Clean Up Fire Damage in Business Property

7 min read

A commercial fire can be devastating not just to your livelihood and those of your workers but also to your mental well-being. Once everyone is safely out of the building and the smoke clears, seeing the extent of the damage to your property can be emotionally overwhelming.

Fortunately, there are ways to address the property damage aspect of a commercial fire. Knowing what to do and who to turn to for assistance during such a stressful time can help reduce your stress and reassure you that your business can still move on and forward.

Below, we dive into the details of commercial fires and fire remediation. Additionally, we provide helpful information on the necessary steps after a fire and how the fire remediation process works.

Causes of Commercial Fires

According to the U.S. Fire Department (USFA), the country sees about 116,500 nonresidential fires yearly. These are fires that affect properties other than homes, such as offices, stores, manufacturing facilities, and schools. The USFA also reports that most business fires start due to similar reasons. These include:

• Kitchen Incidents: Fires can occur in restaurant kitchens if stoves, exhaust vents, grease traps, and other appliances and equipment are not properly cleaned or maintained.

• Electrical Malfunctions: Poorly installed or maintained electrical systems, faulty electrical outlets, and frayed wiring are common causes of business fires.

• Poor Storage Practices: Fires can break out in storage units and similar facilities if flammable materials are too near a heat source.

• Smoking: Many fires in commercial properties start from a carelessly dropped and still-burning cigarette. Even if a building is a non-smoking facility, an errant employee or customer may still smoke and improperly dispose of their cigarette butts, triggering a fire.

• Mechanical Friction: Factories and other facilities that use machinery are at risk of fires. Machinery and equipment that are broken or improperly maintained can cause excessive friction and overheating, which could spark a fire. The risk increases if there are flammable liquids or dust nearby.

• Spontaneous Combustion: Some materials can combust or burst into flame, even without the presence of a flame. This type of fire typically occurs due to a chemical reaction that creates heat. For instance, charcoal can self-heat and spontaneously burst into flames. Fires caused by spontaneous combustion aren’t as rare as you might think—According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), about 14,000 such fires occur yearly.

Effects of Fire Damage to a Building

Fires can continue to rage until their fuel source, such as combustible building materials like wood, paper, and plastic, is depleted. As a result, fires can cause significant and widespread property damage.

Many types of fire damage can occur. However, they can be classed into three main types:

• Direct Fire Damage: This is damage directly caused by the flames of the commercial fire. Some examples are burned or charred furniture, floors, walls, and fabrics. The extent of the damage depends on how long and intensely the fire burned.
• Heat Damage: Even if a room or furniture wasn’t exposed to flames, it could still be significantly damaged. For instance, plastic furniture and decor can warp, crack, or discolor from exposure to intense heat from a nearby fire.
• Smoke and Soot Damage: A fire burns everything in its way, not only destroying property but also creating toxic smoke that contains acids, chemicals, and other harmful substances. Smoke and soot particles can penetrate porous materials like carpets, walls, and furniture. They leave behind stains and unpleasant odors. Most importantly, they are health hazards, potentially causing or worsening respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

Damage can also occur not because of the fire and its effects but because of efforts to extinguish it. For example, water from firefighters’ hoses can cause water damage that results in mold growth.

These categories also sometimes overlap, with a single fire causing a combination of direct fire, heat, and smoke/soot damage.

What You Need to Know and Do Before Fire Remediation

After a fire, it can be difficult to think clearly due to the strong emotions one will likely be feeling. Try to remain calm, and use your company’s Disaster Preparedness Plan and Business Continuity Plan to guide you through the next steps.

If you do not have either or need further guidance on what to do next after a fire and before fire remediation, consider the following tips:

Document Everything

If the fire department has determined your property is safe to enter, go from room to room to document the damage. Photograph everything impacted by the fire, such as equipment, furniture, walls, floors, and inventory. However, if the building still needs to be inspected and may not be structurally sound, only document what you can from the outside, a safe distance away.

Additionally, note down the names and contact details of everyone you talk to, whether a firefighter, a medical first responder, or a worker. All this information is crucial for when you need to file a claim with your insurance company. Also, don’t forget to record any expenses relevant to the fire and keep your receipts safe.

Secure Your Property

The firefighters on your property will likely remove some debris and do a small amount of cleanup to prevent the fire from reigniting. Once this is done and the firefighters determine your property is safe to enter, you should take measures to prevent theft. Consider speaking to the authorities for assistance if you have specific security concerns. You could also hire a company to:

• Board up windows and doors
• Remove all equipment, cash, and valuables from the property
• Erect temporary security fencing
• Place a tarp over holes

It’s essential to remember that you should avoid entering your property until it has been inspected and deemed structurally sound.

Shut Off Your Utilities

Contact your power, water, and gas companies to disconnect your services. It is crucial not to shut down these utilities yourself from inside your building, as doing so could be unsafe.

Contact Your Insurance Company

It is crucial to contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the fire has been put out and the safety of those inside the building is assured. All insurance policies require swift notification of a fire to kickstart the claims process. Ensure you have all your documentation, including photos and receipts, handy.

Hire a Reputable Company to Clean Up Fire Damage

The critical next step is hiring a trustworthy company for fire damage cleanup. A reputable company can help speed up the restoration of your property while tackling smoke damage and other potential health hazards associated with fires.

Additionally, fire damage contractors have the equipment and necessary training to perform the work safely and efficiently. To clean up fire damage is a complex and delicate process, so choosing specialists with expertise and experience in this field is essential.

The Fire Damage Cleanup Process: What to Expect

Fire damage cleanup or fire remediation encompasses a wide range of tasks, including structural repairs, soot and smoke damage cleanup, debris removal, and salvaging whatever furnishings or items that can be saved.

At Restoration 1, our process to clean up fire damage includes various steps, including the following:

• Performing a thorough inspection of the fire-damaged property, particularly its structural components like support beams and subfloors
• Removing unsafe, damaged components, like electronics and building materials
• Removing floor covers to keep soot and dust from settling on the floors
• Taking out the HVAC systems for repair or replacement
• Treating odors and contamination resulting from smoke and soot

For Comprehensive and Timely Fire Remediation, Turn to Restoration 1

Restoration 1 is a trusted company specializing in restoring properties damaged by fire, serving businesses of all sizes for over a decade. Apart from fire damage, we are experts in addressing water damage and mold growth resulting from efforts to extinguish fires.

We understand that the aftermath of a fire is an emotionally trying time. Our team provides our services compassionately, and we work hard to restore damaged properties as quickly as possible so our clients can get back to business as usual.

We are available 24/7 to assist you with your fire remediation needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services!