Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher for Your Home or Business

8/3/2024 (Permalink)

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher for Your Home or Business

Class A fire extinguishers

Class A fire extinguishers are used for ordinary combustibles, such as paper, wood, cloth, and some types of plastic. These extinguishers typically use water or certain types of dry chemicals to either absorb heat or coat the fire.

Class B fire extinguishers

Fires that originate from flammable liquids and gas can be extinguished by a class B fire extinguisher. This is the type of extinguisher you’ll want to use on a fire caused by oil or fuel.

Class C fire extinguishers

Class C fire extinguishers are effective against electrical fires from live wires, panels, and circuit breakers. The extinguisher works by releasing materials that stop the conduction of electricity.

Class D fire extinguishers

Class D fire extinguishers are used on combustible metals. These include magnesium, sodium, aluminum, and titanium.

Class K fire extinguishers

Commonly used in restaurant kitchens, class K fire extinguishers can effectively put out fires caused by cooking fats, greases, and oils. They use a process called saponification by releasing an alkaline agent to create a foam that traps vapors and puts the fire out.

Purchasing your fire extinguisher

Now that you know how many extinguishers you need and what types to get, you can head to the hardware store. Look for fire extinguishers that you can easily lift. Larger extinguishers may pack more power, but you must be able to use it properly.

Source: Safety Online

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

11/2/2023 (Permalink)

How do I prevent a Christmas tree fire?

Like candle fires (the number one cause of fires in the home), Christmas tree fires are more common during the holidays, with 43% occurring in December and 39% in January. The NFPA says an average of 230 fires are attributed to Christmas trees each year and they are more likely to be serious because of the factors that can contribute to the fire: a dry tree, electrical lights, and an abundant fuel supply (gifts) under the tree. Christmas tree fires cause an average of $18.3 million in property damage each year.

The most common causes are electrical failures (32%), having the tree too close to a heat source like a fireplace or wood stove (17%) or being too close to candles (7%).

Safety tips:

• Keep live trees well watered and dispose of them before they become dry.
• Turn off tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
• Check lights for any shorts or other electrical issues before putting them on the tree.

Source: National Fire Protection Association Online

How to Properly Use Your Fire Extinguisher

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Once you've purchased the fire extinguisher with the class type (A, B, C, D, or K) that is right for your home or business, familiarize yourself with the fire extinguisher directions so you’ll be prepared in case you need to put out a fire. Typically, fire extinguishers are fairly easy to use in the case of a fire. Most of the types operate using the P.A.S.S. technique:

• Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher in order to break the tamper seal.
• Aim the fire extinguisher low, with the nozzle pointed at the base of the fire. 
• Squeeze the handle of the fire extinguisher to release the extinguishing agent. 
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side while pointed at the base of the fire until it is extinguished. 
• If the fire re-ignites, repeat the last 3 steps.

 If your home or business has suffered fire damage, please give us a call today. To learn more about SERVPRO of North Austin / SW Williamson CO fire damage restoration, click HERE. 

Source: Nationwide Insurance Online

Soot and Smoke Restoration after Fire Damage

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of North Austin / SW Williamson CO will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call SERVPRO of North Austin / SW Williamson CO Today:  (512) 335-7247

Getting Rid of Cigarette Smoke Odor

3/28/2021 (Permalink)

It is obvious to a non-smoker when a home smells like cigarettes.  The smell of tobacco and/or cigarette smoke and tar is stubborn because it "sticks" to all surfaces as it spreads through the air. So, how do you get rid of the cigarette odor?  The short answer is that it is very difficult.  ALL surfaces in the home need to be scrubbed and deodorized, including the: flooring, walls, furniture, appliances, knick-knacks, and clothing. Even the air in the home needs to be deodorized during the process.  It's not an easy task, but the experts at SERVPRO® of North Austin / SW Williamson CO have done it many times and are more than willing to help you.  Give us a call today and start breathing fresh smelling air! (512) 335-7247

When Fire Damages Your Business

3/28/2021 (Permalink)

To you, it’s more than just a business, it’s your livelihood.  SERVPRO North Austin/SW Williamson CO understand the feelings of frustration and overwhelming concern related to handling fire damage.  Our priority is to help you regain control and get your doors open again.  Within eight business hours of arriving at your facility, our technicians will discuss the extent of the damage and the steps they will take to help restore your building, equipment and furniture.  Responding quickly to a fire damage can save your company money, reduce more extensive damage and shorten the length of down time.

Armed with industry-approved equipment and expertise, SERVPRO North Austin/SW Williamson CO will make every effort to restore your business to preloss condition when possible.  We use the latest equipment, products and processes to properly remove smoke, soot and fire damage from walls, flooring and air ducts and restore furniture and equipment.  We are available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year to help you get your business back in business. 

Business closures due to a fire damage don’t just affect the business owner.  It affects the employees, their families and the community.  Contact SERVPRO North Austin/SW Williamson CO at 512-335-7247 for your fire damage restoration needs.

Home Fires Caused by Dryers and Washing Machines

7/30/2020 (Permalink)

Clothes dryer fires happen more often than one might think, accounting for 16,800 home structure fires in 2010 and doing more than $236 million in property damage according to the National Fire Protection Association. The most frequent causes of fires in dryers are lint/dust (29%) and clothing (28%). In washers, they are wire or cable insulation (26%), the appliance housing (21%) or the drive belt (15%).

Dryers were involved in 92% of the Washer/Dryer fires; the risk of fire was basically the same for both gas and electric-powered dryers.

Safety tips:

• Clean the lint screen frequently and don’t run the dryer without it.
• For gas and propane dryers, make sure there aren’t any leaks in the lines.
• Vent the dryer to the outside of the house and ensure nothing blocks the vent pipe.
• Clean the vent pipe and the area where the screen is housed.
• Keep the area around the dryer free of combustible materials.

Source: National Fire Protection Association 

Smoke Damage After a Kitchen Fire

7/30/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of North Austin and SW Williamson CO is the best Fire Damage Restoration company in Austin, Texas for kitchen fires.

Cooking is the #1 cause of fires in the home; specifically, fires that originate from the stove.  Even when the fire is caught early, that smoke damage that it causes can be devastating to a home.  The smoke odor gets trapped in the curtains, sofas, on the walls, and other places in the home.  SERVPRO of North Austin and SW Williamson CO is LLCR Certified to clean, deodorize, and sanitize upholstery. In addition, SERVPRO of North Austin and SW Williamson CO has a tried and true process of eliminating the strong odor of smoke from the air using deodorizers and ionizing machines.

To learn more about smoke damage remediation, click here.

Please call today to get the process started.

Types of Fires

4/9/2020 (Permalink)

Fire Types or Classes

There are five different classes of fires, each designated by a letter.

Class A: The most common type of fire, Class A fires have combustibles that include paper, wood, cloth, plastic, trash and other ordinary materials that may be found in any home or business.

Class B: Fires caused by flammable liquids are considered Class B fires. These flammable liquids include gasoline, paint and oil. A Class B fire may also include combustibles such as propane or butane, which are flammable gases.

Class C: Electrical fires are Class C fires and include fires that originate from outlets, wires and other electrical components.

Class D: Any fire caused by combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium, aluminum and potassium, also known as chemical fires, are Class D.

Class K: Combustibles such as cooking oils, grease and fats are Class K fires.

If your home or business has suffered a fire, please call today for expert, professional fire damage restoration by SERVPRO of North Austin and SW Williamson CO. We will work with your insurance. (512) 335-7247

Common Causes of Commercial Building Fires

4/9/2020 (Permalink)

5 Common Causes of Commercial Building Fires

From 2007 to 2016, these five causes were identified as the most common reasons behind commercial fires.

1. Cooking/Kitchen Appliances

Year after year, cooking fires remain at the top of the list as a cause of non-residential fires with 25% to 30% of those fires being cooking-related. The fires sometimes started because of human error while cooking and sometimes by an appliance malfunctioning.

Because kitchens are an extremely high-risk zone, strong effort should be taken to ensure they are more than adequately protected. Sprinklers, alarms and an easily accessible fire extinguisher placed in an area where everyone can see it is an absolute must.

2. Arson/Intentional

Arson, or an intentional fire, is the next common cause of a non-residential fire, with roughly 10% of fires occurring from arson. Unfortunately, this type of fire causes the most damage to buildings and the highest number of injuries or death in building occupants.

Intentional fires are most likely to occur after working hours, between 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Fires during later hours of the day often do far more damage than ones started during working hours, as there is no one available to sound an alarm.

An arsonist may start a fire anywhere, but bathrooms, trash cans, dumpsters and garages are likely spots. This is a great example of why you should take care to include fire detection and prevention systems in unlikely places, such as behind the building.

While you can’t prevent arson completely, you can take precautions to limit the damage and opportunities:

• Make sure trash cans are emptied every day.
• If possible, keep dumpsters away from the building so a dumpster fire can’t spread to the building.
• Keep trees and shrubs trimmed to make them harder to set on fire and so arsons can’t use them for cover while setting a fire.
• Put up motion detection cameras or lights in dark or normally unused areas so any fires can be caught and put out faster.
• Install smoke/fire curtains near the doorways of the areas most likely to be used for arson.

Since an intentional fire can truly occur anywhere, there is, unfortunately, no way to plan for it. Instead, take the above precautions and focus on standard placement of fire detection and control products within doorways, atriums and elevators.

3. Human Error/Unintentional

Human error, or unintentional fires, are also responsible for about 10% of fires. Because there are a vast number of reasons why a fire might occur accidentally, employee fire safety training is extremely important.

Some examples of an unintentional fire include cigarettes being improperly discarded, employees leaving heating equipment too close to walls or flammable surfaces, forgetting to blow out a candle, keeping a messy workstation or improper use of electrical devices (e.g. extension cords).

Because unintentional fires, like intentional fires, can’t be easily predicted or avoided, it’s essential to educate employees on fire prevention and safety practices and install plenty of fire prevention systems, such as fire alarms and fire and smoke curtains.

4. HVAC System Malfunction

Roughly 9% of fires happen when an HVAC system malfunctions. This includes central heating systems, as well as water heaters, space heaters, and other appliances.

Heating systems should be regularly inspected, especially during winter when they are used most heavily. And always ensure flammable materials are kept well away from heat sources.

Areas where the main HVAC system is housed, as well as any water heaters or storage rooms, should be outfitted with smoke alarms. That way if the system does cause a fire, it can be caught and addressed as quickly as possible.

5. Electrical Malfunction

About 7% of fires are linked to an electrical system malfunction, often due to problems with wiring in the building. These fires are more likely to occur in older buildings with questionable wiring.

However, building owners should also have a new building's wiring systems inspected by a professional as well. Having follow-up preventative checks every few years is also a good idea, especially for buildings that have heavy energy users.

Rooms housing significant electronic systems should have smoke alarms, but in many cases, water sprinklers should be avoided; alternatively, specialized chemical foam sprinklers can be installed. These function just like water sprinklers, but use foam instead of water, designed to extinguish fire in sensitive electronic equipment.

Source: Smoke Guard Online

Fireworks Safety this 4th of July

6/20/2019 (Permalink)

Follow these safety tips when using fireworks: 

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

To learn more about SERVPRO of North Austin and SW Williamson County fire damage restoration, click here.

Source: CPSC

Be Safe this 4th of July

6/20/2019 (Permalink)

Be Safe this 4th of July

It's often the smallest, most common fireworks that cause the highest number of injuries.

Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for 36 percent of the estimated 2017 injuries. Fifty percent of the estimated emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries were to individuals younger than 20 years of age.

Sparklers actually cause the highest number of injuries. There were an estimated 1,200 emergency department-treated injuries associated with sparklers, and 300 with bottle rockets.  There were an estimated 800 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers. Of these, an estimated 51 percent were associated with small firecrackers, an estimated 18 percent with illegal firecrackers, and an estimated 31 percent with firecrackers for which there was no specific information.  

Source: CPSC

Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13, 2018

9/25/2018 (Permalink)

Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13, 2018

During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires. See what programs your local fire station offers.

Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere!” That’s the theme for Fire Prevention Week.

LOOK
Look for places fires could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.

LISTEN
Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.

LEARN
Learn two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.

Source: https://www.nfpa.org