When Every Minute Counts: Fire Escape Plans | SERVPRO® of East Evansville

4/8/2024 (Permalink)

fire exit emergency plan

No one plans to wake up one day expecting a house fire to break out. House fires are true emergency situations that can take almost anyone by surprise and can cause chaos to ensue as soon as the flames start building and spreading. 

Even though a fire can be confusing, scary and downright overwhelming, reacting quickly by getting out of your house can save your life. Do you have a reliable fire escape plan in place for your family and your household?

Creating the Plan 

No matter the layout of your home, you need to have a strategy that is communicated to your entire family. The best way to do this is to create your fire escape plan together! 

Grab a piece of paper and draw out each level of your home and then go on a quick tour with your kids. Have them point out the escape route in each room of your home, making sure they understand that windows should be included in your plan. This is also a great time to explain that while escaping out a window may be necessary, your windows should be respected and always avoided unless absolutely necessary. 

Once your exits have been documented on your layout, it’s time to head outside and decide on a central meeting location. Your meeting spot should be easy enough to get to but far enough away from your house to stay protected while the fire department fights the fire. A mailbox, a neighbor’s porch or a curb across the street are all good options. 

If you live in an apartment complex or a multi-unit property, make sure your escape plan is tailored to your home’s specific needs. Identify emergency exits on each level of your complex and also ensure that you know where the fire escape is located. Remind your children that it is important to avoid using the elevator during a true fire emergency.

Putting It to the Test

A plan is great, but only when it works! After you have created your escape routes and agreed on where to meet after everyone is outside, it’s time to practice. Simulate a normal day by having your kids playing in different areas of your home and then hit the test button on your smoke alarm. Once they hear the sound, time them to see how long it takes your kids to get out of their rooms and out the door.

As they are escaping, have them attempt to crawl on their hands and knees, explaining that this may be necessary if smoke has already filled the hallway. House fire smoke is toxic and even just a few inhales of smoke can leave you disoriented and make it harder to stay focused on your escape. 

Recovering Afterward 

Once everyone is outside and the authorities have been called, it is unfortunately all you can do until the fire is out. Give us a call as soon as the authorities leave so we can get to work on your restoration right away.

Our team understands how impactful house fires can be, which is why we work quickly to address your destruction in a quick and efficient manner. We will clean, sanitize, restore and rebuild your home with confidence so you can get back to your regular life faster.

Dealing with fire damage? Let SERVPRO of East Evansville take care of you.

Family Gathering Fire Safety Tips

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

Every year millions of families gather together to celebrate special occasions. Many of these special gatherings include preparing and enjoying meals together in each other’s homes.  What many of us do not think about is fire safety during our gatherings.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the main cause for home fires and injuries.  Here are some safety tips provided by the American Red Cross.

• NEVER leave cooking food unattended!
• Check food regularly while cooking and always remain in the home.
• Keep children away from the cooking area.
• Keep all flammable items-pot holders, wood utensils, and paper or plastic goods-away from the stove.
• Make sure to not wear loose fitting clothing while cooking.
• Always clean kitchen surfaces to prevent grease build up.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Make sure all appliances are turned off when finished cooking.

SERVPRO of East Evansville wishes you and your family safe and happy special occasions! If you need us we are here to help, call us at (812)-471-3132

SERVPRO of East Evansville Smoke and Soot Cleanup

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

Anyone that's ever experienced a house fire can attest, smoke and soot can be very invasive and get into unseen areas within a home.  

Facts about Smoke and Soot:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Three Types of Smoke:

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of East Evansville test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

1. Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

2. Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

3. Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

When we go into these situations we inspect and assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action. Each situation varies as does our approach. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today 812-471-3132

Safety Tips to Remember When Cooking at Family Gatherings

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Safety Tips

Every year millions of families gather to celebrate special occasions, birthdays and more in their homes. What many of us do not think about is fire safety during our gatherings. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the main cause for home fires and injuries. Here are some safety tips that I found in SERVPRO's November issue of Restoration Newsline provided by the American Red Cross:

• NEVER leave cooking food unattended!
• Check food regularly while cooking and always remain in the home.
• Keep children away from the cooking area.
• Keep all flammable items-pot holders, wood utensils, and paper or plastic goods-away from the stove.
• Make sure to not wear loose fitting clothing while cooking.
• Always clean kitchen surfaces to prevent grease build up.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Make sure all appliances are turned off when finished cooking.

SERVPRO of East Evansville is here to help when disaster strikes. Give us a call any day at any time 812-471-3132

Not All Fires Burn The Same!

5/13/2022 (Permalink)

Instantly

A fire can start in an instant and destroy anything in its path until its fuel source is gone, causing injuries and taking lives within a matter of seconds. According to (NFPA), fire departments respond to over 350,000 structure fires a year nationwide. Far more tragic than property damage, is the 2,500 civilian fire deaths and 12,300 civilian fire injuries annually. To prevent a fire related loss, We want to stress the importance to have a basic understanding of types of fires, how fires burn, and what to look out for.

 Types of Fire

Not all fires burn the same way. Nor do they start the same way. The differences between electrical, spontaneous combustion, chemical, oil and gas fires are significant:

• Oil and gas fires are flammable or combustible liquids such as natural gas or class II and class IIIB combustible liquids. Class II combustible liquids contain fuel oils like kerosene and have a flashpoint (the temperature a fire can ignite) above 100°F. Class IIIB combustible liquids have a flashpoint of 200°F and include animal oils, glycerin, hydraulic fluids along with vegetable oils.
• Spontaneous combustion and chemical reactions. Spontaneous heating is frequently the catalyst. Spontaneous heating happens when a material increases in temperature without pulling heat from its surroundings. The exact cause of ignition in a spontaneous combustion chemical fire is often difficult to determine.
• Most commonly known to spontaneously combust are things such as hay, oily rags, trash and agricultural products. Oily rags account for the most fires. Summer months, like July, see the most spontaneous combustion and chemical reaction fires.
• Electrical fires include electrical failure or malfunction. According to the NFPA, more than 45,000 structure fires every year due to a malfunction or electrical failure, in which leads to more than $1.4 billion in damage. Common types of equipment to malfunction resulting in a fire are washer and dryers, space heaters, fans, and air-conditioning units.

How Fire Burns

Fire requires 3 elements to both ignite and burn:

• Heat: Common heat sources include: burning cigarette, worn electrical wires, stovetop burner.

• Fuel: basically everything in your home will fuel a fire. As a fire burns, the heat created warms close items, making it easy for things to start burning.
• Oxygen: The oxygen in the air fuels a fire.

Fire Dangers

Heat levels are not the only danger of a fire. At the time of a structure fire, there’s a dangerous level of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as well as chemical and thermal irritants. Irritants can permanently damage a person’s or animal’s respiratory system and could cause death.

• Carbon monoxide is the result of incompletely burned fuel sources such as wood, oil and gas. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are confusion, dizziness, headache and weakness. If levels of carbon monoxide are too high it can cause loss of consciousness or even death. High carbon monoxide levels can make it more difficult for people to escape a fire.

• Carbon dioxide is created from chemical reactions that occur during fires. In the presence of too much carbon dioxide, individuals often experience respiratory issues.
• Smoke inhalation irritates the mucous membranes along with the lining of the respiratory tract, causing difficulty breathing, swelling or collapsing the airway.
•  Chemical irritants found in smoke are ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide.

What will your employees do if fire hits your business?

5/8/2022 (Permalink)

When it comes to fires, most businesses without a written plan that go through them never recover. That is yet another reason to call SERVPRO! We know how important it is to have not just a plan, but to have it written down, and because of that, we developed our Emergency Readiness Plan or ERP. In this plan, we help you come up with the most important info that your employees need to know in case the unthinkable occurs, and we get it on a written document that you can have easily accessible to everyone, so they all have this important info when they need it the most. 

One of the best parts about this service? We offer it free of charge. It is just one more way that we are Here to Help businesses in our community! Give us a call today to get started on your very own ERP!

When Fire Hits, Call SERVPRO! We Are The Evansville Fire Restoration Specialists

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

During a large residential or commercial fire, heavy losses are often endured; even a small fire event can cause extensive damage throughout a home or building. We here at SERVPRO of East Evansville provide local residents and business owners in Henderson KY, Newburgh, Evansville, Boonville and other surrounding areas in Indiana the knowledge and helping hand in fire prevention.

Reported by NFPA between 2011 and 2015, U.S.firedepartments responded to an average of 358,500 home structurefires peryear.

Our main goal at SERVPRO of East Evansville is to be there for our customers and our community. Part of our path to accomplish our main goal is to share our knowledge from our experiences so that our community can prevent fires in their homes and business.

1. Never leave an active stove unattended.
2. Always dispose of cigarettes into an appropriate receptacle.
3. Place lighters in a high area that’s inaccessible to children.
4. Routinely clean out the lint collector and exhaust vent connected to the dryer. (This is one of the leading causes of residential house fires.)
5. Most important, make sure that you have a fire emergency plan, which includes an escape route, meeting zone, and emergency contacts.
6. During colder months keep space heaters away from curtains and remember to turn them off when not home.
7. Never leave burning candles unattended.

SERVPRO of East Evansville provide fire, water, mold and other specialty clean up and restoration services. We respond to property damage emergencies, from multi-million dollar disasters to individual businesses and residential homes.

So if fire hits, give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are ready to use our experience, expertise, and equipment to get you back to "Like it never even happened."

No job is too big or to small just give us a call at 812-471-3132.

What To Do Until Help Arrives After A Fire

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

WHAT TO DO UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

DO:

• 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 to tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures. 
• Wash both sides of leaves on house plants. 
• Change the HVAC filter, but leave the 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. 

SERVPRO of East Evansville is a team of specialists, trained to professionally clean your home and personal belongings. If you experience a fire in your Evansville home or business, give us a call at 812-471-3132.

PET FIRE SAFETY

7/13/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Evansville understands that our fur babies are part of our families, and we need to do everything we can to protect them from one of the scariest things we can imagine. The following list is a great starting point to protect your most precious fury assets.

1. Keep your pets out of trouble

There are many ways to keep your pet from causing a fire. Blow out candles before leaving home, block off access to the kitchen or remove stove knobs if pets can reach it, and keep any and all wires out of chewing distance, especially from kittens and puppies!

1. Have a pet rescue plan in place

Discuss with your family who will be in charge of rescuing your pet in the event of a fire. Planning and practicing fire drills will help the family remain calm and help ensure that your pets are not forgotten during a chaotic evacuation.

1. Make rescuers aware of your pets and their hiding places

As part of your evacuation plan, include a list of your pet’s hiding places, so that firefighters will know where to look in case your pets don’t make it out with you. Also, make sure your pets have collars with up to date tags attached in case they escape on their own.

Smoke Alarm

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of East Evansville we hope no one ever has to face the tragedy of a house fire, but we want everyone to be prepared if they do.  There are many things to help a family better prepared for a house fire.  Having a working smoke alarm is the topic of today.

 A Working Smoke Alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire. 

Here are a few bullet points to help you ensure that the smoke alarm in your home is the lifesaving tool that it is.

• Install both ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
• Test batteries monthly.
• Replace batteries in battery-powered and hard-wired smoke alarms at least once a year (except non-replaceable 10-year lithium batteries).
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
• Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 8-10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking – it can be a deadly mistake.

Smoke Alarm Safety for People with Access or Functional Needs

• Audible alarms for visually impaired people should pause with a small window of silence between each successive cycle so that they can listen to instructions or voices of others.
• Smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the hearing impaired. Contact your local fire department for information about obtaining a flashing or vibrating smoke alarm.
• Smoke alarms with a strobe light outside the home to catch the attention of neighbors, and emergency call systems for summoning help, are also available

Grilling Safety

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Evansville is so excited that April is here. We love Easter, Spring Showers, and especially GRILLING!!!  Pulling out your favorite recipe and spending the day at the Bar-B-Q is a tradition looked forward to all winter long, but did you know grilling fires spark more than 10,000 home fires on average each year in the U.S.  SERVPRO of East Evansville wants you to have a safe gilling season so here are a few tips to make this grill season the best and safest yet.

1. Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
2. Never grill indoors — not in the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
3. Make sure everyone, stays away from the grill, including children and pets.
4. Keep the grill away from the house or anything that could catch fire.
5. Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill.

And if you are choosing to build a bonfire this weekend make sure that you are using only dry material and make sure that all debris is at least 10 feet away. When you are finished ensure that you extinguish the fire, pour water on all embers until the hissing sounds stop. Always keep a fire extinguisher close by when having bonfires or grills going so you can keep any fire damage from spreading in the case of an emergency. If you do have a fire damage know that SERVPRO of East Evansville is a call and ready throughout the entire Grilling Season! 

Vanderburgh County Smoke and Soot Cleanup

1/21/2021 (Permalink)

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call Us Today- (812) 471-3132

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

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of East Evansville will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (812) 471-3132

Removing Odors From Your Home

1/21/2021 (Permalink)

For smoke and smell removal from your property, call SERVPRO of East Evansville (812) 471-3132.

SERVPRO of East Evansville professional technicians are highly trained in a variety of techniques to remove lingering airborne odors from your property and from the items within. Our technicians have the necessary training, equipment, and experience to rescue, and restore your home from lingering odors, and smoke damage. Here are just a few of our proven systems…

• AIR SCRUBBING.A technician will use a high-efficiency particulate arrestor (HEPA) air scrubber which can remove 99.97% of particulates from the air. Removing these airborne particulates removes additional source materials for odors.
• THERMAL FOGGING. Fogging uses a petroleum-based deodorizer emitted via a thermal fogging unit. It fills the affected area with a mist-like deodorizer. Fogging counteracts odorous molecules by using fragrance modification for permanent odor neutralization. Prior to fogging, technicians put out all flames. Everyone in the treatment area must wear respiratory protection equipment or leave the area.
• VAPOR MODIFICATION.This method uses an aromatic compound vaporized from a sealed plastic container then dispensed into the air by a fan or blower. The mineral oils used in this process are non-toxic, non-oily, non-flammable, and non-explosive. Therefore, customers can choose to remain in or near an area during the smoke smell removal process. The deodorizer also penetrates affected porous contents like upholstery and drapery.
• OZONE GENERATION. This is one of the most popular and familiar processes for removing airborne smoke odor molecules, including hard-to-neutralize protein smoke. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer that neutralizes odorous molecules by releasing additional oxygen into the air. Ozone, while an effective odor remover, is not an “air purifier.” Customers should not be present when an ozone generator is in operation. Personnel should enter the treatment area only briefly to turn the ozone generator on or off. Ozone works best in a controlled environment, such as an ozone chamber. In there, odorous contents can be subjected to 24 to 48 hours of ozone gas.

For smoke and smell removal from your property, call SERVPRO of East Evansville (812) 471-3132.

Fire Safety Tips

12/16/2019 (Permalink)

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

Every year millions of families gather to celebrate Christmas meals in their homes.  What many of us do not think about is fire safety during our gatherings.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the main cause for home fires and injuries.  Here are some safety tips.

• NEVER leave cooking food unattended!
• Check food regularly while cooking and always remain in the home.
• Keep children away from the cooking area.
• Keep all flammable items-pot holders, wood utensils, and paper or plastic goods-away from the stove.
• Make sure to not wear loose fitting clothing while cooking.
• Always clean kitchen surfaces to prevent grease build up.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Make sure all appliances are turned off when finished cooking.

SERVPRO of East Evansville wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

Holiday Fire Safety

11/13/2015 (Permalink)

According to the National Fire Protection Association, on average, there is an 183% increase in fire incidents on Thanksgiving Day.

Fire Safety Tips

Every year millions of families gather to celebrate Thanksgiving meals in their homes.  What many of us do not think about is fire safety during our gatherings.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the main cause for home fires and injuries.  Here are some safety tips that I found in SERVPRO's November issue of Restoration Newsline provided by the American Red Cross:

SERVPRO of East Evansville wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!