Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness in Garfield & Pitkin Counties: Tips from Your Local SERVPRO® Team

1/2/2024 (Permalink)

In Garfield & Pitkin Counties, where fire damage emergencies are a yearly concern, our local SERVPRO® teams from Golden and Evergreen are always ready to respond. Understanding the leading causes of residential fires—cooking, heating equipment, electrical distribution and lighting equipment, intentional, and smoking materials—we emphasize the importance of fire escape planning. Here are crucial tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to help keep your Garfield & Pitkin Counties home safe.

Fire Escape Planning Tips:

Create a Home Escape Plan:

• Draw a map of your home, marking all doors and windows.
• Discuss the escape plan with everyone in your household.

Identify Two Ways Out:

• Know at least two ways out of every room, ensuring all doors and windows leading outside open easily.

Designate a Meeting Place:

• Establish a designated meeting place a safe distance from the house (e.g., tree, mailbox, light pole) where everyone should gather after evacuating.

Practice Regularly:

• Conduct home fire drills at night and during the day, practicing at least twice a year with all members of your household.
• Practice using different exit routes to enhance preparedness.

Teach Children to Escape:

• Educate children on how to escape on their own in case assistance is not immediately available.

Close Doors During Evacuation:

• Close doors behind you as you leave to help slow the spread of fire and smoke.

Call Us Today: When fire damage strikes your Garfield & Pitkin Counties home or business, remember that our local SERVPRO® team is Here to Help.® Contact us today for prompt and efficient restoration services. We'll work tirelessly to restore your property "Like it never even happened."

The Most Common Causes of Commercial Building Fires

3/3/2022 (Permalink)

Serpvro Van

Even with the best fire prevention training and protocols in place, and the best fire suppression systems, fires can still happen. Preventing fires in commercial buildings is a serious matter because lives and businesses are at stake. To avoid commercial building fires, it’s necessary to understand the most common causes to reduce the risk to your facilities.

Human Error

Commercial buildings are often full of people working and clients coming and going. Due to a large amount of traffic, human error will occur occasionally. Fires may be caused due to cigarettes not being put out properly near the building or the misuse of appliances or equipment. The best you can do to prevent a fire due to human error is to ensure everyone is informed on how fires are caused and how to avoid them.

Cooking Equipment

Due to high cooking temperatures, flammable oils and grease, and the hectic nature of commercial kitchens, this is the single most common cause of commercial fires. These fires tend to account for minor damage but are easily preventable with fire protection systems such as alarms and fire extinguishers. 

Heating Equipment

Heating fires account for 9% of all commercial building fires. Being by nature heating and using electricity, heating equipment is at risk for causing fires. Regular inspection and maintenance of all heating systems and equipment can prevent overheating or other malfunctions in heating systems that can cause fires.

If you have any smoke damage that you need to be cleaned, call SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties for Fire Damage Restoration and Repairs, we can help. Call us today at 970-618-1516. We are a 24/7 emergency response.

Fire Safety Tips for Your Parachute Home

3/2/2022 (Permalink)

Burned House

For many of us, a home is irreplaceable. It's a place that's special to you and your family, and it's the place where you feel safe and well. A fire can total home and cause enormous damage. That damage will have to be repaired. While the emotional damage will take time to heal, SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties has the human resources and the expertise to restore your home and reverse the fire damage.

Although SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin is more than capable of taking care of any damages from a fire, it's always best to prevent house fires in the first place.

Here are some practical tips to help you prevent a house fire.

 Install Smoke Detectors

You should have working smoke detectors installed on every level of your home to help warn you when a fire has started. For example, if something started as a small fire, hearing the alarm from a smoke detector can give you a chance to put the fire out before it grows more significant and more dangerous. Keep your sensors clean and free of cobwebs and dust to prevent false alarms. If the fire is already quite large, your focus should be on safely getting yourself and any pets or loved ones out of the house.

It's good practice to change the batteries during daylight saving time and test smoke detectors monthly to ensure they're working correctly. You should also have an escape plan that you and your loved ones can follow and easily remember should there be a fire.

Install Fire Extinguishers

Install your fire extinguishers high on the wall so they're easily accessible and away from children. It would be best if you also learned how to use your fire extinguishers become familiar with how they operate since you won't have time to learn how to use them when a fire breaks out. Call your local fire department to see if they offer any training for homeowners to use a fire extinguisher.

Check Your Wiring

If you live in an older home, the aging wiring in your electrical system should be thoroughly checked by a trained electrician. If you can't afford to have the wiring completely overhauled, having a trained electrician check the wiring routinely should eliminate any major problems down the road. 

Avoid Candles

To reduce the risk of fire, keep candles a safe distance of 12 inches or more from anything that can burn and never leave an open flame unattended or near children. Extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to sleep. If you love the warm glow candles give your home, use battery-operated flameless candles, which are much safer.

Keep an eye on your cooking

Unattended cooking equipment is a leading cause of home fires, using grills on wooden or combustible decks is also a contributor.

When cooking, you should always:

• Keep cooking appliances clear of combustible materials such as rags, towels, and packaging materials.
• Keep children away from all cooking areas.

Plan your Escape

A home fire escape plan is essential because every second counts when a fire breaks out. Before the worst happens, make sure everyone in your family knows how to get out and that there's nothing to stop that from happening. Identify all possible escape routes from your home and establish a meeting place outside, a safe distance from your house, with your family. Then, conduct your fire drills, both during the day and at night, so you're never caught off guard in an emergency.

Here at SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin, we care about the communities we serve. Therefore, we cooked up these helpful tips. While we'd love to have your business, we sincerely hope that a fire will never damage your home.

What you must to know about smoke damage

3/2/2022 (Permalink)

Technicians wearing protective gear

Fires can destroy your property and cause irreversible damage. The flames move from item to item burning everything to a crisp char. The heat produced by the fire will radiate and cause surrounding items to melt, crack and even shatter. After the flames have been put out, you are left with smoke damage. Smoke damage left unaddressed can devastate your home and its contents, and the actual fire does not necessarily have to occur in the same room.

In the case of wildfires, homes and businesses have been completely ruined just from smoke while the buildings remain untouched by flames.

Not all smoke damage is the same. Each of these is caused by different circumstances. For example, the temperature of the fire, fueling materials, and location will all play a role. Depending on what type of damage was done will slightly affect the restoration of the impacted area. Exactly what are the types of smoke damage?

There are four different types of smoke damage:

Protein residue: This type is very common in low-temperature kitchen fires. There is minimal smoke, soot, and streaking, but it may permanently discolor any finished surfaces. While hard to see, it’s not hard to smell: if left untreated, the intense, unpleasant odor may permeate the entire home or business.

Dry smoke: This is produced by fires fueled by paper or wood that burn at high temperatures and spread quickly. When the smoke clears, a light powdery substance is left on surfaces. Thankfully, this is easy to clean compared with denser smoke and thick soot. Dry smoke is light and will quickly get into porous surfaces. Even though it might look clean, a smoky smell persists.

Wet smoke: Caused by low heat, smoldering fires that have plastic and rubber actively burning. These fires have a distinct smell, and despite the smaller flames, the smoke is extremely thick and full of black soot. This sticky and dense smoke has no trouble fully covering the surfaces throughout homes and businesses. Special equipment is often needed to clean this smoke damage correctly.

Fuel/Oil Also known as petroleum residues, this smoke damage is not very common within homes and businesses because most of us don’t have a ton of gasoline just chilling in our house. The residue from this smoke is sticky, thick, and especially difficult to clean. With a hefty and non-appealing smell, it is easy to notice and will quickly destroy upholstered pieces of furniture, clothing, curtains, and other materials unless promptly washed and cleaned.

In any situation, avoid touching any of the residues to prevent smearing, and let a certified professional service, like SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties, clean it up to ensure your safety and your home’s.

If you have any smoke damage that you need to be cleaned, call SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties for Fire Damage Restoration and Repairs, we can help. Call us today at 970-618-1516. We are a 24/7 emergency response.

Most Common Causes of House Fires

1/3/2022 (Permalink)

House on fire and smoke everywhere

An accidental fire can ignite with frightening unpredictability, spread uncontrollably in seconds, and can decimate a home within minutes. House fires endanger everyone in the home and even small fires that are put out quickly often result in thousands of dollars of damage.

Most common causes of house fires in the U.S

Cooking

Cooking fires are among the most common types of house fires, causing around 49 percent of all residential fires.

Tools and food can catch on fire and spread quickly. If someone is not in the kitchen to extinguish the fire, it spreads rapidly through the house. Portable cooking appliances, such as toasters and electric griddles can also be a source of fires. Never leave these portable appliances unsupervised, and make sure they are cool to the touch before storing them away. Every kitchen should have a fire extinguisher that is rated for kitchen fires.  

Heating Equipment

Space heaters can cause fires when they are placed too close to other items. Anything that is combustible or can catch fire should not be anywhere near a space heater. Space heaters should not be left unattended. Always follow the instructions on any heating device you use, and inspect it regularly to ensure it is in good condition.

Christmas Tree Fires

Christmas tree fires are another leading cause of house fires. Christmas tree fires also caused about $14.8 million in property damage each year. Never leave Christmas tree lights plugged in when you are not at home or when you are sleeping, no matter if the tree is natural or artificial. Also lights left turned on cause the tree to overheat and catch fire.

Smoking Materials

Smoking causes thousands of houses fires each year. House fires can start from a lit cigarette or a lighter. Accidentally fires from cigarette butts dropped on carpeting, furniture, or other flammable materials can quickly spread a fire through the entire house. Smoking outside of the home is the most effective way to reduce the risk of house fires caused by smoking materials.

Candles

Candles should never be left unattended. Keep matches and lighters locked in a secure place if you have kids. You can reduce the risk of fires caused by candles by trimming the wicks each time you use the candle. Electric and battery-operated candles can also help reduce the risk of house fires caused by candles.

Appliances

Leaving appliances unattended and misusing appliances are also common causes of appliance fires in homes. Appliances result in thousands of houses fires each year. Fires started by an appliance can quickly spread to other rooms in the house. Defective appliances can cause a spark, which ignites a fire. 

 If you suffer a disaster from Fire Damage, Smoke Damage, or Soot Damage, call  SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin right away! We are available 24/7, 365 days a year!

Home Electrical Safety Tips

11/16/2021 (Permalink)

Outlet on fire

Home Electrical Safety Tips

Electricity is a cornerstone of modern living. It can be dangerous if not treated with proper respect. Many electrical fires can be prevented by following some simple electricity safety tips.

• Avoid overloading outlets

Overloading an electrical outlet is a common cause of electrical problems. Check all outlets to ensure they are cool to the touch, have protective faceplates, and properly working. Additionally, only one heat-producing device should be plugged into an outlet at a time (coffee maker, hairdryer, etc.), and refrigerators, ovens, laundry machines, and other major appliances should be plugged straight into the wall and not an adapter or extension cord.

• Unplug all your unused appliances to reduce potential risks.

Not only will unplugging appliances prevent you from using unnecessary energy, but it could also help protect your appliances from surges and other electrical mishaps.

• Give your appliances proper space for air circulation to avoid overheating.

Without proper air circulation, electrical equipment can overheat and short out and become an electrical fire hazard. Make sure your appliances have adequate air circulation and avoid running electrical equipment in enclosed cabinets.

• Never run cords under carpets, rugs, doors, or windows.

Running cords throughout your house can cause tripping hazards as well as inviting electrical accidents when they’re consistently out in the open. And a cord under a rug or carpet is a fire hazard. 

• Replace or repair damaged electrical cords to keep your home safe.

Damaged power cords are a severe residential electrical safety risk, and they are capable of causing both fires and electrocution. All power and extension cords should be checked regularly for signs of fraying and cracking, and they should then be repaired or replaced as needed.

• Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

A ground-fault circuit interrupter shuts off if it detects the current is being diverted due to a short circuit or insulation problem. This helps protect people from being shocked, and it prevents fires due to electrical faults. GFCI devices should be installed in bathrooms and kitchens.

When your home or commercial business experiences a fire damage emergency, SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties is here to help. Call us today at 970-241-8181

Fire Restoration Certification

8/31/2021 (Permalink)

After a fire, cleaning soot on the walls of the hallway

The community of Garfield County has so much to offer, from its natural beauty to its location close to the wineries, shops and restaurants of Garfield and Pitkin counties.

It’s peaceful, tranquil and majestic so it’s hard to believe that fire can be reality of life here too.

Unfortunately, fire can strike without warning and that’s where the professionals of SERVPRO can make a real difference.

A Certified Professional Response

SERVPRO focuses on training and skill because our name is on the line with every job that we do. To make sure that every one of our technicians is prepared for anything, we have an extensive ongoing training process.

That includes certification from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) that covers best practices in water restoration, fire restoration, mold remediation, carpet and upholstery cleaning and other cleaning and restoration processes.

We don’t stop there, though. We offer employee certification training on a self-paced basis, so that each employee can keep up to date on every aspect of the business, including fire restoration. We even offer continuing education classes for all of our staff to help improve their knowledge of emergency mitigation.

The Name You Can Trust

SERVPRO has been the name you can trust for all of your damage restoration and cleaning needs since 1967. Today, we have over 1,700 franchises operating nationwide to provide the personal touch you expect from a local company.

That’s a combination you just can’t get anywhere else and it’s what made SERVPRO the company that so many individuals and businesses turn to in their time of need.

If you’re facing the effects of a fire, call SERVPRO and rest easy knowing you’re getting professional help that’s certified to be the very best.

That’s the SERVPRO difference you can rely on.

Fire Damage: Things to do until we arrive!

8/19/2021 (Permalink)

Fires can be devastating, and SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin understands that lives, cherished belongings, and memories are beyond priceless. It is natural to want to clean your property and get life back to normal. Quick action can be great, but improper or delayed action can risk restoration and cause even more damage.

Remember, SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin is ready to assist you after a fire with fire damage restoration and help you get back to normal. Getting your home or business back to preloss condition as quickly as possible is our number one priority. We are 24/7 emergency response; call us today at 970-949-3235.

If you experience fire or smoke damage in your home, here are some things that you can do until the SERVPRO team arrives.

• 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 the freezer and refrigerator, 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 tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.
• Remove pets to a clean environment.
• Wash houseplants thoroughly.
• Change the HVAC filter but leave the system off until a trained professional can check the system.

Fire Restoration Contractors Near Aspen, Colorado

1/26/2021 (Permalink)

Silhouette of man in front of fire with quote Disasters and Emergencies can Develop and Damage Properties Fast...

When a fire strikes it can leave you scared, confused and disoriented

There is nothing more devastating than having to deal with the aftermath of a fire that strikes without warning and can destroy a home or business in the blink of an eye.

Unfortunately, fires are a common occurrence here in the Aspen Colorado area with all of the natural forest and mountain terrain.

As beautiful as the ski resorts of the Roaring Fork Valley and the tremendous elevations of the Maroon Peaks may be, they can also lead to danger at times. 

When it comes to fire damage flames, smoke and soot are only one part of the picture

Water damage caused by broken pipes, rain or firefighting efforts often causes more harm than the fire itself and you need to know that you can rely on a restoration service to address all of the potential fire related issues.

Fortunately, for residents and business owners in the Aspen area, there are fire restoration contractors you can consider to help you navigate the stressful process of getting back on your feet after a fire.

At SERVPRO we have a long history of providing thorough, professional fire restoration for homes and commercial properties and we take pride in responding faster to any disaster.

The Real Effects Of Fire

Of course, the destructive power of flames and the extreme heat that they generate are the most obvious effects of fire, but the truth is that this is just where the damage begins.

Everything from furniture and precious belongings to building structures can be damaged and even completely consumed by flames.

At the same time, smoke can cause damage by clinging to many surfaces, including wood, plastic, carpets and fabrics, and causing noxious fumes and unhealthy odors.

Soot can also adhere to a number of surfaces but it can be even more dangerous when it becomes airborne as this can make it a breathing hazard for anyone in the building.

Just a few moments spent in a fire ravaged room or building can leave you exposed to a range of harmful toxins.

As devastating as all of this damage can be, it’s actually only a fraction of the overall problems that you may be faced with in the aftermath of a fire.

One of the biggest hazards is the water used in firefighting efforts, which can not only weaken structures, destroy furniture and rot wood, but also if it is not treated quickly and thoroughly it can lead to a potentially dangerous mold infestation.

Call The Professionals For Help

It can seem particularly stressful to deal with this kind of extensive damage and that’s why you should never try to undertake the task of restoration by yourself.

When it comes to thoroughly restoring a property, whether a family home or a valuable business, doing the job properly can make all the difference and that’s why you should rely on the services of a fire restoration contractor to ensure that the job is done right.

At SERVPRO we’re ready to take you through the entire process step by step to ensure that your home or property is restored to its pre-fire condition.

1. Initial Response – The process begins with your initial call. At SERVPRO we understand how important it is to act quickly after you experience fire damage. The sooner the restoration begins, the more you can reduce the overall cost and we know what that can mean to you or your business. SERVPRO’s policy is to respond faster to any disaster, so we’re ready to answer your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
   
   
2. Damage Assessment – We’ll be at your property within four hours of your initial call and we’ll perform a thorough assessment of all damage. After pre-testing any damaged surfaces to determine whether they can be restored, we’ll give you a full explanation of the restoration process so that you’ll know exactly what to expect.
   
   
3. Boarding Up – In some cases it may be necessary to secure openings to your home or business to prevent further damage caused by the elements or to avoid break-ins. We’ll used plywood, tarps and other protective measures to make sure that your property is secure throughout the entire restoration process.
   
   
4. Water Treatment – Since water can bring its own array of specific damage, we’re ready to use our specialized, state-of-the-art equipment and training to remove all standing water and ensure that every surface is thoroughly dried using professional grade dehumidifiers and air movers. We’ll also thoroughly inspect and treat your HVAC system in order to prevent mold infestation.
   
   
5. Soot and Smoke Removal – With our regular training and Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), we’re prepared to employ the most effective techniques for removing soot and smoke damage from any surface. We understand how destructive soot can be and will thoroughly clean all surfaces to remove any soot-related toxins.
   
   
6. Cleaning and Sanitizing – Once all of the damage has been addressed and any contaminants eliminated, we’ll use specialized cleaning and sanitizing processes as well as industrial air scrubbers and foggers to ensure that your property is returned to its previous state and that the environment is safe for everyone.
   
   
7. Restoration – At SERVPRO, we understand how devastating fire damage can be and that’s why we make it our policy to restore your property so it’s “Like it never even happened.” With that in mind, our process doesn’t end until every bit of your property that can be restored has been thoroughly addressed. We know that it’s only with restoration that you can really begin to heal. So we’ll do whatever it takes, from replacing drywall, painting and installing new carpet to completely rebuilding rooms, to get you back on your feet again.

Restoring Your Peace of Mind

As fire restoration contractors in the Aspen area, we take the health and safety of this community very seriously.

We understand the emotional toll that a fire can take and that’s why we take a “restore first” approach, because we go out of our way to treat every property as if it were our own.

When one part of a community is hurting, the whole community is affected, so it’s not something to be taken lightly.

Unfortunately, trying to completely replace everything lost to a fire can be costly and in some cases it may not even be possible.

Your insurance company can often help to make you whole again but you’ll need to provide a thorough inventory of all damaged or lost items and we can help with that too.

We’ll take stock of every individual room we work on and provide a complete inventory so you’ll be able to get that insurance claim filed quickly and easily.

We’ll also work with you to help restore everything we possibly can, so that your home or business can get back to normal as soon as possible.

When fire strikes and leaves your property devastated, it’s important to know who to call for help.

The professionals at SERVPRO are ready to tackle any job in the Aspen area and we have the training and equipment to do the job right.

We know how important your home or business is to you and we’ll respond at a moment’s notice, 24 hours a day, because it’s important to us too.

No one ever wants to find themselves dealing with fire damage, but if you do you can find fire restoration contractors who are prepared to treat you with care. 

SERVPRO is Available Around the Clock to Help you Restore your Colorado Mountain Home After a Fire.

12/1/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is Available Around the Clock to Help you Restore your Colorado Mountain Home After a Fire.

Most homeowners in The Colorado High Rockies know that restoring their home after a fire takes time. The flames, smoke, and extinguishing agents left behind by the fire and first responders can leave your home in disarray. Do not let the mess intimidate you; instead, call a company certified to handle these situations.

Only a professional group can help mitigate your loss as it helps you salvage, remove, and restore your home and your personal belongings.

For our Colorado High Rockies neighbors, fire damage restoration is a phone call away. Our SERVPRO team is available around the clock because we recognize that emergencies happen day and night. Our Green Fleet is ready to spring into action, assess the incident's impact, and create an action plan for your home. Our goal is to erase this disruption from your life by doing a conscientious and thorough job of restoring your home.

How do I decide what to keep and what to toss after a fire?

Looking at the soot sitting on your furniture, books, and decor may leave a hopeless feeling in your heart, but don't jump to conclusions until you consult our SERVPRO experts. At its fingertips, our team has different options to restore documents, electronics, and flooring, among others. Fires also leave behind an acrid smell, which our team can address as well. At the core of our restoration process, we focus on the following-

Use of chemical agents to loosen soot and dirt while protecting the surface itself. Once the process of emulsion occurs, removing debris becomes easier.

Use deodorizing agents to neutralize and kill any smell molecules lingering in your home, including those that traveled through your ventilation system.

Use of extraction equipment to remove any remaining water used to extinguish the fire.

Our team at SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties is looking out for you when you need it the most. Call us at (970) 618-1516 when disaster strikes and lets us leave your home, "Like it never even happened." 

Smoke and Soot Damage

8/11/2020 (Permalink)

We are the Restoration Experts

Smoke and soot damage from a fire can almost be as devastating as a fire itself.  Luckily you don’t lose your items like in a fire, but the smoke damage caused to the items in your household can and will linger if not taken care of properly.  SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties has the proper mitigation tools to take care of this for you.  Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties is on-call 24/7 for all your emergency restoration needs if you have a fire on the weekend or at night we are here for you, give us a call at (970) 618-1516

24/7 Fire Damage Company

7/9/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage does not have a set time that it occurs. It typically happens when you least expect it. When that does happen, you need a 24/7 fire damage company to come to you and your family’s rescue. That’s what the heroes at SERVPRO of Garfield and Pitkin Counties do on a daily basis. We are available 24 hours of the day (including holidays), 7 days a week for your emergency needs. We’re Here to Help and to make that fire damage at your residential or commercial property "Like it never even happened."® 

Have you ever been on vacation, soaking up the rays, playing in the sand, enjoying that quality family time together on the beach? Then, you receive a phone call from your neighbor notifying you of that fire at your place? Or, perhaps, you’re at work, completing all your to-do items, exceeding all your goals, receiving compliments from your boss about the fantastic job you’re doing, telling you you’re a valuable asset? You’re just having a winning day. Then, you go home for lunch and, surprise, a fire in your kitchen. As you can see, fires can happen at the least unlikely time. 

When your home or business is hit with a fire, it’s vital you know what to do. Here are some fire damage emergency tips for you: 

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
• Keep hands clean so you don’t further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator, and prop doors open.
• Clean and protect chrome with a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
• Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
• Change the HVAC filter.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

Our experienced and qualified heroes are faster to any size disaster and can get your property back to Like it never even happened.® We’re dedicated to responding immediately -- day or night -- to your home or business. A faster response helps to prevent secondary damage and to reduce costs.

If you have a fire at your home or business and need a 24/7 fire damage company, you can rely on SERVPRO of Garfield and Pitkin Counties. We are your local professional fire damage repair and restoration specialists. Will you give us your next restoration job? We’re just a click away and/or phone call away. Call (970) 618-1516.

Are You Actually Doing Enough for Fire Damage Remediation in Silt?

2/17/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage can affect many of the items in your home. SERVPRO customizes the remediation plan to fit your needs. Call us right away!

My Books Are Covered in Soot!

Taking care of your home is not easy.  There are the general maintenance and landscaping, along with the upkeep of its cleanliness and working order.  Even the most conscientious homeowners find themselves in awkward situations when forces out of their control threaten the home.  For example, a kitchen fire or a burst pipe can leave you seeking help to restore your home and its belongings in short order. Whom you call to help you in this process can make all the difference between a tangle of inconveniences or a fast and effective result.

In Silt, you can refer your fire damage needs to SERVPRO.  Our skilled technicians are available around the clock to arrive at your home and assess the damage.  As we collect information, we draw up a plan that focuses on mitigating your loss of time and money, as well as protecting your most prized possessions.  Our team communicates with you every step of the way so you can make decisions together for the benefit of your home and family.

One of the issues our SERVPRO staff faces often is restoring artwork and books after a fire in the home.  The cleanup process for these items is not straight-forward and requires specialized training and a high level of expertise.  When we consider the restoration of your books, we carefully evaluate their construction, age, exposure to damage, and their intrinsic value.  All this information informs our action plan. When the smoke residue is minimal, we may be able to clean your books and artwork by using dry cleaning techniques such as compressed air and dry sponges.  If the residue is substantial, we may apply cleaning solutions to eliminate the smoke and then carefully sand down the paper to eliminate the residue. Our process is not complete until we apply deodorizing agents, keeping in mind the porous nature of paper.  For pieces of art, we may work in coordination with contractors specialized in art restoration if the piece warrants it. If not, we work with you to dispose of the item with your approval.

SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties is your ally for fire damage and restoration.  Call us at (970) 618-1516 and let our team take care of you. Like you, we want to leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

Click here for more information about Silt.

Managing Soot Residues in New Castle Homes After Fire.

12/14/2019 (Permalink)

New Castle we know what fire, smoke, soot and water can do to your home. Let SERVPRO help.

Fire damage in your New Castle home, let us take over.

Soot and smoke particles can be a hazardous presence for New Castle properties and their owners after a fire. Soot is especially threatening, as its smaller size can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and become nearly impossible to expel. This risk is what makes the management of this threat a vital element of effective fire damage recovery.

Our professionals have extensive training and safety coursework to approach soot removal and other fire damage in New Castle homes most efficiently. Residues can also be an equally threatening situation, as inappropriate cleaning tactics can either stain and mar surfaces or aerosolized loose soot particles back into the environment. Careful consideration must occur before actions get taken against present soot damage to determine the affected materials, best cleaning approaches, and containment options.

Scoping the work to get done in a damaged home is the first step, and we can catalog damaged soot-damaged contents for retrieval by our content management team and determine which surfaces require focused attention. Many materials can be salvaged and cleaned despite the presence of soot if addressed quickly enough by our experienced SERVPRO professionals. Cataloging this damage also serves to provide credible information to your insurance provider to get damage claims approved faster.

The content management division can work on moving belongings and furniture to our nearby SERVPRO facility for cleaning and restoration while our field technicians begin addressing remaining soot and smoke residues lying on the surface of affected materials. Agitative cleaning practices like vacuuming and brushing can often help to loosen this sediment and allow for practices like wiping with potent cleaning products to be more productive. Soda blasting and other abrasive cleaning techniques can also help to remove the soot without harming the surface of the material beneath it.

It is critical to work fast when soot is present in a home because health effects and marring of construction materials/contents can result. Trust in the experience and cleaning practices of our SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties team to make it “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (970) 618-1516.

To find out more about New Castle, click here.

Little Known Ways to Rid Fire Damage from Your New Castle Home

10/25/2019 (Permalink)

When fire damage occurs you should act quickly and contact SERVPRO.

Fire Damage in Your New Castle Residence Necessitates Efficient Soot Cleanup

The fine particles of tar, carbon, and other materials produced during the incomplete combustion of fire are called soot. Soot particles can coat various surfaces of your house. They can be fine dust or sticky oil depending on the materials involved in the fire. Smoke can travel further than the flames, spreading to rooms that the fire did not impact.

Soot stains most surfaces in a few hours after a fire, and it may also settle in the ductwork of your HVAC system. Porous materials such as drywall, carpeting, paint, and fabrics can have a significant amount of soot after a fire damages your New Castle home. Soot can also damage non-porous materials such as glass, metal, and stone. When dealing with soot damage, you can trust SERVPRO franchise professionals to clean up your property and restore it to its pre-damaged state.

Cleaning soot stains largely depends on the amount of fire and soot damage. Soot is acidic, and it can, therefore, stain most surfaces within a short time. Water from firefighting efforts may also cause damage to your possessions and the structure of your home. Cleanup should start immediately to prevent further damage.

Our soot restoration services start with an initial assessment of the damage and a free estimate. If there is water, we can remove it using portable extractors and dry out the affected areas using air moving and dehumidifying equipment. Our restorers can then test affected materials and categorize them as washable or non-washable. We can wash the walls, ceilings, and floors of all affected rooms. We can also clean furniture and other personal items.

Our SERVPRO team can also clean synthetic and plastic materials properly and discard the items that heat has ruined. We can also clean your ductwork to ensure that the HVAC system does not blow soot into the house.

Wood is porous, and it can absorb soot quickly. Our technicians can dry clean unsealed, or unfinished wood. We can use dusting cloths, feather dusters, or dry cleaning sponges to wipe wood surfaces. Dusting clothes may not eliminate all the oily residues. We can use brushes of various sizes with either stiff or soft bristles to remove smoke residues from decorative trim and crevices. If the smoke residues are substantial, we can semi-refinish the hard furniture.

If you are searching for a remediation company that offers soot cleanup services in Glenwood Springs, Silt, and Rifle, SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties is the company to call. We can deal with the fire loss to make it “Like it never even happened.” You can reach us at (970) 618-1516.

Click here to learn about the town of New Castle.

SERVPRO Is Swift to Mitigate the Fire and Smoke Damage to Your New Castle Property

8/19/2019 (Permalink)

Soot Stains and Smoke Odors Are Best Left to SERVPRO to Restore Your New Castle Home, "Like it never even happened."

What You Can Do About Fire Damage in Your New Castle Home Before Help Arrives

Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, estimate around 370,000 house fires occur every year, resulting in nearly $7 billion in overall property damages. Fortunately, the majority of fires happen where only a portion of the home is damaged, which negates the need for complete demolition and rebuild or perhaps none at all but can lead to other issues such as the spread of soot or odors.

Before SERVPRO arrives at your New Castle home to clean up fire damage, there are things you can do to make the mitigation go even faster and limit loss.
?    Turn off the HVAC to limit the spread of soot via ductwork
?    Have as little foot traffic in the affected area as possible
?    Close the doors to the fire loss area
?    If you attempt to clean, remove only light, dry soot with a dry sponge or rag, better yet, with a vacuum
?    Do not use wet sponges or cleaners as this can grind soot into surfaces

Once our technicians are on-site, we contain the fire loss area using a thick-gauge plastic barrier (usually 6-mil) over doorways and vents to stop the spread of soot. The room is ventilated if appropriate, charred debris removed and restorable items removed for cleaning. SERVPRO technicians try to limit loss as much as possible for homeowners through our proprietary restoration methods.

Odor control is a large part of fire loss cleanup. Odor-causing soot particles exist smaller than the human eye can see and travel throughout the home unless contained and removed. We used equipment such as air scrubbers with HEPA filters to capture airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns and trap them. When our technicians complete fire debris removal and mitigation efforts, the room is ready for any needed repairs or reconstruction.

SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties stands ready to assist local property owners with fire damage. Call us anytime at (970) 618-1516, and our emergency response teams arrive within hours to remove the fire loss from your home "Like it never even happened."

Local Public Safety Info HERE

Fire Restoration Professionals Talk About Cleaning Methods to Restore Fire Damaged Rifle Homes

7/9/2019 (Permalink)

There is not a one size fits all solution to clean fire damaged possession. SERVPRO has several cleaning methods used to restore your home.

Restoring Fire Damage Property in Rifle Homes

Despite having the Colorado running through town, Rifle residents know that fire season is just getting underway. Recent rains dry up quickly as the temperature rises and put their homes at risk.  

Fire damage in Rifle homes can be everything from a burned out roof to the thick smoke residues coating every surface in the kitchen, dining room, and elsewhere after a fire. SERVPRO response crews train their personnel as Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technicians, or FSRTs to ensure they can clean residues on everything from upholstery fabrics to drywall, and more.  

Each FSRT trains to become skilled on four primary cleaning actions. Each one is designed to break residues from the surface they adhere to after the fire. Depending on the surface and type of residues, technicians use Suspension and Dispersion, Mechanical, Lubrication, or Chemical Actions.  

Suspension and Dispersion is the first and most common cleaning action used by SERVPRO. Technicians loosen soils with a cleaning product, which become suspended in the solution, and dispersed. Suspension happens when the soils dissolve in the cleaner or remain intact inside a cleaner they cannot mix with chemically. FSRTs remove them using a sponge or extraction device. It is useful on items like drywall.  

Mechanical Action is also called Agitation. Technicians use it, sometimes with a cleaning agent, to physically break up residue layers on fabrics, stone, metal, and more. Since some surfaces absorb cleaning products, a scrub brush or mechanical agitator is also a preferred method to remove them along with the residues and other soils.  

Lubrication Action breaks the link between residues and surfaces by making them slippery. The detergents and other cleaners work their way under the residue or other soil so they ‘slide’ into them for easy removal. It is a particularly useful action on glass and metal surfaces.  

Chemical Action alters residues by application of a cleaning agent. The alteration allows technicians to more easily remove them using sponges, vacuums, and devices like extraction wands to pull residues and the shampoo cleaner from carpets.  

At SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties, we understand that a home is far more than four walls and a roof. Memories sometimes link closely to personal property, so our response teams take every action possible to restore the items in Glenwood Springs, New Castle, and Silt homes, as well as the structure, to their pre-fire condition. To schedule a service visit, contact us at (970) 618-1516.

More about Rifle.

Glenwood Springs Fire Mishap? Don't Wait, Call SERVPRO

5/22/2019 (Permalink)

Not a Problem for SERVPRO to Cleanup and Restore Your Glenwood Springs Kitchen Fire Damaged Materials

SERVPRO is Behind You Even For Small Glenwood Springs Kitchen Fires

Very often, we do not realize just how vulnerable we are to having fire damage in our homes. Something as simple as a stove left on accidentally can ignite flames and threaten your whole kitchen and home before you even realize it. What starts as a regular morning, may quickly turn into a scary day, leaving you in need of specialized services to restore your kitchen.
 
SERVPRO is poised to be the professional team that restores your Glenwood Springs home after it undergoes fire damage. Even when you are unclear of what the full impact of the accident may be, our crew arrives to begin assessing the damage and establish an action plan to minimize the disruption of your life as well as your material loss. Our staff is trained in fire damage restoration and certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC), so you can rest assured that we can tackle your situation by applying industry best-practices and methodology.
 
Even the smallest of fires can leave behind a foul smell that seems to linger even after soot and smoke residue has been wiped off by our SERVPRO crew. To understand how to neutralize it, our IICRC-certified technicians follow the path of the smoke and take into consideration the nature of each material that caught on fire. Materials such as plastic leave a thick residue, while natural materials such as wood leave lighter remains that are typically easier to clean and remove. In your kitchen, you may also encounter food product remains, and those can be sticky and require yet another type of cleaner and disinfectant. Protein residues are tricky to remove along with the pungent odors. Our industry experience helps us protect your belongings by knowing precisely how to treat each surface to minimize collateral damage.
 
SERVPRO of Garfield and Pitkin Counties is at the ready to help you face your day. Our team is available 24/7 simply by calling (970) 618-1516. Let us into your home so we can leave it "Like it never even happened."

To contact your GSFD click

We Have Specialized Techniques To Get Rid Of Fire Damage In Glenwood Springs

3/28/2019 (Permalink)

Fires that start in the kitchen can leave horrible odors. Our team is experience and has the right equipment to fully restore your home.

Small Fire Damage, Big Odor Problem in Glenwood Springs

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 50.3% of fires in residential buildings were caused by cooking. This type of fire damage is often referred to in our industry as a protein fire because it comes from burning food which can leave pungent, hard-to-remove odors in the home.

Mitigating both foul odors and fire damage in Glenwood Springs homes requires the application of several specialized techniques. While protein fires often leave little in the way of residues, the smell is usually stronger than other types of fire odor. Additionally, due to the high heat, the scent tends to permeate furnishings and porous items easily and remains until neutralized.

After accessing the area affected by the protein fire, SERVPRO technicians determine if containment is necessary and ascertain the area is dry. If needed, technicians perform water extraction, and air movers are deployed to thoroughly dry without spreading odor-causing particles to other areas of the home.

Technicians work on cleaning residue from affected surfaces using professional-strength cleaning solutions and wet and dry sponges as necessary on surfaces and affected objects to remove any remaining residual smoke and soot residues and eliminate some of the odor caused by the fire damage.

The Odor Control Technician (OCT) has numerous resources to use for effective odor removal after a protein fire. Due to the nature of fire odors, the removal of the pungent scents can be a multi-layered process. Air scrubbers fitted with activated charcoal filters pull odor-causing motes from the air that cannot be seen with the naked human eye. The air ducts are cleaned, and the HVAC filter changed to eliminate any odors that traveled from the original fire damaged area. Another effective method of odor neutralization is the application of thermal fogging. Our OCT uses a handheld machine to deliver a heated fog of odor-neutralizing solvent. The fog works in the same manner as smoke to penetrate and overtake odors deeply embedded in porous objects removing all traces of the protein fire.

Fire odors can linger until all traces of the fire damage is removed from the home. SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties has technicians available to assist you 24/7 to get rid of all traces of the fire at your home. Call (970) 618-1516 today to get started.

Click here for a list of things to do in Glenwood in the Spring time.

Is a Fire Cooking in Your Rifle Kitchen?

2/5/2019 (Permalink)

Trust the SERBPRO Brand to restore your fire damaged property.

A Forgotten Electric Griddle a Source of Fire Damage in Rifle, Leaving a Gutted Kitchen

Electrical appliances in the kitchen often face exposure to water. The habit of leaving several items plugged into the wall through a power strip can also seem fine. Residents in Rifle who do this might not realize the risks until it is too late. A kitchen fire does not always start with oil or grease overheating. 

SERVPRO Franchise professionals can help you get your kitchen in Rifle back to normal after fire damage makes it unusable. We promise to arrive Faster To Any Size Disaster and work as a team to make things normal again. Electrical overloads and malfunctioning items in kitchens and bathrooms cause many fires each year. 

When we mitigate fire damage in a kitchen, we keep different goals in mind. We want to ensure that restoration work can safely happen which requires the removal of all safety hazards such as exposed nails and other sharp fasteners, cleaning up of soot deposits, and drying the area of any water used to put the fire out. 

SERVPRO Franchise professionals remove charred drywall and cabinetry, and this can leave exposed wood with sharp edges. We remove the entirety of affected cabinets, so restoration efforts flow more smoothly. Drywall and other wall materials allow us more leeway, and we only remove those materials damaged by the fire. 

We can often clean smoke damage away. When deposits are thicker and more heavily adhered to surfaces, we can restore these with scraping and repainting, which is considerably less expensive than replacing the area. Soot often ends up on ceilings, above doorways, and in light fixtures and other highly detailed and grooved furnishings. We can clean these items and make them “Like it never even happened.” 

Making sure that your kitchen becomes dry again protects it from microbial colonization and also protects those performing restoration work later from possible hazards. We use air movers that pull moisture out of surfaces and thoroughly dry them. 

Odor control also becomes a crucial part of mitigation and restoration. The odors produced might not seem as pungent as those from a grease fire, but hey can become just as bothersome. Our Odor Control Technician (OCT) can discuss with you the most effective methods for your particular circumstances. 

The work we do gets your kitchen area back to normal and functioning again. Call SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties at (970) 618-1516 when your home in Parachute, Basalt, or Snowmass sustains fire damage. We offer 24-hour service, from your initial phone call to the complete mitigation of your property.

Read about Rifle here.

Some Tips to Help You Understand the Fire Damage Remediation Process in Rifle

12/6/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage can affect many surfaces in your home. Contact SERVPRO to discuss the best plan to remediate the damage.

Fire Damage Restoration for Your Rifle Home

If you have experienced a home fire in Rifle, you are probably quite shaken up and possibly at a loss of what to do next. Even a small fire can cause a great deal of damage. The smoke and soot left behind can be even more damaging than the fire itself if it is not taken care of quickly. The longer it is allowed to stay on surfaces, the more it eats away at them.

Fire damage repair for your Rifle home should only be trusted to a professional. At SERVPRO, all our technicians are adequately trained to handle a disaster like this of any size. We take the time to assess the damages upon arrival to your home so we can determine the best methods to use to restore your home to how it looked before the fire.

Methods used to clean structural items depends on what surface we are cleaning. SERVPRO staff uses dry cleaning for surfaces which could be damaged or affected by products that are water-based and are therefore non-washable surfaces.

A dry cleaning sponge is used to remove smoke residues from surfaces. They are rubber sponges which contain no chemical products. Instead, these sponges clean through friction and absorption. As it is pressed, rubbed, and pulled over a soiled surface, the sponge’s porous surface absorbs soils. We use firm pressure to erase the soot from a surface.

In some situations, a dry cleaning sponge is not sufficient. They can clean flat, nonglossy surfaces better than glossy surfaces, where they tend to smear residues. Here, we need a wet cleaning process to remove residues. Dry cleaning can generally remove light to medium soils and residues which are not greasy but should not be used for residues which are greasy.

Dry cleaning is the best process when wet cleaning is not an option. Wet cleaning is more useful for getting rid of residues, but some surfaces can be damaged when using this process. Moisture can set smoke residues into a porous surface, creating stains. Dry cleaning is the best method for unfinished wood surfaces, so moisture does not set into the porous wood.

Once SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties has determined the best methods of cleaning for the various surfaces affected by the fire in your home in Rifle, Redstone, or Basalt, we set to work right away to prevent further problems. Once the fire is safely out, call us right away at (970) 618-1516 so we can get to you quickly to help you restore your structure.

Click here for more about Rifle.

How to Restore Your New Castle Home From Minor Fire Damage

10/8/2018 (Permalink)

Even a small fire causes a lot of damage. SERVPRO has the training and experience to restore your home to its original condition.

Any Household Fire Damage In New Castle Needs Professional Remediation.

The relief you feel when an unexpected fire in your home quickly extinguishes can fade if the cleanup afterward is inadequate. Attempting to manage the tasks needed after what seems only to be a minor fire is never as straightforward as a homeowner wants to believe. One of our core services is fire restoration. Let us return your home to “Like it never even happened.” condition. 

Fire damage cleanup in New Castle needs a professional touch to be successful. When our crew arrives, be assured you are partnering with a well-qualified and equipped team of experts. Cleaning after a fire is a different sort of challenge than the efforts required for normal soiling or everyday wear and tear. Our professionals can restore fire damage using techniques mastered during IICRC training and products and equipment specially formulated or designed for the task.  

Fire damage residues are toxic, exposing those who clean and restore to the risk of harm. SERVPRO technicians train to complete soot and odor removal efficiently and safely. We know how disruptive it is even to consider a move-out during restoration procedures. Our crews always strive to contain the smoke and soot damaged areas, permitting you and your family to remain in the home while we do our work. Physical barriers and modern equipment like negative pressure air scrubbers prevent debris from invading the rest of your living space as we do our work. 

It is crucial that soot removal happens swiftly after a home fire. The residues left by fire are highly acidic and begin to damage all building materials and personal possessions immediately. The SERVPRO crew moves confidently and quickly through your fire-damaged home, understanding how the smoke and soot moved ahead of them. We match cleaning methods to the type of soot soiling we observe in your home. Our training and experience ensure fast and appropriate solutions that halt the progressive damage and prepare the surfaces and items affected for the final restoration. 

Our technicians have equipment at their disposal that homeowners do not. SERVPRO crews have the skills to recover the function and appearance of items you might believe ruined. We help save memories and avoid replacement costs. 

SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties is ready to respond to your request for fire damage restoration round the clock. Call us at (970) 618-1516 to schedule an evaluation regardless of the size or duration of the fire. 

New Castle was originally a mining town. Read more about its history here. 

Hot, Dry Conditions Increase Risk of Fire Damage in Silt and Other Areas of Garfield County

8/17/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage, regardless of the cause, is destructive. Call SERVPRO for remediation efforts if your home ever experiences a fire.

Team SERVPRO Understands That Remediating Fire Damage Also Includes Dealing With the Remaining Water Used to Put Out the Fire

The daily reports of wildfires in many areas of the country concern residents of Silt. Wildfires are a powerful force of nature, capable of taking down entire communities. Even with the controlled prescribed burns authorities attempt before high wildfire season, residents must be vigilant. Wildfires are a reminder of the destruction any fire can do. If a fire from any source affects your home regardless of precautions, our trained and experienced fire damage restoration technicians can help.
 
When fire damages your Silt home lining up professional remediation services must occur sooner rather than later. Even though the stress and confusion of surviving a fire can interfere with calm and reasonable reactions, the residues left behind after a household fire cause immediate and progressive damage to all types of structural components and contents. Our highly qualified technicians are ready to take action swiftly to clean up, restore, and deodorize your home after any fire.
 
The first task SERVPRO crews usually take on when called to a fire scene is water and chemical extinguisher removal. Firefighters do not stint on the resources used to put out the fire, but the water and powdered or foam left behind pose their own dangers. Just a film of water and powdered fire deterrent chemicals cause a slip and fall hazard. Inches or feet of water are not unheard of in firefighting circumstances, saturating building materials and exposing restorers to electric shock risks. Evacuating the water and drying the structure avoids the deterioration and secondary damage moisture brings about before the fire damage remediation is even considered.
 
Once the water damage issues stabilize, SERVPRO crews assess the harm done by the flames and the smoke and soot that spread through your property. Soot can be sorted into three main categories, and each requires a different approach for cleanup to be most effective. Light, ashy soot from fast, hot-burning fires often responds well to vacuuming and dry sponging. Thick, sticky soot from a smoldering electrical or textile fire can need a surfactant or wetting agent application and perhaps some agitation or abrasive action with appropriate tools to loosen up enough to be wiped away. Protein fires deposit thin, challenging to remove coatings that are almost invisible but smell strongly. Abrasives and solvents are the pair of choice, stripping the residue food and grease fires leave.
 
SERVPRO of Garfield & Pitkin Counties cultivates a team of well-trained experts to attend to your fire damage scenarios. Whether a wildfire jumps a firebreak or your dinner preparation goes horribly wrong with a grease fire call (970) 618-1516 for assistance from IICRC certified technicians backed by innovative products and equipment.

Click here for more information on the city of Silt.

Restaurant fire and smoke restoration

2/28/2017 (Permalink)

This fire was at a restaurant in Grand Junction Colorado

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