What to Do After a Fire at Your Place of Business

6/17/2020 (Permalink)

There are plenty of safety considerations to address when thinking of the safety of your business, staff and visitors. But do you know what to do after a fire? This is one area you need to spend some time planning for and working to prevent.

Fire Disasters Can Happen at the Office

The NFPA estimates that from 2007–2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 3,340 fires in office properties per year, which were responsible for an annual average of four deaths, 44 injuries and $112 million in direct property damage. Those are some staggering statistics.

In the event of a business fire, cleanup and restoration take time. Fortunately, SERVPRO has advanced training in restoration techniques, and the experience and specialized equipment to quickly restore your property.

Keep your business safe during this process with the following three tips. 

1. Avoid Repeat Fire Disasters

If a fire starts at your place of business, you should turn to the local fire department to help you put it out. While your efforts may work in stopping the fire from spreading, a fire crew can help you find the cause of the fire. Determining the cause is the best way to prevent further fire damage from occurring or reoccurring. If a small fire occurs, you may need to look for the cause yourself. Start by doing the following:

• Unplug or turn off electrical devices in the area
• Turn off surrounding heat sources
• Shut off gas supply to prevent the fire from spreading

2. Defend against the elements. 

Once fire cleanup has begun, protect your building from the outside elements to prevent further losses. In the fall and winter months, roof damage should be secured with a tarp to keep rain, hail, and snow from permeating the building. In warmer months, tarping or boarding up openings can keep rodents and birds from nesting inside of the facility. 

3. Secure the facility

 Depending on the severity of the commercial fire, your business may be susceptible to looting. If the fire damage leaves your building with unsecured openings, you may need to hire a disaster response company to keep vandals and thieves from entering the premises.

Commercial fire damage?

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