore your home or business.

Winter Fire Prevention

12/11/2017 (Permalink)

As the long winter season once again gets into full swing and people start breaking out the heating equipment; it’ important to remember that just because its’ cold doesn’t mean fires can’t happen. In fact according to the National Fire Protection Association heating fires are the number two cause of all US home fires. In order to prevent fires in your home it’s important to take these tips into consideration.

               -Be sure to have your chimneys and heating equipment inspected before the winter hits

               -Don’t plug stationary or portable heaters into an extension cord

               -Be sure to turn space heaters off before leaving a room or going to bed

               -Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything flammable

               -Don’t allow children or pets to play around heaters

               -When using candles around the holidays; be sure to blow them out before leaving or going to bed

In the winter it’s important to stay warm but make sure you use these tips in order to keep things from getting too hot. Although if a fire does start, know that we here at SERVPRO of Scott County/Chaska (952-403-1050) will be here and ready to help make it “Like it never even happened.”  

Holiday Fire Prevention

11/21/2017 (Permalink)

The holidays’ are once again upon us and with them comes the risk of house fires. According to the United State Fire Administration the top three days of home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Cooking isn’t the only fire hazard of the holidays though so SERVPRO of Scott County/Chaska has some tips to help prevent fires in this coming holiday season

    Cooking

       -Make sure to have a working fire extinguisher within your kitchen that is rated for all fires.

       -Be sure if you’re deep-frying turkey this thanksgiving too keep it outside of the house

       -This one seems obvious but is very important and that is to stay alert while cooking and not getting distracted

       -Keep cords near the end of the cooking area to keep them out of potential harm’s way

    Candles

       -Make sure when lighting candles to keep them at least a foot away from anything flammable

       -Be sure to put them out before going to sleep for the night or before leaving your home

     Holiday Lighting

       -When putting up decorative lights make sure that the wires aren’t frayed nor have cracks

       -Be sure not to plug too many lights into one outlet; it’s a safe bet to only use the outlets on the wall

      Fireplaces

       -Be sure to have chimney inspected before using them

       -Keep a screen on the front of the fireplace to avoid embers from getting out and on to floor or other items

In the unfortunate instance of actually having a fire the team here at SERVPRO of Scott County/Chaska will be ready to assist you with clean up and restoration. Feel free to give us a call anytime with any questions you may have at (952)-403-1050

Fire Damage in Shakopee, MN

10/14/2016 (Permalink)

It's times like these when you can count on us! SERVPRO of Scott County/Chaska is ready to help you recover from fire damage of any size.

A fire due to a small incident in this Shakopee home caused damage to over 50% of the structure. Thankfully, the family was unharmed, but their home was badly damaged. SERVPRO of Scott County/Chaska was called in to clean up the aftermath and help restore the family's contents. We know that after a traumatic experience like this, it's important to our customers to work efficiently and thoroughly.

Fire damage includes smoke and soot, which can affect furnishings such as curtains, sofas, pillows, etc. Don't throw these items away, as our crew may be able to save them!

If you need help recovering from fire damage, please call SERVPRO of Scott County/Chaska at (952) 403-1050. We are available to respond to emergencies 24/7 or to offer our expertise to your fire damage problem in order to make things "Like it never even happened."