How To Clean Up After a Commercial Fire

3/19/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial fire damage in Beverly Hills, CA.

You may be skilled and efficient at running your business in Beverly Hills, CA, growing your customer base and dealing with personnel, however do you know what your business needs after a fire? Fires can be an unexpected disaster that can feel difficult to overcome. Knowing what steps need to be taken can make the fire and smoke damage cleanup feel more manageable.

What Things Need Cleanup After a Fire

Following a fire, there are several things that need doing right away. Specific processes need to be used for specific damage in order to salvage content. Following is a partial guide to cleaning:

• Dry cleaning for clothing and fabric items
  
• Ozone for smoke cleaning
  
• Vacuuming for loose soot
  
• Ultrasonic for non-porous surfaces
  
• Inspection of the structural elements
  
  

Know the Difference Between Soot and Smoke

Soot can be a tricky substance to clean as it is greasy and sticky. It is composed of incompletely burned oily or greasy materials and can contain toxic chemicals, so it must be cleaned carefully. Soot also carries a foul stench that may need extra cleaning. It cannot be dissipated unless the actual soot is removed.
Smoke odor can also be a plaguing problem. Smoke damage can cause staining and may even cause certain materials to become brittle. It can leave a clinging residue on every surface it touches and carries odor as well. The smoke odor can be removed by using an ozone machine.
Structural materials that are otherwise salvageable may still be affected by soot damage and the odors it carries. Cleaning the soot from studs, sheetrock, ceilings, countertops and other surfaces is critical to the elimination of the smell. Once cleanup is finished the structural restoration can begin.

In Beverly Hills, CA, you can get the help you need from qualified fire restoration professionals that are trained in cleaning smoke damage and the smells that go with it. You can have hope that your commercial building will be sound and clean smelling again soon.