Recent Fire Damage Posts
What To Do AFTER The Fire | SERVPRO® Lebanon County (717)-273-MOLD
9/14/2023 (Permalink)
| SERVPRO® of Lebanon County (717)-273-MOLD
A fire will change your life in many ways that you cannot imagine. Knowing where to begin and who can help you is important.
Put Safety First
The safety of you and your family must be the first priority.Follow the advice and directions issued by local authorities. If the authorities ask you to evacuate, do not return until they report that it is safe and secured.
Contact Your Insurance Company
The typical homeowners policy will provide reimbursement for Additional Living Expenses (ALE) such as the cost of hotels and food when a covered loss to your home makes the residence uninhabitable.
If you do not have insurance, your family and community might help you get back on your feet. Organizations that might help include:
• American Red Cross (717) 234-3101;
• Salvation Army (717) 233-6755 ;
• religious organizations;
• public agencies, such as the public health department;
• community groups;
• State or municipal emergency services office; and
• nonprofit crisis-counseling centers.
What To Expect
A fire in a home, whether you live in an apartment, a single family, or multifamily home, can cause serious damage. The building and many of the things in your home may have been badly damaged by flames, heat, smoke, and water. You will find that things the fire did not burn up are now ruined by smoke and soggy with water used to put out the flames. Anything you want to save or re-use will need to be carefully cleaned. The firefighters may have cut holes in the walls of the building to look for any hidden flames. They may even have cut holes in the roof to let out the heat and smoke. Cleanup will take time and patience.
Restoration Services
You do not need to make a quick decision on who will perform the restoration services. You will, however need to have someone perform board-up services to secure the property. Many restoration companies - including SERVPRO of Hershey / Swatara perform board-up services. You are not required to use the same company to provide mitigation and restoration services. Take you time to decide after consulting with your insurance adjustor and do some of your own research before you decide.
Restoration and Mitigation Services Include:
Restoration companies like SERVPRO of Hershey/Swatara provide services that include the following:
- Documenting all items affected and items to be removed for cleaning / restoration
- Removing unsalvageable items and material
- Storing and cleaning contents and personal items
- Restoring furniture and other personal property
- Cleaning clothes, linens, etc
- Drying the structure and contents
- Deodorizing the structure and content
- Preparing the structure for rebuild
Once the structure has been miigated for the fire damage - the home owner can negotiate with contractors to rebuild. SERVPRO of Lebanon County can help the homeowner with the rebuild process as well.
Fire Extinguisher Training Is Crucial for Your Lebanon Workplace | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County
4/5/2023 (Permalink)
Fire extinguishers mounted on a wall.
A workplace crisis can be stressful, and if your team is unprepared, it will only exacerbate the situation. If a fire emergency were to erupt on your commercial property, you’ll need to trust your team to respond appropriately.
Creating a fire-safe commercial environment through fire extinguisher training can help you ready your team against the unexpected. While it may appear to be a simple task, many of your employees may be completely unaware of the proper usage of this vital tool!
Fortunately, training your team is simple, and before you know it, your entire workplace will know how to fight back against flames:
Start With the FundamentalsOSHA mandates that any workplace that includes fire extinguishers must supply the baseline training needed to operate them. This includes demonstrating to your team how and when to use them, as well as the various types of extinguishers available.
Begin with the basics of how to hold and aim the extinguisher. Once employees have mastered this step, show them how to pull the pin, press the handle and sweep over a fire. During your training, explain the importance of keeping a six to eight feet distance from the fire.
To assist them in remembering your training, introduce the helpful PASS method. Running through these fundamentals at least once a year is another way to keep this essential topic fresh in the mind.
Because newer employees may lack experience with this critical tool, assigning roles can help you ensure it never falls into the wrong hands. Select a couple of employees who are well-trained to be in charge of the fire extinguishers you have stored in your Lebanon building.
There’s a Time and a PlaceHighlighting any commercial hazards that require the operation of a fire extinguisher will help your employees understand when they need to be utilized. Go over any unique risks or scenarios present in your Lebanon workplace as well as the kind of extinguisher that needs to be used for a specific fire.
A break room kitchen fire, for example, will necessitate its own type of fire extinguisher.
Emphasize the importance of realizing when it’s time to put the extinguisher down and walk away. This is critical because fires can quickly escalate, and the safety of your team is far more important than fighting back.
When flames spread beyond a fire extinguisher’s control, your employees need to know to back away, get to a safe place and alert local authorities.
Fire extinguisher training is the best place to start as you introduce your Lebanon workplace to a complete fire safety plan. Once you are all done with your hands-on training, you can begin your next big steps to ensure your team is fully equipped to respond to any size fire emergency.
Dealing with the aftermath of a commercial fire? Our SERVPRO of Lebanon County specialists can restore your losses and return your workplace to its pre-fire condition.
When there’s a fire call SERVPRO of Lebanon County 717-273-MOLD
A Fire in your Home?
9/7/2022 (Permalink)
If you experience any property damage due to a fire, we are here to help. Contact SERVPRO of Hershey/Swatara to learn more.
At SERVPRO of Lebanon County we know that going through a house fire is something that nobody ever wants to think about, but considering how you can prevent one can go a long way in protecting your home. Fires can spread in 30 seconds or less, jumping from a small flame to a major disaster situation quickly.
Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to ensure your home is as safe as possible from fires. While you will never be able to entirely prevent them from occurring, you will be able to significantly improve your chances of never having to experience a fire in your own home.
Reduce Your Chances of Experiencing a Fire in Your Home
Check your smoke detectors. Having smoke alarms is the foundation of fire safety, so it is important to make sure you have enough of them throughout your home. They should be on every floor and outside of every sleeping area, and it is recommended to test them monthly to ensure they have not malfunctioned.
Create a fire escape plan. Making sure your family does know how to get out of the house if a fire starts is so important. You will typically only have about two minutes to exit the house in a fire, so having a plan and practicing it often goes a long way in your overall safety efforts.
Limit your fire risks. There are many ways you can limit your fire risks simply through practicing good habits in your everyday life. Small things, like not leaving flammable objects near your stove, staying in the room if there is an open flame and storing chemicals safely, can all lower your risk of a fire breaking out to begin with.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy. While fire extinguishers should only be used if it is absolutely safe to do so, they can prevent a small mistake from turning into a household disaster. Any time there is an open flame present, it is good to have an operational fire extinguisher nearby and be sure you know how to use it just in case things get out of hand.
If your home is damaged by a house fire, we are here to help. Our expert fire restoration technicians are here 24⁄7 to spring into action as soon as you call. Contact us at any hour to report your damage and receive a quick response. SERVPRO of Lebanon County can be reached at 717-273-MOLD
Keep Backyard Fires Under Control | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County
7/25/2022 (Permalink)
If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact SERVPRO of Lebanon County.
Relaxing by the campfire in your backyard is a great way to make memories with your family. S’mores, hotdogs and scary stories are just a few of the activities you can enjoy around the fire.
Backyard fires can be used for a variety of purposes, like enjoying a meal or removing old debris and providing pest control, but even the safest of fires comes with its own set of hazards. The National Park Service states that around humans are responsible for 85% of wildfires.
In 2021, Pennsylvania suffered from twice as many wildfires as had been normal for the 21st century. So, as wildfire danger increases in Pennsylvania, it’s essential to know how to protect your Lebanon home.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t still burn your yard trimmings, like your tiki torches, toast your marshmallows and barbecue burgers if local laws allow it. Taking precautions every time you burn will allow you to safely enjoy your backyard fires and reduce hazards.
Recreational Fire HazardsWhile open flames are hazardous, grills, fireworks and campfires are some of the most prevalent ways backyard fires get out of hand. Grills are responsible for approximately 8,800 home fires each year, typically they are started by user error. Always supervise your grill when cooking food and be sure to check the propane tanks and gas lines that allow it to function.
Choose a safe location away from any buildings or forestry and only use a lighter or a match when building your campfire. Once you’ve gotten your flame going, only use wood to keep the campfire alive, and always keep a close eye even after you’ve put the flames out.
Fire pits are a great way to recreate the experience of relaxing at a campsite, but this equipment should be used with the same precautions as a regular campfire. If you can move your fire pit around, keep it away from overhangs and never place it on a wood deck.
While burning is a simple way to get rid of construction or household trash, you should only use approved firewood.
If you’re going to light fireworks, make sure they’re lit in an open area with plenty of room to land away from buildings, trees and other debris. Fireworks are only allowed to be set off from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round in Lebanon, with the exception of select holidays, when they are allowed to be set off until 1 a.m.
Other Outdoor Fire HazardsEven with the hazards they pose, fire and flammable materials can still be used in useful ways. If your yard collects a large number of leaves in the fall and you have no way to dispose of them, burning your yard debris might be the best way to keep your yard clean.
Before burning anything, though, ensure your local authorities allow you to burn debris in the first place. Be aware of any burn bans in place and apply for a permit if necessary. At the moment, in Lebanon, you can burn any yard trimmings, leaves or any other safe-to-burn debris as long as you check with local authorities to confirm that burning is allowed.
Clearing your yard of dead leaves and shrubs is a useful way to protect your home from wildfires, as well as strategic landscaping that slows the spread of flames from reaching your home. Knowing what is safe to burn and following general fire safety protocols can help you keep your fire under control.
We all most likely have gasoline in our sheds and garages to power our yard tools and vehicles, but irresponsible storage can have a disastrous impact. Be sure to only store gas in approved containers, and keep containers where your kids can’t reach them. Gas should only be used for what it was designed for so when you can’t get those flames started, don’t reach for that fuel can.
Before lighting a backyard campfire, check your local weather conditions. If conditions are windy or very dry, reschedule your campfire to another day and save the marshmallows for later.
And if a backyard fire gets out of hand and leads to substantial damage, contact our experts at SERVPRO. Our crew is trained to examine and repair any fire-related damage, and we can restore your home or business back to normal as soon as possible.
Burn safely outdoors. And save some chocolate for us! If you have experienced fire or smoke damage, contact us today to get restoration started faster.
Backyard Fire Hazard Awareness SERVPRO of Lebanon County
6/20/2022 (Permalink)
Fire can be a beautiful thing! Be careful that it stays where it should.
Spring practically begs us to head outdoors. There’s so much to enjoy, from the mild, breezy weather to the incredible display of nature’s beauty. And there’s a renewed sense of life that it all brings that energizes us and calls us to get out of the house and enjoy the world around us, or at the very least to head out in the yard and play catch.
One of the things many people love to do most outdoors in this season is barbecue, and just about any excuse to fire up the grill will do. But the increase in grilling and backyard activity also unfortunately means a rise in spring and summer fires.
In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year. But keeping fires at bay is pretty simple, and you can stay ahead of the curve by observing a few simple guidelines:
The grill. The grill is the first thing to check to avoid fires caused in springtime. This is only natural because grills are basically billboards for fire danger. Make sure your grill is sturdy and on solid ground, away from anything flammable. Don’t use liquid accelerants to make your fire burn quicker or hotter (the same goes for fire pits), always stay with the grill while it’s cooking and make sure to clean it between uses. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.
The fire pit. Visions of marshmallows roast in your head at this time of year, and you should by all means make them a reality. But be safe with your fire pit! Avoid flying embers by using a grate cover, keeping leaves and pine needles out of the fire and extinguishing your fire slowly instead of dumping water on it suddenly. Don’t ever leave it unattended, and don’t allow pets or kids near unsupervised.
Chimneys and dryer vents. While you’re thinking about fire safety, go ahead and clean that chimney out, removing dangerous soot and ash from inside, so you don’t end up with a hazard in the fall when you need your fireplace again. Take off your dryer’s vent pipe, removing any dangerous lint from the inside—and do this again in six months.
Your local SERVPRO of Lebanon County technicians are on hand 24⁄7 for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call us today and experience the SERVPRO difference.
A Clean Home Can Aid in Fire Prevention | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County
6/6/2022 (Permalink)
If your home is damaged in a house fire, SERVPRO of Lebanon County is here to help. Contact us for any fire restoration need.
House fires are the most common disaster in the country. It is more important than ever to keep your Lebanon County home fire hazard-free.
The American Red Cross has already reported more than 20,000 house fires in 2022, and this figure is only a small percentage of the fires that have occurred in the United States this year.
Taking precautions to avoid house fires begins in your own home. Simply keeping your home and yard clean is one approach to lessen the risk of fires:
Clear the ClutterA cluttered residence offers several hazards to the home. In the event of a fire, the mess may be so significant that you are unable to escape safely, or the items piled up in your home may further fuel the fire. Clean up your clothes, books and trash from your space to help prevent the spread of flames in the event of a fire.
Clothes piled up near a water heater have the potential to create a fire as well. Maintaining your appliances and the items around them is an efficient way to avoid accidental fires.
A dirty stove coated with grease and other food debris can cause a minor kitchen fire to spread quickly. Cleaning your stove and any other heat-producing appliances may help to reduce the start and spread of fires.
Create a Defensible Space in Your YardMaking your yard fire-resistant is another strategy to prevent an exterior fire from reaching your home. Taking fire measures in your yard begins with removing branches, fallen leaves and dead plants.
California has enacted defensible space requirements, which mandate yard layouts designed to slow the spread of wildfires. Having a layout plan for your property could be beneficial anywhere! Arranging your Lebanon County yard to prevent fire spread could save your home in the event of a wildfire.
Keep It Clean & Keep It SafeWhile decluttering plays an important role in preventing fire and allowing you to escape in the event of a fire, basic cleaning is also essential and helpful.
Simple chores around the house and yard could aid in the prevention of a house fire. Even tasks like dusting around outlets and space heaters can help avoid fires started by dust bunnies.
Because your home is where you spend the majority of your time, do yourself a favor and give it a good cleaning every now and then. In the event of a fire, a tidy house could save your life!
If you have experienced fire damage or want to learn more about our fire damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, 24⁄7.
Grill Safely All Summer Long | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County
5/11/2022 (Permalink)
Grill Safely All Summer Long | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County
Summertime is a great season to take advantage of extra daylight and cook your dinners outside over the grill. While we love a good cookout as much as anyone, with the rise of grill fires in the summer, we also want to caution everyone to remember fire safety basics every time they go to start their own backyard barbecue.
Grill fires happen the most in the summer months, and it is estimated that over 5,500 occur every year, according to reports from the U.S. Fire Administration. Safety and prevention can go a long way in stopping fires, so let these tips be your guide all summer long.
Remember Fire Safety Basics Every Time You Grill
Create a safe zone around your grill. While convenience is likely top of mind when you are placing your grill in the yard, do not forget to consider how safety factors in, too. A three-foot barrier of empty space around your grill is recommended—this means there should be nothing flammable near your grill just in case a flare-up occurs.
Clean your grill grates often. As pieces of food are allowed to accumulate on the grates of the grill, they can cake on over time and become quite dangerous—especially if they are particularly greasy. By scraping down your grill grates after each use, you can prevent caked-on food from becoming a fire hazard and keep your cooking temps consistent, too!
Never leave the grill unattended. If a fire were to start and you (and your fire extinguisher) are nearby, you can put it out before it causes damage in many cases. However, if the grill is unattended, a disaster can quickly occur. Even if you are just taking a short break, be sure there is someone around to keep an eye on the grill at all times when it is lit.
Inspect the grill regularly. Check your grill before every use just in case there is the potential for a gas leak. Over time, propane tanks, valves and hoses can all wear down, and if there is gas leaking into the air when an open flame is introduced, there can be a serious problem. A simple visual check can go a long way in preventing this unpleasant surprise.
If you have a grill fire that does damage to your home, we are here to help. You can call us any time, day or night, to have a quick response from our restoration experts.
Fires Start and Stop Based on the Same Root Causes | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County
1/24/2022 (Permalink)
If your home or business has any damage, SERVPRO of Lebanon County is ready around the clock to help you recover.
You may not remember exactly what a tetrahedron is, so let’s review, because hey, that’s the kind of thorough treatment you’ve surely come to expect from SERVPRO. A tetrahedron is like a pyramid, but with a triangular base—and thus one fewer side. It consists of four triangular sides, all equal.
The fire tetrahedron is so named because it represents the four equal elements that must be present for fire to ignite and grow.
Without all these elements working together, a fire will stop—which clues us in about some important fire safety truths.
The 4 Things a Fire Needs to LiveFuel. Fire has a ravenous appetite. Put simply, there’s got to be something to burn. Be it wood or other organic material, or manmade substances—if there’s going to be a fire, there must be something for it to consume.
Heat. Having consumable materials isn’t enough for fire to start—those materials have to be heated to a level at which ignition becomes inevitable.
Oxygen. Fires don’t exactly breathe, but they consume oxygen the same as you, only at an incredibly rapid rate, leaving behind only carbon monoxide for nearby people to take in. This oxygen is a vital need for any fire.
Chemical Chain Reaction. This part of the tetrahedron is the least simple to explain, but a chain reaction has to happen, which essentially is the uninterrupted continuation of the previous elements interacting with each other.
The 4 Ways to Stop a FireCool it. An effective way to stop fire quickly is to cool its fuel source with water. Restoring the thermal balance of the material makes the rate of heat unable to compete at which the rate the material cools. You have to use a lot of water to restore that balance, though, because some of it sublimates as it hits the hot surface.
Smother it. You know that thing the cool kids do where they lick their fingers and smush them together on a wick to put out a candle? That’s a combination of cooling and smothering. Any way you can cut off the oxygen supply to a hungry fire, you can use to smother it. Even when you stop, drop and roll, that’s how you’re stopping a fire on your clothing.
Starve it. This one might seem overly simple, but it’s effective all the same. If either a fire runs out of material it can consume, or consumable materials are removed from the fire’s path, there remains nothing for it to burn, and it will have no choice but to diminish.
Interrupt the chain reaction. Fires can be stopped from the inside, with the application of the proper chemicals. Gases like halon (which is no longer produced because of its adverse impact on the environment) are able to trip up the repetitive reaction the fire requires, thus putting a stop to it without water or smothering it.
If the fire tetrahedron makes a wreck of your home or business, we’re ready around the clock to help you recover. Contact SERVPRO anytime for fast, thorough cleanup and recovery after a fire.
Make Fire Safety a Priority This Fall | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County
9/17/2021 (Permalink)
Be mindful about fall fire safety. Always remember that SERVPRO of Lebanon County is the trusted leader in the restoration industry.
The Eagles are back on the field, the morning and evening air is nice and crisp and suddenly everything is pumpkin-scented. That can only mean one thing—fall is back.
The season of roaring campfires, Halloween parties and beautiful leaf-peeping is here to relieve you from summer and give you a reason to break out your favorite hoodie.
But of course each season requires special care with regard to fire safety, and fall is no different. Keep your fall fire-safe with these quick reminders.
Campfire Safety
Cool fall nights are perfect for camping, and we say make the most of it. But when you’re setting up your fire, make sure to take proper precautions.
Build your fire in a pre-dug pit surrounded by stones if there is one provided by the campsite. If not, keep it at least 25 feet away from any tents or structures. Only light your fire with trusted methods like matches or lighters, never using kerosene or lighter fluid to light or accelerate the flames.
When it’s time to go, don’t leave anything hot or glowing. Any live embers you leave behind are potential wildfire threats. Don’t walk away from your campfire until all remaining wood and ash are cool to the touch.
Open Burning
Most of Lebanon County restricts the burning of leaves, but much of the county approves open recreational burning (fire pits or bonfires) or even burning of some household paper items. Check with your local municipality to find out what’s allowed in your area.
If your township allows open burning, it’s likely you are required to use a burn barrel with a screen on top. Keep your fires at least 30 feet (50 is recommended) from any structures, and never leave a fire to burn unattended.
Space Heaters
Portable space heaters are frequent culprits of cold-weather home fires. If you’re breaking yours out of storage this fall, make sure you keep it at least three feet from anything at all that could catch fire—this includes curtains, furniture and clothing.
Keep your heater on a level surface, update to a newer model with automatic shutoff and tip-over functions if necessary, and only plug it directly into an outlet (as its electrical draw can overwhelm some extension cords).
Halloween
We’ll dig further into this later, but for now be mindful of your decorating, especially if you like to use candles or string lights, which can both present fire hazards.
If a fire hazard should turn from potential to reality in your home, remember the trusted leader in the recovery industry and contact SERVPRO to get your property fully restored right down to the smell of smoke.
Playing Defense Against Wildfire | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County
8/4/2021 (Permalink)
If your home is damaged by fire or any other reason, SERVPRO of Lebanon County is ready and able to repair any damage.
Of the many potential dangers homeowners face, there may be none more frightening or disheartening than the thought of seeing one’s home destroyed by fire. While most home fires in our region are caused by other things, wildfires are more of a reality than you might expect.
And they are so hot and move so fast that it’s surprising that fire crews are ever able to contain them at all.
But there are ways to safeguard your home from wildfires, aside from the obvious but still overlooked method of simply being careful, which is by far the best method of prevention.
Let’s look at one of those ways: “defensible space.”
What Is Defensible Space?
It’s not a new NASA program. “Defensible space” is a zone of buffers with which you can surround your home, giving it a greater chance of surviving a wildfire outbreak. You can slow or stop the aggression of a fire with the right combination of thoughtful planting and pruning, hardscape made of concrete or gravel, and removal of dead trees and brush—a quick, favorite fuel for wildfire.
Think of defensible space as a way of using the land around you to choke out a fire as it draws close. If there’s nothing to feed the fire, it can’t keep spreading. It also gives firefighters their best chance of stopping a wildfire before it gets to your home.
Why Defensible Space Matters
You may consider wildfires a West Coast issue, but they can and do happen everywhere in the United States. In fact, there were over 59,000 wildfires across the country in 2020.
Even if we omit California’s 10,000+ fires, there were still almost 1,000 fires per state on average in 2020, and there were no states that were totally spared.
Even Pennsylvania is not immune—we suffered almost 1,500 wildfires and saw almost 3,000 acres of land burned last year alone. And don’t look now, but 2021 is on pace to top last year’s total—there have been 25% more fires this year than over the same period last year.
Anything that can be done to stop wildfires should be done, and defensible space is one more way you can safeguard your home.
If your home is damaged by fire of any sort, wild or not, SERVPRO is ready and able to repair the damage caused. Get in touch today to get the pros on your team.
Fire Safety
1/22/2021 (Permalink)
House fires tend to peak during the winter. SERVPRO of Lebanon County are available 24/7 in the event of an emergency.
Fires at home impact thousands of American families every winter, and they lead to approximately 890 deaths during the colder months of the year.
It’s true that not every house fire can be prevented. Some are caused by natural disasters or by unforeseen accidents or appliance failures.
But there are things you can do to ensure that you’ve lowered your fire risk and taken sufficient steps toward protecting your home from a house fire.
How Would You Answer These Fire Safety Questions?
One of the first steps to making your Lebanon County home safer is understanding what steps you should take to do it.
Your answers to these questions are an excellent place to start. And they offer some simple steps you can take to make your home safer that aren’t a big time or money commitment.
Do you know how to find natural gas leaks? Natural gas leaks are usually first noticeable by smell. If you notice the smell of natural gas in your home, act immediately to cut off your gas and get help to your home. Natural gas leaks are a significant fire hazard. Ensure the leak is repaired before you turn the gas on again and start using your appliances.
Do you know the basics of kitchen safety? Grease fires can happen in any kitchen, and they’re a common hazard. Keeping a fire extinguisher accessible while you’re cooking can prevent one of these incidents from growing into a destructive fire.
Can you use your fireplace safely? Fireplaces that are dirty or clogged create a fire hazard. If you do decide to enjoy a crackling fire, be sure you’re you’re disposing of the ashes correctly. Dirty fireplaces can cause fires.
If your home is damaged due to a fire or any other cause, you can always count on SERVPRO of Lebanon County for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available 24⁄7 in the event of an emergency. Contact SERVPRO of Lebanon County at 717-273-MOLD any time to learn more about our restoration services and how we can help your family.
House fires during the winter can be a threat
12/23/2020 (Permalink)
If you have fire damage due to a heating malfunction or other issue, count on SERVPRO of Lebanon County to fully restore your home.
House fires can be a threat during the winter months. They’re even more common in states like Pennsylvania, where the temperatures get cold and adequate home heating is vital.
Many of these winter fires are caused by how we heat our homes. For example, if your space heater doesn’t have an automatic shutoff mechanism, it can turn over and cause a fire while it’s still running. Problems with furnaces and accidents with other appliances happen, too.
The holiday season has some extra fire hazards of which homeowners should be aware. Christmas tree accidents are a leading cause of house fires.. Fires caused by overflowing pots and pans that are left alone on the stove too long are common this time of year, too.
People who live in Lebanon County can count on our team if their homes ever need fire damage repairs or restoration work.
Why You Should Choose SERVPRO
Here’s why Lebanon County residents know they can trust us when they need our help:
We are available 24⁄7. Getting started early on restoration efforts can make a difference. That’s why our team is here to help you at any time. Just reach out when you need our help.
We are a locally owned business. SERVPRO locations are all across the United States. But this location is a local business. Because we’re a SERVPRO location, we can use the resources, equipment and training you would find at a large, thriving company with the advantage of choosing a partner here in the community.
We put restoration efforts first. Our team helps families recover from fire damage in a way that’s both logical and economical. Experts help through each step of the process, working to save your family time and money. We work to keep repairs affordable and insurance premiums down.
We can help with all your restoration projects House fires can damage your walls, your furniture’s upholstery and more. Other issues homeowners deal with after a fire include smoke and water damage. We have the tools and resources to remediate these issues and more.
If you have fire damage in your home due to a kitchen, heating or other fire, you can count on us for restoration assistance. Our team is always ready to meet your needs and help you restore your home. Contact SERVPRO of Lebanon County at any time at 717-273-MOLD to learn more about our restoration services.
A fire in your home?
12/18/2020 (Permalink)
If you experience any property damage due to a fire, we are here to help. Contact SERVPRO of Lebanon County to more.
At SERVPRO of Lebanon County we know that going through a house fire is something that nobody ever wants to think about, but considering how you can prevent one can go a long way in protecting your home. Fires can spread in 30 seconds or less, jumping from a small flame to a major disaster situation quickly.
Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to ensure your home is as safe as possible from fires. While you will never be able to entirely prevent them from occurring, you will be able to significantly improve your chances of never having to experience a fire in your own home.
Check your smoke detectors. Having smoke alarms is the foundation of fire safety, so it is important to make sure you have enough of them throughout your home. They should be on every floor and outside of every sleeping area, and it is recommended to test them monthly to ensure they have not malfunctioned.
Create a fire escape plan. Making sure your family does know how to get out of the house if a fire starts is so important. You will typically only have about two minutes to exit the house in a fire, so having a plan and practicing it often goes a long way in your overall safety efforts.
Limit your fire risks. There are many ways you can limit your fire risks simply through practicing good habits in your everyday life. Small things, like not leaving flammable objects near your stove, staying in the room if there is an open flame and storing chemicals safely, can all lower your risk of a fire breaking out to begin with.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy. While fire extinguishers should only be used if it is absolutely safe to do so, they can prevent a small mistake from turning into a household disaster. Any time there is an open flame present, it is good to have an operational fire extinguisher nearby and be sure you know how to use it just in case things get out of hand.
If your home is damaged by a house fire, we are here to help. Our expert fire restoration technicians are here 24⁄7 to spring into action as soon as you call. Contact SERVPRO of Lebanon County to report your damage and receive a quick response at 717-273-MOLD. View our website at www.SERVPROlebanoncounty.com
How to plan a commercial fire drill
12/14/2020 (Permalink)
If your business experiences any fire damage, call us at
717-273-MOLD. SERVPRO of Lebanon County specializes in commercial fire restoration.
SERVPRO of Lebanon County knows though there are many things that are wise for business owners to plan for, one of the most important could possibly be planning for a commercial fire. Fires impact many businesses each year, and for owners who are not prepared, they can be absolutely devastating to your business plans.
The most important thing when considering your commercial fire preparedness is the safety of yourself and your staff, which is why understanding how to plan workplace fire escape drills is such an important skill. These drills will help everyone be more educated and prepared in the event of a fire starting to keep all of your employees safer.
How to Plan Workplace Fire Escape Drills
Consult with your local fire officials. The internet is a great resource for doing research regarding the fire safety of your business, but working with your own local fire marshal is likely the best resource there is. They can visit your building and advise you on how to plan out your fire drills and give you pointers on how to increase your overall fire safety.
Communicate and mark fire evacuation routes. After your best escape drills have been determined, making sure that staff are aware of them and the possibility for an upcoming drill is next. Make sure everyone understands what routes they should take when the drill begins and what the protocol is for a headcount once everyone is outside.
Have fire drills frequently. Regular fire drills are a great way to solidify everyone’s fire safety knowledge and keep your staff safer. While having drills too frequently may reduce their impact, it is important to have them often enough that the procedure is fresh in everyone’s mind any time a fire starts.
Run different fire scenarios. Fires can start from an astounding number of sources, so it is important to plan out your drills accordingly. Going over different scenarios each time will help your staff adapt to any sort of fire scenario if it occurs in real life so you can be certain that everyone is prepared for every situation.
If your business has experienced fire damage, you can count on us. We specialize in commercial fire restoration and will be here for you at any hour—contact SERVPRO of Lebanon County at 717-273-MOLD today.
A Fire in your home?
10/29/2020 (Permalink)
If you experience any property damage due to a fire, we are here to help. Contact SERVPRO of Lebanon County to learn more.
At SERVPRO of Lebanon County we know that going through a house fire is something that nobody ever wants to think about, but considering how you can prevent one can go a long way in protecting your home. Fires can spread in 30 seconds or less, jumping from a small flame to a major disaster situation quickly.
Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to ensure your home is as safe as possible from fires. While you will never be able to entirely prevent them from occurring, you will be able to significantly improve your chances of never having to experience a fire in your own home.
<h3your-chances-of-experiencing-a-fire-in-your-home">Reduce Your Chances of Experiencing a Fire in Your Home
Check your smoke detectors. Having smoke alarms is the foundation of fire safety, so it is important to make sure you have enough of them throughout your home. They should be on every floor and outside of every sleeping area, and it is recommended to test them monthly to ensure they have not malfunctioned.
Create a fire escape plan. Making sure your family does know how to get out of the house if a fire starts is so important. You will typically only have about two minutes to exit the house in a fire, so having a plan and practicing it often goes a long way in your overall safety efforts.
Limit your fire risks. There are many ways you can limit your fire risks simply through practicing good habits in your everyday life. Small things, like not leaving flammable objects near your stove, staying in the room if there is an open flame and storing chemicals safely, can all lower your risk of a fire breaking out to begin with.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy. While fire extinguishers should only be used if it is absolutely safe to do so, they can prevent a small mistake from turning into a household disaster. Any time there is an open flame present, it is good to have an operational fire extinguisher nearby and be sure you know how to use it just in case things get out of hand.
If your home is damaged by a house fire, we are here to help. Our expert fire restoration technicians are here 24⁄7 to spring into action as soon as you call. Contact us at any hour to report your damage and receive a quick response. SERVPRO of Lebanon County can be reached at 717-273-MOLD
Grill Safely All Summer Long | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County (717)-273-MOLD
8/3/2020 (Permalink)
Grill Safely All Summer Long | SERVPRO® of Lebanon County (717)-273-MOLD
Summertime is a great season to take advantage of extra daylight and cook your dinners outside over the grill. While we love a good cookout as much as anyone, with the rise of grill fires in the summer, we also want to caution everyone to remember fire safety basics every time they go to start their own backyard barbecue.
Grill fires happen the most in the summer months, and it is estimated that over 5,500 occur every year, according to reports from the U.S. Fire Administration. Safety and prevention can go a long way in stopping fires, so let these tips be your guide all summer long.
Remember Fire Safety Basics Every Time You Grill
Create a safe zone around your grill. While convenience is likely top of mind when you are placing your grill in the yard, do not forget to consider how safety factors in, too. A three-foot barrier of empty space around your grill is recommended—this means there should be nothing flammable near your grill just in case a flare-up occurs.
Clean your grill grates often. As pieces of food are allowed to accumulate on the grates of the grill, they can cake on over time and become quite dangerous—especially if they are particularly greasy. By scraping down your grill grates after each use, you can prevent caked-on food from becoming a fire hazard and keep your cooking temps consistent, too!
Never leave the grill unattended. If a fire were to start and you (and your fire extinguisher) are nearby, you can put it out before it causes damage in many cases. However, if the grill is unattended, a disaster can quickly occur. Even if you are just taking a short break, be sure there is someone around to keep an eye on the grill at all times when it is lit.
Inspect the grill regularly. Check your grill before every use just in case there is the potential for a gas leak. Over time, propane tanks, valves and hoses can all wear down, and if there is gas leaking into the air when an open flame is introduced, there can be a serious problem. A simple visual check can go a long way in preventing this unpleasant surprise.
If you have a grill fire that does damage to your home, we are here to help. You can call us any time, day or night, to have a quick response from our restoration experts.
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