Most Popular Months For Fire Season Are Here.

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

There is a wildfire happening in this homes backyard

To the contrary of what people think, nowadays fire season is all year round. This contributed to the changes on climate. 
Although they happen all year round, there is still fire season happening. In California fire season is between July and October, still September and October being the peak months for fires causing more damage. Yes, there may be more fires happening in July, however because of the dry conditions, no rain, and dry vegetation make the perfect environment for catastrophic fires. Specially when there are strong and high speed winds!
Here are some tips to help prevent fire damage to your property due to wild fires.
1. Keep flammable object away from your home. Things like gas or propane tanks, lawn mowers , furniture, toys, etc...
2. Clear out your roof, gutters, decks, and patios from any tree debris or any type of debris for that matter.
3. Remove any dry vegetations around your home or at least anything within 5 feet.
4. Remove any over hanging trees and tree branches. At least 10 feet away from your home and roof.
5. Trim tree limbs that are within 10 off the ground
6. Cover vents and under decks to prevent amber intrusion.

Take these tips and implement them to help prevent fire damage to you property.

The Kiwanis Fire Presentation

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bellflower is part of a couple organizations including the Kiwanis.

The Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to helping children all over the world. They help from fighting hunger to providing education. They are an organization in 80 countries and with over 550,000 members. SERVPRO of Bellflower is proud to be a member.

As a member of the Kiwanis, we are able to do presentations and help members be aware of the risks and hazards or water damage, fire damage, mold damage and many other topics.

On may 20^th SERVPRO of Bellflower was guest speakers to do a presentation of the hazards of Home Fire Damage. We talked about the following topics: The main causes of home fires, Tips on how to prepare in case it happens, what happens after, & preventative tips.

The full presentation was not long at all but it had very important information that could save a life in case there are in a fire situation or at least helps with what to do after there is a fire, so you know where to start.

How SERVPRO of Bellflower remove smoke and soot from your home after a fire.

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

Something left on top of stove caught fire

When a fire occurs there are residues that are left behind called soot. A lot of the time these fires are not that big, but the smoke and soot that they leave behind is a big job.

What is smoke and soot? Smoke is the cloud that carries the soot. Soot is the fine particle dust that is left behind. Soot clings on to wall, ceilings and building contents. Its is very difficult to remove and sometimes even impossible.

SERVPRO of Bellflower uses industrial chemicals produced specially for those types of jobs, along with specialized equipment.

We use dry sponges to remove soot. When it is a smaller job it where there isn’t a lot of visible soot, it is fairly easy to remove. Now, when it is on the bigger side, we can remove a lot of the soot but not completely. Like I said some soot is impossible to be removed. When we are done, we have to wipe walls and ceilings with a solution called “Wall and all”. When done with that we wipe with another solution to wipe down the walls and ceiling from that chemical so no chemicals are left on walls or ceilings.

Personal contents like big furniture are cleaned and wiped down on site and stored in onsite storage units if needed to be stores for some days. Smaller contents are packed safely in boxes and brought back to our facility to be cleaned and clothes are washed and dry-cleaned.

When everything is washed, cleaned, and wiped down, everything is put back to its place.

We take care of your stuff like if it was ours.

Barbecue season is coming and along with it the increase of fire.

4/14/2022 (Permalink)

A gas grill that's on fire

With spring here and summer coming the sun is out and people are ready to start grilling season. That means that the risk for fire increases once more.

According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) May is at 13% for grill fires and that include both structural, outdoor or unclassified fires. June has a 15%, July at the top with 18%, and last is August with 12%. Gas grills involve in an average 8,900 home fires per year. An average of 22% of those fires were due to leaks or breaks in gas grills.

In 2014-2018 an average of 19,700 patients went to emergency rooms due to injuries involving grill.

So, before you start grilling, inspect your grills. Make sure that there are no gas leaks.

Clean your grill as well as often as possible. When you grill is not clean it adds more potential to start a fire. Keeping a clean grill means a safer environment.

The Dean residence in Bellflower, CA

4/14/2022 (Permalink)

Heavy soot damage

This property came to us as a water job, but I did not go thru because the water claim was not worth to open. We were honest with the customer. We will not lie just to get the job.

Not long after the job was closed, the customer called us again because this time she had a fire in her kitchen which didn’t destroy anything but the range hood. Although, nothing else was destroyed there was a lot of soot in the kitchen, dining room, a sun room, the den, hallway and the laundry room. The soot was able to travel to different rooms because of the smoke.

Because of how extensive the soot traveled we had to remove contents from inside of the affected rooms. All the big furniture was cleaned and stored in an onsite storage unit. All the other small contents were wrapped and boxed to bring to the SERVPRO of Bellflower facility to be cleaned and stores.

When the rooms were emptied, we got to cleaning the wall, ceilings, windows, floors, and everything in-between. In the kitchen everything was cleaned including the cabinets exteriors, everything she had inside the cabinets. We used specialized chemicals to clean everything. It took us a few days but it got done.

All the things that were wrapped and boxed were brought back to the office and a team got to cleaning them at the SERVPRO of Bellflower facility. Clothes were washed and dry-cleaned.

 When all was done, the customer saw this as a blessing in disguised because in the beginning she was distraught at what had happened, but after we were done, she was so happy and thankful!

Fire prevention tips for this holiday season.

11/22/2021 (Permalink)

Christmas decoration in a home.

It has been said many times before to prevent fires during the holidays, but do we actually pay attention? I know that we do but, sometime we may forget. That’s why we are here to give you a friendly reminder.

The preventative measures are there for a reason. We want that everyone to have a very happy and definitely safe holidays!

Here are some tips to keep safe.

1. Keep any type of flame a safe distance from anything that is flammable. Threes, decorations, garlands, etc…
2. Keep an eye out on any all greenery. Water Christmas trees constantly. Use spray bottle on garlands, makes it a whole lot easier.
3. Monitor you trees health and recycle when you see signs of drying out.
4. Buy lights tested by Underwriters Laboratories
5. Throw away light when they look work out.
6. Check the instructions to see how many strings you can connect safely
7. Use outdoor light for out door and indoor for inside.
8. Hang lights on plastic hooks. Nails can damage the cord making it a fire hazard
9. Torn off light when leaving the house or going to bed.
10. When lighting candle never leave them unattended.
11. Electric candles are always a safer alternative.

Can SERVPRO of Bellflower handle it?! OF COURSE!

8/3/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Trailer ready

I you are wondering if SERVPRO of bellflower can handle fire damages. The answer is yes it can.

SERVPRO of Bellflower can not only handle water damages but fire damages as well. We are equipped with the correct cleaning supplies, machines and experienced technicians to clean and restore any size fire damage.

So not to worry to find who can handle you fire damage. Look no further because we are the professional you need to call. Even if it is in the middle of the night. We are open 24 hours a day 7 days a week for emergencies!

We will explain everything that we will do to clean-up all the affected area. If we have to remove material, we will let you. In other words, we will walk you through all the steps to be taken.

The Do’s and Don’ts with Fire and Smoke Damage.

2/28/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bellflower specializes in Fire restoration

Fire damage can be scary , until help arrives here are some tips to help minimize damage.

Do’s:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpet.
• Keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
• Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor.
• Wipe soot from chrome on kitchen and bathroom faucets, trim and appliances, then protect these surfaces with a light coating of lubricant.
• If heat is off during winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.
• Wash both sides of leaves on the house plants.
• Change HVAC filter, but leave system off until a trained professional can check the system.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

Don’ts

• Attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first contacting SERVPRO of Bellflower.
• Attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first consulting SERVPRO.
• Attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV sets, Radios, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat or water without first consulting an authorized repair service.
• Consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat or water. (They may be contaminated.)
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.
• Send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor.