Fire Strikes a Commercial Building in Hixson, TN

1/7/2019 (Permalink)

Earlier this week, a commercial building in Hixson, TN experienced a fire that left their building full of smoke and soot damage. SERVPRO of Chattanooga was called out immediately to assess the damage. When you experience a fire in your home or business, the smoke and water damage from the firefighters' extinguishing efforts will likely cause additional damage. If you experience a fire loss in your home or business, here are some tips to better understand the fire restoration process. 

1. Emergency Contact 

   When you call us, you will be asked questions regarding the fire damage event that will help us respond immediately with the appropriate team, equipment, and resources.

2. Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment 

   SERVPRO of Chattanooga carefully inspects the entire home or business- not just the immediate area. Sometimes, soot and water affect areas that are not always seen. This step is crucial to developing a plan of action. 

3. Immediate Board-up and Roof Tarp Service 

   Fire damage can often compromise windows, walls, and roofs, as seen in the photo of the commercial property. To maintain security and to protect against further damage, we can board up missing windows and walls and place tarps on damaged roofs.

4. Water Removal and Drying (if water is present) 

   The water removal process begins almost immediately and removes the majority of the water. Most of the water occurs if pipes melt and leak, or from the firefighters' efforts to extinguish the fire. We use dehumidifiers and air movers to remove the water complete the drying process. 

5. Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces 

   We use specialized equipment and techniques to remove smoke and soot from ceilings, walls, and other surfaces.

6. Cleaning and Sanitizing 

   We clean, sanitize, and disinfect all of the restorable items and structures that were damaged by the fire.  We’re also trained to remove several types of odors using industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment.

7. Restoration

   Restoration is the final step—getting your home or business to its pre-fire condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. SERVPRO of Chattanooga has a reconstruction division that focuses solely on getting your home or business back to normal, "Like it never even happened."