California Wildfires: Cleanup & Recovery Tips

11/27/2018 (Permalink)

Soot tracks are the last thing you want to worry about when evacuating a home from a wildfire. SERVPRO of North Hollywood took care of the clean up.

Hopefully the recent California wildfires spared you from the most devastating fire damage, though obviously many were not so fortunate.

We at SERVPRO of North Hollywood express our deepest condolences to those who suffered serious property damage or worse and support the American Red Cross in their recovery efforts.

However, even if your property escaped the wildfires' flames, there are still several things you should do to effectively clean up following a wildfire.

Here are a few wildfire cleanup and recovery tips to help ensure you and your home or business do not experience any lasting damage from the smoke, ash and debris generated by a wildfire. 

Purify The Air

While air purifiers and other ventilation systems can help with improving the air quality inside of buildings that are close to burning wildfires, the sources of smoke damage odors need to be properly cleaned to prevent air quality problems from lingering. A thorough inspection and cleaning of carpets & upholstered furniture, drapes, bedding and other porous materials should be handled by a certified and experienced fire restoration company to keep air quality issues from sticking around. HVAC systems and duct work should also be inspected and cleansed of ash, soot and other fire residue and debris.

Further, some smoke odor issues require more intense treatment. Ozone generators and HEPA vacuums, for example, may be recommended for persistent air quality issues, but they should only be operated by a qualified professional. 

Cleanse Surfaces

The soot and ash that spews from wildfires is highly acidic. If left unaddressed, it can corrode metallic surfaces and electronics or discolor and stain painted surfaces such as walls, ceilings and furniture.

Therefore the sooner that soot and ash damaged property is cleaned and restored, the better.

Clear Your Mind

With any major disaster, you are likely to have too many worries at once to focus on any one effectively. Putting the cleanup tasks in the hands of a team of certified and highly trained fire restoration specialists can relieve you of many of the stresses and associated with wildfire recovery. We'll work to restore your property and possessions to their previous condition so you can focus on your family or business during this most difficult time.

In the event of a wildfire, the most important thing is your safety and the safety of your loved ones. Once the flames are extinguished, the clean up and recovery process can begin and the pros at SERVPRO of North Hollywood stand ready to assist you whenever and wherever you need us.