Fire Damage Insurance Coverage

7/3/2024 (Permalink)

Fire damage is typically covered under standard homeowners insurance policies. Homeowners insurance generally includes coverage for damage caused by fire, smoke, and the efforts to extinguish the fire, such as water damage from firefighting efforts.

Steps to Take After a Fire

1. Ensure Safety: Make sure everyone is safe and that the fire is fully extinguished.
2. Notify Your Insurance Company: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the fire and start the claims process.
3. Document the Damage: Take photos and make a list of the damage to your home and belongings.
4. Make Temporary Repairs: If it is safe to do so, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Keep receipts for any expenses incurred.
5. Work with the Adjuster: An insurance adjuster will inspect the damage and help determine the amount of your claim. Be sure to provide them with all necessary documentation.
6. CALL your local SERVPRO® for all cleanup restoration services following fire and water damage.

Fire damage is generally covered under standard homeowners insurance policies, which include dwelling, personal property, other structures, loss of use, and liability coverage. Understanding your policy’s limits, deductibles, and exclusions is essential to ensure you are adequately protected.

SERVPRO Team Paparone is here to help with the coordination of insurance companies and adjusters to make sure everything goes according to plan. We are faster to any disaster! 

The First 48 Hours are Crucial

1/2/2024 (Permalink)

The first 48 hours after a fire damage can make the difference between restoring versus replacing your property and personal belongings.  SERVPRO of Fox Chase/Torresdale can help prevent fire damage from creating long-term problems. Our franchise provides timely response with mitigation services ranging from fire, smoke, and soot removal to contents claims inventory and document restoration.  These services help ensure your property, belongings and memories are restored to preloss condition when possible.

What You Can Do Until Help Arrives

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from spreading and additional damage from occurring.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs and high traffic areas and upholstery.
• Coat chrome faucets, trim and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.
• Do not wash any walls or painted surfaces.
• Do not shampoo carpet or upholstery.
• Do not clean any electrical equipment.
• Do not send clothing to a dry cleaner since improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

9 Tips on Pet Fire Safety!

7/6/2023 (Permalink)

Saturday, July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day! It is important to include your furry family members into your emergency plan should a fire ever occur. You want to make sure they know their way out of the house during an emergency.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the United States, an estimated 500,000 pets are affected by house fires annually, with a significant number suffering injuries or losing their lives. Here are some tips to keeping your pets safe during a fire emergency:

1. Develop a clear and well-rehearsed evacuation plan that includes your pets. designate a meeting point outside where everyone, including your pets, can gather safely.
2. Display pet alert window stickers: 
3. Ensure that your pets wear collars with identification tags at all times.
4. Pets can accidentally knock over candles, lamps, or space heaters, causing fires.
5. Consider installing pet-specific fire alarms or detectors that can detect the unique frequencies of a pet's distress call.
6. Take steps to minimize the risk of fires in your home. Don't leave pets unattended near open flames or hot appliances.
7. Include essential supplies for your pets in an emergency kit, such as food, water, medications, and copies of vaccination records. Keep this kit easily accessible in case of an evacuation.
8. Inform neighbors or nearby friends: 
9. During a fire emergency, pets may become frightened and seek hiding spots. Be aware of their favorite hiding places and inform firefighters or rescue personnel about their likely locations. 

Show some love to your pets and make sure they are ready to escape during or following an emergency. Call SERVPRO Team Paparone immediately following any fire damage restoration services. We are HERE TO HELP® 24/7.

Time to Check Your Smoke Alarms

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Emergencies are going to happen; that’s life. Having a plan in place is super important, especially when owning a house or business. Checking your fire alarms frequently is important to preparation. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to your fire alarms:

BATTERY LIFE: According to the NFPA, you may need to change your batteries every 6 months (that’s what that little beeping noise is) and the entire smoke alarm every 10 years.
SAFETY: The placement of smoke alarms is very important. Placing them in all sleeping areas and outside bedrooms/outside of doors.
FEATURES: The NFPA suggests checking your alarm systems every month by pushing the “test” button and making sure the sound works.
BRANDS: The evolution of technology has changed our world in so many ways & smoke alarms are no exception. Google has their own brand of smoke alarms and it is listed as the most popular and reliable smoke alarm.

Have you checked your smoke alarms lately? If you’re thinking to yourself, “when was the last time we checked our smoke alarms?” then it’s time to do it!

Different Types of Fire Smoke

7/11/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know there are different types of fire smoke, which in return, decides how you clean the damage?

There are a lot of factorsto take into considerations whendeciding on how to approach fire damage with soap and a brush.

Here are the types of smoke that can occur in any property:

• WET SMOKE: slow burning, low temp fire, most troublesome to clean, turns into foam of thick and sticky residue that latches to surfaces
• DRY SMOKE: high temp blaze, comes in a fine powder-like form. since its a fine form, it can be easily cleaned, all-purpose spray
• PROTEIN SMOKE: when food is burned, generally light in color & appearance unless comes in contact with painted surfaces or wood - becomes permanent discoloration
• PETROLEUM SMOKE: when oils are burned, very dark in color and can stain any surface or material, cleaned with agent designed to cut grease

Looking for a quote on smoke damage? Get a free inspection with us today by calling 215-545-5300

Outdoor Firepit Regulations

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

There’s something relaxing about sitting by a fire pit on a cool summer night roasting s’mores. Summer is upon us, which for Philadelphia that means - blazing hot days with cooler nights.

If you are thinking about purchasing a fire pit, please adhere to these guidelines by the Department of Licenses and Inspections:

1. Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be completely enclosed, which includes solid material or heavy-duty screening or both) to prevent large embers that may cause a fire from escaping into the atmosphere.
2. The appropriate type of fuel, such as a non-pressure treated wood, charcoal or fireplace logs, must be used for portable outdoor fireplaces that burn combustible materials. Propane units will only be used with propane. 
3. Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be at least 15 feet from a structure, including decks and balconies. To prevent fire pit tipping over, it needs to be on stable and reasonably leveled ground. 
4. Please do not leave fire pits unattended until the fire is completely extinguished.

Along with the four guidelines above, please make sure you read your fireplace or fire pit manual to ensure guidelines are being followed. We have a customer care center available 24/7 if any emergencies arise. Just call us at 215-545-5300.

Keeping Pets Safe From a House Fire

7/23/2021 (Permalink)

Learn basic first aid procedures for the type of pet you own.

Keeping Pets Safe In The Event of A House Fire

Pet lovers in Lexington Park, PA are like pet lovers everywhere: they consider their furry, feathered, or scaly friends beloved members of the family. In the event of a fire emergency in the home, it is important to have an evacuation plan for pets just like the rest of the family and make sure everyone is aware of it. The fire department, your insurance company, and restoration experts will take care of the rest.

Proactive Measures

Having either hardwired or battery-powered smoke alarms on every level of your home is a must to keep everyone safe. Check them regularly to make sure they are operational. In the event of a fire emergency, it is important to have a few other items and established procedures in place for pet preparation.

• Practice your evacuation plan with your family, including your pets. For pet safety, train them to come when called, and for those in enclosures, designate an appropriate rescuer.
• In the family emergency kit, include what your pet might need. First aid supplies, any medications, and nonperishable foods should be packed.
• Learn basic first aid procedures for the type of pet you own.
• Affix a pet alert to a window or door to alert fire fighters to the number and type of pets in the home and where they are kept. If you are unable to evacuate them, professionals can perform the rescue.
• Have a plan in place for housing your pet if you become displaced from your home.
• Keep pet ownership records and proof of vaccinations in a fire box.

Proper planning can reduce the kind of chaos that can lead to avoidable losses in the unfortunate situation of a fire emergency in the home. Practicing evacuation procedures and assembling an emergency kit can help keep all members of your family out of harm’s way.

Why Calling a Clean-Up Crew Should Be Your First Post-Fire Priority

7/13/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damaged a bedroom in Fox Chase, PA.

Why Calling a Clean-Up Crew Should Be Your First Post-Fire Priority

After you’ve just finished watching emergency service take care of a fire in your home, the shock can sometimes make it difficult to figure out which step you should take next. However, if you want your home to stand the best chance at a full recovery, you’re going to need to make a few calls.

First, dial-up your insurance company in Fox Chase, PA. Next, you’ll want to reach out to a local fire damage cleanup crew. Doing this early on is imperative because

• Quicker action yields better results
  
• Mitigation of water damage is easier
  
• You’ll be able to salvage more of your belongings
  
  

Fast Action

When a fire happens, it doesn’t just affect the things it burns. It releases soot and smoke that seeps into materials surrounding the fire as well. Over time, these byproducts set in, discoloring and damaging porous materials. The longer these surfaces go without being properly cleaned, the more likely it is that the damage will be irreversible, which is why calling a fire damage crew right away is so important.

Water Damage

Many people don’t consider water damage to be an issue when there’s a fire, but with gallons and gallons of water coming out of the fire hose pointed at your home, it’s definitely something you’ll need to contend with. Professional cleanup crews have the tools to dry out carpets, furniture and more, faster.

Salvaging

Salvaging your belongings is not only a way to keep restoration costs down, but it preserves a little peace of mind as well. Choosing a cleanup crew to come in right away can help you make the most of your remaining belongings, so you can reinstall them in your restored home when the job’s done.

Fire damage cleanup crews are trained to handle every challenge your house has to offer. Having them on the job right away means you can get back in your home sooner, so you can get back to the life you love.

Holiday Season

11/1/2018 (Permalink)

After effects of a residential fire

This time of year, everyone is gearing up for the holidays.  While we will all surely be eating turkey on Thanksgiving day, we may be preparing it differently.  

In the last few years, deep frying turkeys has become a wildly popular method to cook the food.  However, according to a "Home Fire Involving Cooking Equipment" report, home fires caused by cooking are nearly 4 times as likely on Thanksgiving as any other day of the year.  Deep frying turkeys, while delicious, is also very dangerous.  So before you get into some deep frying fun, here are 3 quick safety tips for you to protect your home:

1) Stay Away from The House – Set up the turkey fryer more than 10 feet away from your home and keep children and pets away. Never leave it unattended.

2) Use a Thawed and Dry Turkey – Make sure your Thanksgiving turkey is completely thawed and dry. Extra water will cause the oil to bubble furiously and spill over. If oil spills from the fryer onto the burner, it can cause a fire.

3) Be Prepared – Have a fire extinguisher (multipurpose, dry-powder) ready at all times in the event that the oil ignites.

From all of us here at SERVPRO of Fox Chase/Torresdale, we want to wish you and your family a Happy (and safe) Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Holiday

11/21/2017 (Permalink)

It is a little difficult to tell from the photo, but there once was a deep fryer in this home. Unfortunately, it caused extensive fire damage.

This time of year, everyone is gearing up for the holidays.  While we will all surely be eating turkey on Thanksgiving day, we may be preparing it differently.  

In the last few years, deep frying turkeys has become a wildly popular method to cook the food.  However, according to a "Home Fire Involving Cooking Equipment" report, home fires caused by cooking are nearly 4 times as likely on Thanksgiving as any other day of the year.  Deep frying turkeys, while delicious, is also very dangerous.  So before you get into some deep frying fun, here are 3 quick safety tips for you to protect your home:

1) Stay Away from The House – Set up the turkey fryer more than 10 feet away from your home and keep children and pets away. Never leave it unattended.

2) Use a Thawed and Dry Turkey – Make sure your Thanksgiving turkey is completely thawed and dry. Extra water will cause the oil to bubble furiously and spill over. If oil spills from the fryer onto the burner, it can cause a fire.

3) Be Prepared – Have a fire extinguisher (multipurpose, dry-powder) ready at all times in the event that the oil ignites.

From all of us here at SERVPRO of Fox Chase/Torresdale, we want to wish you and your family a Happy (and safe) Thanksgiving!

Cleaning After a Fire

8/10/2017 (Permalink)

At a home in Glenside, PA, one of our technicians is wiping away soot above a window using a chemical sponge and extension pole.

For homeowners, putting out a fire can be worse than the fire itself.  A backdraft of emotions often sweeps over the homeowner after a fire ravages a home.  Fear, uncertainty, stress and doubt about the future of the property can overwhelm the homeowner long after the flames have been extinguished.  

The first 48 hours after a fire damage can make the difference between restoring versus replacing your property and personal belongings.  SERVPRO of Fox Chase/Torresdale's professional staff and technicians provide timely response with mitigation services ranging from fire, smoke and soot removal to contents inventory and restoration.  These services help ensure your property, belongings, and memories are restored to preloss condition when possible.

SERVPRO of Fox Chase/Torresdale professionals are available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year to help you regain control quickly.  Call us at 215-600-1497 today!