Handling Water Damage After a Fire

5/18/2020 (Permalink)

Water cleanup is simply part of the process.

As homeowners in Tulsa, OK, you understand that fire causes mass destruction. Is water cleanup something that really should be added to the list, though? Shouldn't you be more concerned with the smoke and blackened ceiling? While you may not place the wetness at the top of your list, it is a repercussion of the event. Yes, it does require proper attention. Neglecting it could only make the situation worse.

1. Why Is It Wet?
When the flames set, most likely you called 911, allowing the fire department to quench the blaze. To do that, those experts had to take certain actions such as break windows or make holes in the roof or walls. Why hurt something more? After all, smoke cleanup is enough to handle? It allows the smoke to escape and provides oxygen, slowing the fire's development. In addition, your sprinkler system should have gone off, mitigating the overall harm. Finally, the fire fighter's used hoses to spray it all down, ensuring the conflagration didn't start by up again. Hence, you now have walls that look a bit like Swiss cheese; plus, they're dripping wet. It's normal and necessary.

2. How Do You Fix Water Damage?
Washing away smoke is one thing. Dealing with water cleanup is also serious. If the moisture sits too long, fungal spores can react with it, establishing a new home within the charred drywall. For this reason, collaborate with a fire and water restoration company. They can secure the building, preventing further humidity and dry out the premises, evaluating for any suspected mold growth.

3. What About the Smoke and Odor?
With the dampness gone, the fire cleanup can begin. Crews sanitize the space, even deodorizing the rooms. The holes get patched back up, new paint is added and lost items are replaced.
Yes, water cleanup is simply part of the process. Don't overlook it, as it needs attention. With it completed and the right team on your side, your place can reopen.