Heat Your Home Safely

Each year fire claims the lives of 3,500 Americans, injures 18,300, and causes billions of dollars worth of damage. People living in rural areas are more than twice as likely to die in a fire than those living in mid-sized cities or suburban areas. The misuse of wood stoves, portable space heaters and kerosene heaters are especially common risks in rural areas. 

All heating equipment needs space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away. Supervise children whenever a wood stove or space heater is being used. Have a three-foot "kid-free" zone around open fires and space heaters.

Wood Stoves

 

Wood stoves cause over 4,000 residential fires every year. Carefully follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions. Look for solid construction, such as plate steel or cast iron metal. Check for cracks and inspect legs, hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams. Use only seasoned wood for fuel, not green wood, artificial logs, or trash. In pellet stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood pellets. Inspect and clean your pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions.

Electric Space Heaters

 

Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Check to make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Heaters are not dryers or tables; don't dry clothes or store objects on top of your heater. Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip. Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use.

Kerosene Heaters

 

Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and check with your local fire department on the legality of kerosene heater use in your community. Never fill your heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel; both flare-up easily. Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene. When refueling, allow the appliance to cool first and then refuel outside. Never overfill any portable heater. Use the kerosene heater in a well ventilated room.

 

 

Fireplaces

 

Fireplaces regularly build up creosote in their chimneys. They need to be cleaned out frequently and chimneys should be inspected for obstructions and cracks to prevent deadly chimney and roof fires. Check to make sure the damper is open before starting any fire. Never burn trash, paper or green wood in your fireplace. These materials cause heavy creosote buildup and are difficult to control. Use a screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks. Don't wear loose-fitting clothes near any open flame. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed. Allow ashes to cool before disposing of them. Place ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep the ash container at least 10 feet away from your home and any other nearby buildings. Never empty the ash directly into a trash can. Douse and saturate the ashes with water.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

For more information on Home Heating Safety from FEMA, visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/heating/.

To find out how SERVPRO of Greater Northern Charleston responds to a fire damage, visit http://www.servprogreaternortherncharleston.com/ - you can also visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/servproofgnc.

Smoke Can Be Surprising!

The complexity of property loss or destruction due to fire damage is due to the unique behavior of smoke. Smoke can penetrate within cavities of the structure, causing hidden damage and odor.

Some things you may not know about smoke:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.


• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, using holes around pipes to go from floor to floor.


• The type of smoke may greatly affect the fire damage restoration process.


• There are at least many types of soot and residues left behind by smoke:  Wet, Dry, Protein, Fuel Oil and others.

Having a SERVPRO of Greater Northern Charleston Professional inspect and pretest your home after fire damage prior to beginning the cleaning process saves time and can prevent the loss of important items or keepsakes.

For more detail on the behavior of smoke, the risk of hidden damage and how we at SERVPRO of Greater Northern Charleston can help, visit our Fire Damage and Restoration page and feel free to contact us, 24/7 at (843)-747-8750 or via our Contact Us form.

1-4-8 = Rapid Response. Every Time.

Rapid Response on EVERY call is what sets SERVPRO apart from our competitors.  While all SERVPRO franchises are independently owned and operated, we are all held to the same response time guidelines.  We are actually scored on our ability to maintain consistent response times with the 1-4-8 standard set by our corporate leadership.

At SERVPRO of Greater Northern Charleston we take the 1-4-8 guideline as a challenge.  When we are notified of a loss by your insurance company or property manager, we make sure someone stops IMMEDIATELY to contact the appropriate person to make arrangements to be on site for emergency service in as little time as possible.  Highly trained and professional technicians are usually on site in less than 2 hours unless otherwise requested by the client. 

We also make it a practice, to contact your insurance adjuster if at all possible during the initial visit to your property in order to expedite necessary approvals for the work required to mitigate the fire or water damage and restore your home or business as quickly as possible. 

SERVPRO of Greater Northern Charleston is proud to be part of a nationwide company that challenges us to provide expedient, quality service to our local home owners and small businesses.  We are also provided a regional and national network of franchises afford us the ability to respond with the same level of efficiency and professionalism when a large commercial loss, or storm related losses occur.

 

 

SERVPRO of Greater Northern Charleston

FASTER TO ANY DISASTER.

843-747-8750

info@servproofgnc.com  ~  servpronortherncharleston.com

Kitchen Fires - What to Do and When to Call for Help

Kitchen fires can spring up quickly; do you know what to do first? Learn when to use a fire extinguisher, when to smother a fire, and when to call the fire department.

According to the most recent government statistics available, there are more than 150,000 kitchen fires in the United States yearly, with hundreds of people killed and thousands more injured. Cooking mishaps cause up to 90 percent of kitchen fires, and most of those are grease fires. Those frightening statistics lead up to one big question: Do you know what to do when a kitchen fire flares? Should you first reach for the fire extinguisher or for the phone to call the fire department?

Grease Fires in the Kitchen

Grease fires belong in a class by themselves and should not be handled like any other kitchen fire. Rule No. 1: Never pour water on a grease fire. The best way to handle a grease fire is to smother it, if possible, and let it die out. Follow these specifics:

• Whenever you're cooking, have an oven mitt, a potholder, and a lid that fits your pan all on hand and ready to grab in case fire sparks.
• If grease catches on fire in your cooking pan, quickly put on the oven mitt, then place the lid over the pan to smother the fire. Try to slide the lid over the flames as opposed to dropping the lid down from above.
• Turn off the burner and leave the pan exactly where it is so that it can cool.
• Never move the pan, never carry it outside or put it in the sink, and don't lift the lid until the pan has turned cool.

Oven, Microwave, and Electrical Fires

Fires can happen anywhere in the kitchen — near an electrical outlet, in the microwave, or in the stove. Here are some tips to help you know what to do in case of any of these kitchen fires:

• Oven fires. Immediately close the oven door and turn it off. If the fire doesn’t go out right away, call the fire department. Have the oven inspected and repaired before you use it again.
• Microwave fires. Close the microwave door and keep it closed. Turn the microwave off and unplug it if you can do so safely. Leave it closed and don't use it again until you can have the appliance checked out by a technician.
• Electrical fires. Prevent electrical fires by not overloading your electrical outlets with appliances. If a fire starts, use a fire extinguisher; never douse it with water. Always call the fire department for an electrical fire, even if you have already put it out with the fire extinguisher.

Using a Fire Extinguisher on Kitchen Fire

Every kitchen should be equipped with a fire extinguisher. Get one that's labeled as safe to use on any kind of fire, and keep it within easy reach.

If a fire starts, you won't have time to stop and read the directions. Become familiar with these tips to understand how to use a fire extinguisher on a small kitchen fire:

• First, remove the pin from the fire extinguisher — it won't work if you don't.
• Point the extinguisher toward the base of the fire, not the top of the flames.
• Holding it by the handle, press down on the lever on the fire extinguisher; just let go when you want to stop.
• Spray horizontally back and forth across the fire until it's extinguished, remembering to aim low.

Baking soda is also an important ingredient in any kitchen, and not just for baking cookies. If a fire breaks out on an electric stovetop or if you don’t have anything available to smother a grease fire, grab a box of baking soda and pour it generously on the flames. Baking soda will help to extinguish a small fire, but you may need several boxes of it. Never use flour to put out a fire, as it can make the flames worse.

When to Call the Fire Department for a Kitchen Fire

So when should you call 911, and when should you try to fight a fire yourself? Never hesitate to call the fire department. But if it's a small, contained fire, you should follow the above tips to try to extinguish it while waiting for help to arrive.

You should also be sure to get your family out of the house, and if the flames rise and spread, you should get out, too. Kitchen fires that start small and can be quickly contained or extinguished are one thing, but roaring fires aren't something you should attempt to tackle. Remember safety first: Keep yourself and your family protected, and call for help.

Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-home/general-safety/tips/how-and-when-to-fight-cooking-fires.aspx

Call the Cleanup Team

Temperatures across the country are continuing to take their annual plunge. As the use of fireplaces, space heaters and other heating alternatives increases, the threat of home and business fires inevitably increases, too. In fact, did you know heating fires are the leading cause of home fires in the United States during the months of December, January and February? These fires are often started by tenants or homeowners seeking more environmentally friendly, less expensive ways to warm their homes.

If a disaster does strike your home or the home of a customer, you can trust your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional to help restore order quickly. Backed by an award-winning national training program and 40 years of leadership in the cleanup and restoration industry, the SERVPRO System is designed to reduce downtime, lower recovery costs and minimize stress for you and your clients.

So when fire or water damage strikes your business, call the cleanup team that’s faster to any sized disaster.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

Here's a steamy reminder from our friends at State Farm
to be careful with those candles tonight!

On average, about 40 candle related fires are reported every day...
On V-Day? That TRIPLES! 

So all you lovebirds be careful! 

Use glass jars, keep flammable objects away from the flame and

be sure candles are on a solid, steady surface. 

 

Just a few minutes of extra care could keep your super hot date night
from going up in flames! 

 

Remember we are here 24/7 ~~ (843) 747-8750

servpronortherncharleston.com

Tuesday Tip ~ 2/12/2013

Over half... 53%... of deaths related to home heating equipment is due to the heat source simply being too close to something flammable.  Take a few minutes to check your furnace, fire place, outdoor heaters, space heaters, etc. and make sure there is at least 3 feet of open space.  Just a few minutes can greatly improve the safety of your home and family during the winter months.

For more information on Home Heating Safety from the City of Charleston:  http://goo.gl/eDO5l

24/7 SERVPRO is here to help:  http://www.servprogreaternortherncharleston.com/

Tuesday Tip! ~ 2/5/2013

Did you know smoke detectors have a shelf life?! They should be changed every 10 years!  According to nfpa.org, winter residential heating equipment accounted for almost 500 deaths and 1.1 BILLION dollars worth of damage in 2010.

 

Early smoke detection is the first line of defense in getting out of your house before anyone gets hurt!

 

 

 For tips on what to do until help arrives if you are affected by a fire, visit: http://www.servprogreaternortherncharleston.com/fire-damage-tips

For proper care of smoke detectors: http://goo.gl/x1ZuH
More on winter fire safety: http://goo.gl/tp0Xg

Tuesday Tip ~ 8/21/2012

That pesty collect-all junk drawer could cause more than a head ache!  A recent house fire in New Hampshire is the result of a spark from a battery gone awry! On suggestion is to make sure all batteries are put in ziplock bags or kept in their original packaging where they are unable to make contact with anything else in the drawer! 



Full Story:Junk Drawer Fire  Solutions: Drawer Organizers on Amazon

We hope you have a Spark Free week... but if you need us you can find more information and contact us thru www.servpronortherncharleston.com.

Tuesday Tip ~ 8/7/2012

Lightning can strike from as far as 10 miles away and accounts for many outdoor fires! We have seen some crazy lightning storms the last few weeks in Charleston! They may be cool to watch... but be careful! If you can hear thunder you are "in range!"

For more lightning safey tips: http://www.nfpa.org/

assets/files/PDF/Public%20Education/Lightning_Safety.pdf

And don't forget... if your storm gazing ends in unfortunate flood or fire damage... we can help!! www.servpronortherncharleston.com

Tuesday Tip ~ 7/3/2012

How hot does a sparkler burn?? 1200 degrees!! Needless to say that's hot enough to start a fire just about anywhere. When celebrating tomorrow night... Keep the water handy... the kids a little less handy and have a "designated shooter!" Fireworks can be fun... but that kind of heat does not mix well with alcohol!  Have a safe and amazing 4th of July! 

If you have a sparkler get out of control... we are on call 24/7 to help!  (843) 747-8750 or online with our Contact Us Form.

Tuesday Tip ~ 6/19/2012

How old are the batteries in your smoke detectors??

According to NFPA, "Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms."   Locate and test all of your smoke detectors at least once a month!

For more smoke alarm safety tips:
http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1647&itemID=39905&URL=Research+&+Reports%2FFact+sheets%2FSmoke+alarms%2FSmoke+alarm+safety+tips&cookie_test=1

Remember Servpro of GNC is available 24/7 if you experience a fire in your home.  Call (843-747-8750) or Contact Us Online so we can get you back into your home as quickly and comfortably as possible.

Tuesday Tip: 5/29/2012

FEMA study reports that clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires annually… leading cause? Failure to clean! Not just emptying the lint trap (although this is a good place to start!), but don't forget to clean the ducts and outdoor dampers as well!  (You can read the full report on: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v7i1.pdf )

For information on our services, visit our website!