Preventing Fire Damage: Tips for Homeowners

9/20/2023 (Permalink)

Taking these precautions can help reduce the risk of a fire in your home.

Fire damage can be devastating, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of a fire in your home. Here are some tips for preventing fire damage:

• Install smoke detectors in every room and test them regularly.
• Keep flammable materials away from heat sources.
• Never leave cooking food unattended on the stove.
• Keep space heaters away from curtains, bedding, and other flammable materials.
• Never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended.
• Inspect and clean your dryer vent regularly to prevent lint buildup.
• Don't overload electrical outlets or use frayed cords or wires. Keep a fire extinguisher in your home and know how to use it.

Taking these precautions can help reduce the risk of a fire in your home. However, accidents can still happen. If you experience fire damage in your home, call SERVPRO of Chula Vista at (619) 482-1131. We're available 24/7 to respond to your emergency and help you restore your property.

How SERVPRO of Chula Vista Can Help with Fire Damage

8/16/2023 (Permalink)

Fire damage is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a home or business.

Fire damage is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a home or business. Not only does it cause physical damage, but it can also be emotionally and mentally traumatic for those involved. At SERVPRO of Chula Vista, we understand how difficult this time can be and are here to help you through the process.

Our technicians are trained and certified to handle fire damage restoration. We use state-of-the-art equipment to remove smoke and soot from your property and clean and deodorize all affected areas. We also provide board-up and tarping services to secure your property and prevent further damage.

We work closely with your insurance company to ensure that you receive the coverage you deserve. Our team will handle all aspects of the restoration process, from initial assessment to final repairs. We are committed to providing you with the highest level of service and support during this challenging time.

If you experience fire damage in your home or business, call SERVPRO of Chula Vista at (619) 482-1131. We're available 24/7 to respond to your emergency and help you restore your property.

Fire Safety Tips for Chula Vista

7/18/2022 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Chula Vista we do fire clean up.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, accidents in San Diego County are unexpected. At SERVPRO of Chula Vista we do fire clean up, so we want to give you the following tips to avoid fire damage:

• When you're cooking, stay in the kitchen
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
• Turn off heaters/candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Inspect the electrical wires in your home
• Have an escape plan in case of a home fire
• Install smoke detectors on all levels of your home
• Replace any smoke detector that is more than ten years old.

Follow these tips to prevent accidents. In case your Chula Vista home or commercial business needs fire damage services, SERVPRO of Chula Vista is Here to Help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Cocina de manera segura en Chula Vista

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

Los incendios en las cocinas suceden cuando menos lo esperas.

De acuerdo a la Asociación Nacional de Protección contra Incendios (NFPA), los incendios en las cocinas suceden cuando menos lo esperas y son la principal causa de incendios en el hogar. En SERVPRO de Chula Vista contamos con el servicio de limpieza de incendios, por eso te compartimos los siguientes tips para cuando estes preparando una deliciosa comida en tu hogar:

• Nunca dejes la estufa sin vigilancia mientras cocinas
• Evita materiales combustibles en el área de su cocina
• Mantenga un extintor cerca
• No arroje aceite caliente a la basura o al desagüe, deje que se enfríe antes de tirarlo.
• Evita usar electrodomésticos de cocina si tienes sueño o has consumido alcohol.

Te recomendamos seguir estos consejos para prevenir accidentes. En caso de que su hogar o negocio de Chula Vista necesite servicios de daños por incendio, SERVPRO de Chula Vista está aquí para ayudarlo las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana.

What to do after you've experienced a house fire

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage can happen at any time in San Diego County.

We have seen with our years of experience how difficult it is for homeowners to process after fire damage to their home. If you experience an emergency fire damage in your Chula Vista home, we advise you to follow these 3 steps:

1. Make sure everyone is safe

If your family is all together, take a moment to see if anyone has been injured that you didn't notice. If you have pets, it is recommended that you take them to a Veterinarian as their lungs can be affected by smoke. Once everyone's health is in order, be sure to take a moment to clearly assess the situation.

2. Secure the house

If the fire has exposed multiple openings, the first priority for restoring your home is the deck. This is to prevent the property from deteriorating due to bad weather or unauthorized persons entering your home.

3. Call SERVPRO of Chula Vista

We are a company preferred by many insurance companies. After talking with your insurance, call us because in these situations you will need professional help; because there may be asbestos in the debris, the structure may collapse, the air may be unsafe, and fires can still reignite under the debris.

Fire damage can happen at any time in San Diego County. Should you witness an experience like this, please remain calm and we'll be ready to respond using our innovative technology and experience. Call us at (619) 482-1131.

At SERVPRO of Chula Vista we know how important your belongings are.

5/2/2022 (Permalink)

We offer the pack out and pack back service.

Immediate action is required when dealing with a damage emergency. We are always looking for tranquility for our clients and we are aware that the items inside the property have an important meaning. Before starting the restoration process we offer the pack out and pack back service.

This service has many benefits, such as:

• The fastest remodeling process
• Protect items from potential damage
• Protect content from further damage on the site
• All your belongings will be stored in a warehouse where only you will have access to enter

It should be noted that this service works hand in hand with our clients to meet their needs and the necessary care for each item.

Whenever you experience a damage emergency to your Chula Vista home or commercial business, SERVPRO of Chula Vista will be ready to respond using our innovative technology and expertise. Call us at (619) 482-1131.

Practice Safe Cooking in Chula Vista

3/24/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Chula Vista is Here to Help 24 hours a day.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires. The vast majority of time, they happen when you least expect it. At SERVPRO of Chula Vista we do fire clean up, so we want to give you the following tips for when you prepare a meal or are baking some delicious chocolate chip cookies. 

• Never leave your stove unattended while cooking. 
• Keep your cooking area free of combustible materials. 
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Keep cooking equipment clean.
• Never throw hot grease in the garbage or the drain. Let the grease cool before discarding it.
• Create a kid-free zone. Create a space of at least three feet around your stove and other areas where hot food is prepared.
• Avoid using kitchen appliances if you're sleepy or have consumed alcohol.

Follow these tips to prevent accidents. In case your Chula Vista home or commercial business needs fire damage services, SERVPRO® of Chula Vista is Here to Help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to do after a board up?

3/3/2022 (Permalink)

We can do complete home restoration after a fire.

After there is a fire in your home or business it can be challenging to figure out what to do next.  The real process of restoring your property begins after the fire is gone and your property is boarded up. At this point if you haven’t already, it’s time to call SERVPRO to help! We will be able to assist you and your insurance company with making an assessment of the damage. Most insurance companies will see that there is a lot of debris after an initial inspection, and will have SERVPRO cleaning the property so that the home can be ready for restoration. 

SERVPRO of Chula Vista can do the bries clean up and complete home restoration after a fire. 

Please call us at (619) 482-1131 or tell your insurance company that you want SERVPRO of Chula Vista to restore your property. 

What is a board up? Do I need it in my Chula Vista business?

2/28/2022 (Permalink)

We have a 24-hour board up service.

The other day, we got a call from someone that had an unexpected disaster in their shoe store. 

There was a malfunction with the electrical wiring that was connecting to their store which sparked a fire and halted the business operations immediately.

They reached out to SERVPRO of Chula Vista, because we have a 24-hour board up service. The process of covering openings with plywood in a secure and safe manner, so that there are no unwanted openings is a board up. In this case, the shoe store still had a lot of unaffected inventory, so it was a priority for the business owner to be able to preserve his inventory from any uninvited guests that could come after hours. 

Please call us, SERVPRO® of Chula Vista, immediately if you experience any circumstance like this in your home or business and we’ll be ready to respond.

Air Quality After Fires

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

Something very dangerous when there's a house fire is the quality of the air. After a traumatic experience like that is over, something left to deal with is cleaning the contents of your home. We get calls for fires often and when they happen, we always bring our respirators in case there are areas that are really dangerous to breathe in.

One of the best explanations I've found is the following from indoordoctor.com:

Hundreds of reaction products are created during and after a fire. Modern furnishings, building materials, and insulation material contain toxic properties. These cancer causing chemicals become airborne during a fire and bind with the smoke properties.

When there's a fire, give us a call and we can provide respirators to assist you get through the process safely. We can also remove debris, clean the air, and restore your home back to it's original condition. Our team is always ready to respond to any emergency.

Link to article is here.

Certifications and CE Credits

6/15/2021 (Permalink)

The primary board for the water damage restoration industry is the "Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, also known as "IICRC." The IICRC sets the standards for the correct protocol to follow during water damage restoration, mold remediation, and fire clean up, and a broader scope of trainings that encompass textiles, and inspections. SERVPRO is the leader in the industry because they make it a standard for operators to be certified in numerous topics. Some of these certifications that we learn from the IICRC include:
WRT - Water Damage Restoration
ASD - Applied Structural Drying
AMRT - Applied Microbial Remediation
FSRT - Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

The classes are rigorous in nature and require a lot of material to understand. Once the classes are complete, we must take an exam to prove that we understand the material. Since the industry is always evolving, these certifications are not lifetime certifications. We must take Continuing Education Credits or "CE Credits" to make sure that we stay competitive and so we can always hold up our "experts" belt proudly for the world.

Recently, our team went out to a major fire at a retail store in Chula Vista. I saw how knowledgeable the owner was in this topic, so I just registered for my FSRT class next week, so that next time we go to something like this, I can follow in their footsteps and be a resource for anyone that needs our help.

What Happens After a Major House Fire

6/11/2021 (Permalink)

Recently, we had a homeowner that had a major house fire in San Diego. When the fire trucks put out the fire, there's still water, soot, ash, and debris everywhere that has to be dealt with. The challenge is that there's a human element to processing such a major event, yet there's a lot of different things happening at the same time. A fire marshall will come in and inspect the property to see what the cause of the fire was. In cases where the fire is related to gas or electrical, SDG&E has to come in and work on the property to make sure that your connections are off if necessary.

Most homeowners have insurance for their house, so if that's the case, an insurance adjuster will most likely want to walk through the house and see the extent of the damage that the insurance has to pay for. They will also work with a vendor or whoever is ultimately the contracting party to set up construction and make sure the home is restored to preloss condition. Since we are preferred vendors for most major insurance companies, call us first since we are certified in fire restoration and can consult with you on the right steps to take as the work follows.

What to do After You've Experienced a House Fire:

2/19/2021 (Permalink)

A home that caught on fire in Chula Vista

House fires can be really challenging to deal with. While homeowners are still trying to process the events that just occurred, they are bombarded with several difficult questions and choices that they have to make right away. Is everyone alright? Where are we going to stay? What about finances?

There are 3 basic steps you should follow right after you've experienced a fire:

1. Make Sure Everyone is Safe:
If your family is all together, take a moment to see if anyone sustained any injuries that they didn't notice. If you have pets it's recommended that you take them to a Veterinarian since their lungs may be affected from the smoke. Once everyone's health is in order, make sure to take a moment to be able to clearly assess the situation.

2. Secure the Home:
If the fire caused several openings to be exposed, the first priority in restoring your home is performing a board up. This is to avoid the property getting any worse due to bad weather or unauthorized people entering your home. 

3. Call the Right Professionals:
The truth is that in these situations you will need help; there can be asbestos in the debris, the structure may collapse, the air could be unsafe, and fires can still reignite under debris. When the smoke clears, you'll find that over the next several hours and days, dozens of companies will solicit offers to fix your home, with amazing deals, prices, and promises. While we recommend calling us first, you can also call your insurance company and open up a claim. As a preferred vendor to many major insurance companies, we will restore your home to proper industry standards.

There are many variables and questions that often come up. Please give us a call at (619) 482-1131 with any questions and we will be glad to serve as a resource!

Holiday Helpful Safety Tips for your Home

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

The month of joy

Thanksgiving is almost here and it's almost time for most of us to decorate for the holidays.  

Remember these safety and helpful tips to ensure a safe home through the holidays and beyond.

• Always inspect your lights before you hang them
• Replace any out or broken lights
• Never connect more than 3 strings of lights at a time
• Use clips to safely attach lights to the house
• Be mindful of low-hanging or damaged wires to protect pets and children
• Always use ladder safety when putting up or taking down your holiday decorations
• Never plug more than two appliances into an outlet at once or “piggyback” extra appliances on extension cords or wall outlets
• Remember to keep candle flames far away from decorations, ornaments and especially trees
• When building a fire to keep cozy, test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, burn only dry, split firewood (avoid chemically treated wood), and close damper when fireplace is not in use

Call us if there is ever any fire or water related damage at your home! You can reach us at (619) 482-1131 and we're open 24/7 during the Coronavirus Pandemic (a.k.a. COVID-19). 

Happy Holidays from everyone at SERVPRO of Chula Vista