Planning Fire Restoration Successfully for Bellingham Properties

1/21/2024 (Permalink)

If fire damage occurs on your property, be sure to contact SERVPRO. Our technicians can help create a speedy remediation process.

Steps Necessary to Control Fire Damage

The coastal city of Bellingham, WA, is a popular place to catch a ferry to Alaska. The city covers 30.51 square miles and has a population of 91,482. Its thriving culinary scene features farm-to-table restaurants, coffee roasters, and local breweries. Skylarks Cafe, Keenan's at the Pier, and Danielle's Back East BBQ are some establishments worth checking. Local events like the Ski to Sea Race, Bellingham Festival of Music, and Downtown Sounds are a great way to have fun.

Fire restoration in any Bellingham property can be complex, necessitating sophisticated equipment and skills to facilitate the process. SERVPRO® provides well-trained and fully equipped teams to manage repairs. Our vast experience helps expedite the process and manage things smoothly.

What to prioritize for smooth restoration

• Safety assessment
• Damage assessment
• Content restoration
• Structural repairs

The heat and flames involved in a fire incident can destabilize structural areas, creating safety hazards. In some instances, water damage may occur from firefighting or damaged plumbing systems, creating safety issues like slippery floors, electrical shorts, and compromised structural areas. A safety assessment ensures the occupants and anyone entering the building are not exposed to unnecessary risks. SERVPRO IICRC-certified technicians use char gauges, circuit analyzers, and other tools to ensure your property is safe.

Another crucial assessment is the level of damage since every fire incident is unique. Some important aspects to establish during such assessment include how far the smoke residues spread, the level of charring, and how strong the smoke odors feel. Our SERVPRO crews also classify contents based on damage levels, identifying salvageable, unsalvageable, and questionable items.

Identifying damage levels helps ease content restoration and structural repairs through better planning. For example, you can tell from the start whether any items require water damage repairs and which structural areas require teardown to facilitate the replacement of affected materials. Our teams help resurface or refinish affected areas. 

SERVPRO of Whatcom County is Here to Help® 24/7. Call (360) 733-1800 for assistance.

Understanding Bellingham Fire Damage Restoration Phases

3/21/2023 (Permalink)

Bellingham property owners rely upon SERVPRO for fire damage cleanup and restoration. "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Protects Homes After Fire Damage

Fires are an unfortunate reality for many homes every year. With the thousands living in the Greater Bellingham area and a high number of commercial properties and businesses, a single fire incident could be costly and devastating. We understand how vital loss mitigation is for these emergencies, so our SERVPRO team reaches properties as soon as possible for efforts like:

• Inventory Services
• Hazard Mitigation
• Content Care
• Water Removal
• Bulk Material Removal

Bellingham fire damage occurs from many possible triggers. From accidents around the stovetop to an overloaded outlet, fires can spark quickly and move beyond the ignition point at a rapid pace. Our professionals appreciate the urgency of restoration, so we keep skilled technicians ready to mobilize 24/7 when disasters strike.

Thorough Inspections for Detailed Estimation

Many parties are privy to the details of a fire damage restoration project. The customer, the restoration provider, and the insurance company involved all have a similar stake in understanding the condition of the house and the expected plan to restore and recover the residence. Our production manager conducts a thorough walk-through of the property early to document damage, catalog content loss, and formulate a detailed restoration plan and estimation.

On and Off-Site Content Cleaning

Managing the contents impacted by fire losses is another essential part of SERVPRO's restoration response. While we strive to protect or clean items on-site for a customer's peace of mind, off-site cleaning and storage are sometimes necessary. At our SERVPRO facility, we can provide more intricate cleaning and restoration like:

• Submersion tank for cleaning hard-surfaced contents
• Soft material wash station
• Ozone chamber for deodorizing multiple items
• Drying approaches

Soot Removal Solutions

Removing soot is one of the more complex areas of fire damage restoration our SERVPRO team performs. Inadequate measures can see soot permanently mar surfaces underneath the soil deposits. The corrosivity of acidic soot and its ability to stain porous surfaces requires fast action with surface cleaning, media blasting, or controlled demolition.

Different Smoke Damage Threats for Homes

Smoke damage is not all the same because the combusted materials and environmental conditions between disasters change considerably. Common smoke damage types include:

• Wet Smoke – Thick and moist residues on horizontal surfaces typically require solvents to dissolve to prevent smearing and staining.
• Dry Smoke – A product of high heat fires characterized by chalky, thin smoke residues.
• Protein Residues – Formidable, thick deposit of grease and oily residue deposited by range top fires.

Cleaning Commercial Large Loss Situations

Bellingham is home to many businesses and commercial properties, making our experience in Large Loss recovery significant for fire damage restoration. We have industrial-grade equipment sizable enough for massive production facilities like warehouses and call centers to the right tools that manage fire losses in multi-story structures and historic properties in the county.

Build-Back Services After a Fire

Few structure fires that impact homes and businesses in our area do not require some reconstruction or repairs. With a general contractor license, we can keep this work in-house and limit the time that the full spectrum of restoration and recovery services takes. Our experience with this next group of actions after fire loss restoration saves customers time and money on pursuing a subcontractor to complete the job on a new schedule.

Bellingham fire damage presents several layers of threat to a home or business. Even with the experience of our SERVPRO of Whatcom County team, not starting restoration right away can have costly and disastrous results for the property. We are ready to mobilize when emergencies occur. Call now at (360) 733-1800.

Fire Restoration Procedures in Bellingham

2/19/2023 (Permalink)

Make sure to take precautions with heaters and in case of a fire, contact SERVPRO for effective remediation services. Our technicians are standing by.

SERVPRO Offers Fire Mitigation Services in the Bellingham Area

During the winter, when the weather is cold, we all rely on appliances in our homes to keep us warm. When temperatures are low, people tend to rely more on their furnaces and water heaters to cook and take hot showers and baths. With these appliances working in high gear over the winter months, the risk of a malfunction gets higher.

Although rare, malfunctioning water heaters or furnaces could force you to conduct fire restoration in Bellingham on your property. Since these appliances are stored in tight places like crawl spaces or attics, the outcome could be disastrous if flames ignite. Even if the fire does not spread far in your structure or you get it out quickly, the smoke released during the blaze could spread throughout your entire house and cause issues like soot residues or burnt aromas. And in some cases, when water got used to extinguish the fire, water and fire damage could exist together.

Once our SERVPRO technicians go through your building and ensure it is safe for all occupants, we can inspect for damage. We can start at the source and determine if burnt building materials must be removed and replaced or if we can save them through mitigation procedures. We can then conduct wipe tests on the surfaces of your walls and ceilings to see if soot residues exist. During the wipe test, we can also determine the best chemicals and methods to remove the soot.

Steps we can take to return your home to its preloss state:

• Content pack-ins and pack-outs
• Content cleaning
• Remove soot from affected building materials
• Set up the ultra-low volume (ULV) or thermal foggers
• Set up an ozone generator

If you ever notice that your furnace has caused flames to ignite in your attic or crawlspace, call SERVPRO of Whatcom County at (360) 733-1800.

Effective Fire Restoration at a Bellingham Property

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

Don't let imagined smoke odors upset your Bellingham household. Call SERVPRO for fire damage cleanup and odor removal--for real!

Bellingham Fire Damage Cleanup with SERVPRO

If any section of your Bellingham home catches fire, you face the daunting task of fire damage restoration. A lot is involved in restoring your property, including covering costs and taking steps to prevent further deterioration. Delays usually lead to severe damage, such as material deterioration from the effects of soot exposure.

Fire restoration companies in Bellingham specialize in helping people recover swiftly from such loss. It might be hard to think quickly and make the right moves when stressed by the damage or potential loss of your property. SERVPRO helps by offering a range of professional remedial services.

Some steps professionals take after a fire loss

• Securing your home
• Assessing the loss
• Wiping smoke and soot from structural surfaces
• Cleaning salvageable items

Flames are the main culprit for most of the damage to your home during a fire. However, smoke, soot, and water share in the responsibility too. Water helps put out house fires, but it can result in water damage which should be prevented. Exhaustive drying helps prevent mold from taking over. SERVPRO adheres to IICRC guidelines in the cleanup process, ensuring your home stays mold free.

Cleaning up and removing smoke odor

Odors from smoke and soot settle quickly into materials and surfaces, causing long-term deterioration. SERVPRO assesses to take appropriate restoration measures. We thoroughly inspect and replace the structural framing materials and components throughout the home if any charring or warping has occurred. To salvage the structural elements, we treat them with deodorizers to remove any smoke odor. Complete drying may be necessary before sealing and covering with new drywall and paneling.

Useful deodorization approaches

• Neutralization with ozone
• Air filtration
• Spraying deodorizers

SERVPRO of Whatcom County helps limit damages and salvage your home through elaborate fire restoration. You can reach us at (360) 733-1800. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Smoke Residues Are a Major Component of Fire Damage in Ferndale

8/15/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration is a lot of work. SERVPRO techs will be on-site within 4 hours of the initial call.

Mechanical Action Cleans Up Ferndale Fire Damage

When Ferndale homes suffer a fire, various types of residues can be left behind. These fire remnants are usually wet, greasy, or dry and necessitate using different cleaning methods to remove them effectively. While detergents are required to remove wet or greasy residues, dry ones can usually be cleaned off affected surfaces with just mechanical action.

SERVPRO’s fire damage professionals in Ferndale have the necessary training and tools to eliminate dry residues from your home successfully. In fact, our fire damage restoration crews have saved countless other fire-damaged homes via smoke remediation and their overall house fire clean-up efforts. As for the tools and techniques we employ to remove dry fire/smoke remnants, we:

• Clean electronic equipment and other sensitive items with compressed air blowers so that particles can be blown off without otherwise impacting their surfaces or internal elements
• Use feather dusters or paint brushes of differing softness/size to push light, powdery residues off of delicate objects or the hard surfaces of furnishings
• Vacuum heavy deposits of loose particles from structural elements like floors, walls, and ceilings
• Wipe lightly soiled surfaces with mineral oil-treated dusting cloths and pull dry rubber cleaning sponges across more heavily soiled surfaces to pick up loose fire and smoke-related residues
• Agitate harder to remove remnants with abrasive powders, like those found in Stain Scrub (#110), steel wool, sandpapers, or roto pads
• Use blast cleaning to “blast” some abrasive material like ground corn cobs, baking soda, sand, or CO2 at the most severely soiled surfaces

So, as you can see, your neighborhood SERVPRO of Whatcom County has all of the experience and equipment necessary to remediate your home’s fire damage. Take comfort in knowing that, regardless of the severity of your situation, our highly-trained experts usually know just what is needed to return your residence to its pre-fire state. Call us anytime at (360) 733-1800.

Stress and Worry Handled with Pro Fire Damage Help in Ferndale

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO protects our technicians as we mitigate fire damage for our Ferndale area homes.

Ferndale Residents Trust SERVPRO for Rapid Fire Damage Cleanup

A delicate timeline must be followed when handling any degree of fire damage in your home. Some homeowners that unfortunately take the DIY route for cleanup will miss essential steps and wait too long to address corrosive soot residues. SERVPRO knows and follows best practices to house fire cleanup to get your property back to pre-fire condition faster than any do-it-yourself job. We are also ready to assist around the clock so that you have a trusted liaison to handle your restoration.

Job scoping and assessment of all fire damage in your Ferndale home are critical for our crew to select the best methods, products, and equipment for the job. We inspect affected contents, structural integrity, areas that require cleaning, and possible safety hazards.

Safety is our number one concern

Safety is of the utmost importance whenever our IICRC-certified FSRT technicians enter fire-damaged homes. We think of not only our team but also the impact of further damage to your interior or belongings and all property occupants. Several areas that we look at include:

•    Structural issues –All damaged materials are of immediate concern. Upon permission to enter the property, we look for all irreparable building materials and major structural components that must get addressed. 
•    Airborne concerns –Our team wears personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever we enter a fire-damaged building. We also have powerful air scrubbers that use HEPA filtration to pull airborne particulates from the air as the project progresses.
•    Soot, ash, and debris removal –As part of our fire mitigation phase, we remove all unsalvageable, charred debris to work on the remainder of the materials. Less soot residue and corrosive elements help lessen the onset of secondary damage, thereby reducing damaged belongings.

When it comes to cleanup and restoration, you want a team like SERVPRO of Whatcom County on your side. Request help online or reach us 24/7 by dialing (360) 733-1800. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

House Fire in Ferndale, WA

6/14/2021 (Permalink)

There are many steps to a successful fire remediation project.

Fire damage cleanup will involve removing debris, removing any standing water and resolving water damage, removing all the smoke particles and soot accumulation in the home and vents, removing and replacing damaged contents, as well as removing the smell of smoke and ensuring the air quality in the home is safe.

All of these cleanup efforts will take significant amounts of time, effort, and expertise, as well as an understanding of the health and safety risks involved. Remember that you do not have to tackle the cleanup alone. 

SERVPRO of Bellingham has the experience and knowledge in fire damage to guide and help you through the process, manage and accomplish the most difficult and dangerous parts of the cleanup, and assist you in every step of the cleanup.

Fire Damaged Home in Bellingham,WA

6/10/2021 (Permalink)

The firefighter put out the fire and we will clean it up.

SERVPRO of Bellingham works with families and professionals when times are hard and they are experiencing disasters at home or in the work place. In all of our time helping people there is nothing more difficult to bounce back from than a fire.

Fires create a massive amount of smoke and that smoke creates a smell that is almost impossible to forget. To put the fire out the Firefighter use water, so not only does everything that survives a fire smell it is also wet. 

Luckily for those in need SERVPRO of Bellingham is well versed in cleaning up after and deodorizing not porous item after an fire. We also specialize in drying structures and deodorizing them.

We know how difficult it is to bounce back from a fire, but we also have the experience and know how to help guide you through this dramatic time.

Devastating fire in Ferndale, WA

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

We were able to salvage some of the fire damage dinnerware.

A terrible fire left a family homeless and grasping for memories lost. The insurance company was going to be replacing the structure and most of the household items that were destroyed in the incredibly hot burning fire, but what about the memories?

We met with the family and walked through what was left of the home in an effort to find something...anything that we could salvage from the ruble. We were able to find a few pieces of jewelry and about half of a set of fire damaged dinnerware. 

Our contents shop is set up for fires, so we knew the chances were quite high for us to be able to clean the plates, bowls and serving platters. The home owners weren't so sure, but gave us the opportunity to "save" some of their family memories.

We were proud to return the family a beautiful memory to move forward with and help them to heal after the traumatic experience. Happy to be of service.

Everything changes when fire strikes.

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

We were able to help a fire damaged home and family.

The house becomes a home when a family lives in and breaths life into the structure. A raging fire disrupted this family and brought them closer than they thought they could be. 

Our fire technicians were called out to a home in Bellingham, WA to help put a forever altered life back together. There is more real than a fire that rips through your home destroying everything in it's path. Together with the homeowners we were able to devise a plan to discard the contents that could not be saved and do our best to clean and deodorize those contents that could live with the family once again.

Our goal is always help our customers accomplish their goals and sometimes those goals are made easy by hard work and communication. Thank you for the opportunity to help.

Fire Damage in Bellingham, WA.

2/2/2021 (Permalink)

The wood stove in the shop overheated and sparked a residential fire.

A life altering fire damage to your home can happen in a flash. Be prepared for whatever happens by knowing what to do if you experience a fire in your home. This fire started in the attached shop and the smoke spread throughout the home very quickly. Even though the fire was in the kitchen, the entire home was affected by the smell smoke and the residue of soot. 

Fires are very stressful and you should not have to clean up all by yourself. SERVPRO of Bellingham is here to help you restore your home and contents. With our industry approved training, rapid response, professionalism, cutting-edge technology and open communication, we strive to restore not only your home and everything in it but your piece of mind. 

Call the fire damage cleanup and restoration professionals at 360-733-1800.

Do you have a family plan?

2/2/2021 (Permalink)

Plan a path of escape from your home should a fire occur. Planning saves lives.

SERVPRO of Bellingham is always ready and prepared to assist families and businesses after fires, smoke damage and other scary challenges. We know that the most critical part of escaping a fire is to have a plan in place that is simple and makes sense to all family members. 

Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.  Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of every room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm.

Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox,  the big tree, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.

Everyone in the household must understand the escape plan. When you walk through your plan, check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily.

Having a plan and practicing the plan saves lives. 

Fire Damage in a Garage. Bellingham, WA.

6/15/2020 (Permalink)

The Fire caused in the Garage created massive damage.

A fire can be an incredibly devastating experience for yourself and your loved ones. Not only will a fire cause extensive damage to your property, but you may also lose sentimental items. If you experience a fire in your home a restoration company like SERVPRO of Bellingham will be there to assist you. By leaving your fire damage repair to the professionals, you will gain valuable assistance during your fire clean up. Along with repairing your home, you may also need to heal emotional wounds. One of the most difficult things in life is dealing with the loss of your most cherished items, but even more profound is dealing with the loss of security and safety that comes with a fire in your home. We empathize with our clients and always strive to save the most precious items from their homes.

Electronics Fire in Bellingham, WA

6/15/2020 (Permalink)

Burned and charred electronics in Bellingham, Wa.

The main frame was saved but most of the outlying computers, hardware and systems were burned beyond repair in the commercial fire. The racks of electronics could not be saved, but the that was the only loss as all the people were safe and unharmed. 

SERVPRO of Bellingham made valiant efforts to save as much as we could but the heat from the fire and the soot from the burned materials was too much for most of the electronics to recover from. The typical steps made to ensure a full recovery were impossible. Our job became an effort in disposal and structure cleaning.

The owner was able to get most of the information from offsite back systems, but the electronics were damaged beyond repair. SERVPRO of Bellingham cleaned all of the structure and they were back in business.

House Fire in Bellingham Washigton

3/31/2020 (Permalink)

Soot Lines and Smoke Chains in a Bedroom.

SERVPRO of Bellingham helps many clients with water damages and they are the most common reason for calls to the office. Fires are another reason we get called, but are less much frequent.

We were called on a Monday morning to assist a family that had thankfully been awoken in the middle of the night to smoke alarms and a line of smoke that extended down below the windows. The small fire occurred in the kitchen. The homeowners extinguished the flames and home was quickly evacuated. The fire trucks arrived to help the family and they spent the night in a local hotel.

Our crew was send out first thing on Monday and we created a plan to clean their belongings in our contents shop. The items were categorized, boxed up and delivered to our shop. The structure was then deodorized, cleaned and prepped for paint.

Smoke and Soot in the Attic

3/31/2020 (Permalink)

The Cobwebs and Smell of Fire Fill an Attic Space.

One of the most common issues when a fire occurs is getting rid of the lasting smell. SERVPRO of Bellingham takes many measures to assure the odors fade and away.

The first action item is to remove the source. This means to take the burned, charred or affected household items out of the structure.

Next the rest of the contents are removed after being itemized and boxed. The homeowners belongings will be taken to our contents shop cleaned and deodorized and stored until the home is livable again.

Cleaning the structure takes many steps, but one of the unseen issues lies in the attic. Odors are held in the insulation and building materials. Again, removing the affect materials needs to occur. We remove insulation and begin the cleaning process in the attic to remove odors.

Once the structure is cleaned and deodorized we move the contents back into the home. 

"Like it never even happened."

Home Fire in Bellingham, Washington

1/10/2020 (Permalink)

The garage door had been heavily damaged in a fire and the home needed to be secured.

A fire in your home can be one of the most devastating experiences of your life. The security of a fire ravaged home is something in which SERVPRO of Bellingham takes great pride. We are one of the first parties to be onsite following a fire and it's usually up to us to make sure the home is secure and safe for all who follow.

We know how much a family has already gone through and work diligently to create as much mental peace and stability as possible. That is why we board up the home immediate once we are given the go ahead and have systems in place to construct temporary pass through doors and cover all other openings quickly and professionally to secure a fire damaged home.

Garage Fire in Bellingham Washington

1/2/2020 (Permalink)

A home fire in Bellingham, Washington that started in the garage.

A fire ripped through a Bellingham home in the early morning hours. Luckily nobody was home and the pets had been let out for the day. The fire had started in the garage and quickly spread throughout the home. Firefighter were able to save most of the structure and contents, but the damage had been done and a family was forced to move out and start the process of rebuilding the home, a life and happiness.

SERVPRO of Bellingham helps families with the grieving process by being a steadying force,  understanding helpers, thoughtful listeners and seasoned fire restorers. 

Our goal is to clean their contents and get the family back into their home as fast as possible. We know how much it means to have a home and to also have a helping hand in difficult times.

Residential Fire in Lynden, WA

6/21/2019 (Permalink)

These smoke chains clearly define the fact that a smoldering fire had occurred. We can clean that!

One of the tell tale signs of a fire is the existence of smoke chains in the structure. Smoke will form chains of odor and discoloration in corners, behind doors, and in other hard to reach spots. This creates a situation that makes complete cleaning and odor removal difficult.

Fire and smoke damage can leave a heavy residue on ceilings, walls, furniture, and all other surfaces inside your home or place of business. This residue is a result of partial combustion so it may be just as heavy when you have a small, smoldering event as it is when you have a full blown fire.

Fire and smoke damage is usually more serious than what you see. Smoke travels throughout your home and contaminates every open space or air pockets. SERVPRO of Bellingham cleans both the structure of a building after a fire as well as the contents that survive a fire. 

Fire Damaged home in Ferndale, WA.

6/18/2019 (Permalink)

We love to help families during their times in need.

A horrific fire left a family homeless and grasping for memories lost. The insurance company was going to be replacing the structure and most of the household items that were destroyed in the incredibly hot burning fire. 

We met with the family and wlked through what was left of the home in an effort to find something...anything that we could salvage from the ruble. We were able to find a few pieces of jewelry and about half of a set of fire damaged dinnerware. 

Our contents shop is set up for fires, so we knew the chances were quite high for us to be able to clean the plates, bowls and serving platters. The home owners weren't so sure, but gave us the opportunity to "save" some of their family memories.

We were proud to return the family a beautiful memory to move forward with and help them to heal after the traumatic experience.

House Fire in Bellingham, WA.

1/16/2019 (Permalink)

The fire started on the outside of the home before moving inside and setting off the smoke alarm.

The number one cause of residential home fires is cooking. The numbers show that between 41% to 51% of all fires occur in the kitchen.

Not all fires start in the kitchen. A recycling bin than doubled, wrongly, as an ashtray for cigarettes was the culprit at this home. The fire started in the recycling bin and burned the exterior siding before entering the home through an exterior vent. The fire then began to move into the building envelope, but thankfully the smoke detectors alerted the residents and they were able to contact the fire department.

The fire department arrived shortly there after and was able to douse the flames from out side and keep the fire form having a catastrophic effect on the interior of the home. 

Fire safety and education is helping us reduce the number of total fires and injuries caused during residential fires. Always be on guard.

Cooking Fire in Bellingham, Wa

1/10/2019 (Permalink)

A small fire in the kitchen made the entire house smell.

There are many reasons one might need to call SERVPRO of Bellingham. In this particular situation it was because of a fire in a kitchen. The homeowner was making soup and walked away from the stove for an extended period of time. The fire was small but the damage that followed was extensive. 

The entire house and connected garage smelled of burnt meat and the small particles of soot were everywhere. 

In this picture you can see a tiny soot chain in the corner, but but what you cannot see is the harsh odor that has permeated every nook and cranny, every item of clothing and each and every bit a furniture in the home

SERVPRO of Bellingham has over 40 years of experience with residential fire and cleaning contents. We know how to get rid of odors and staining. Our goal is a happy customer and place to call home again. 

A small stove fire in Bellingham, WA.

6/26/2018 (Permalink)

A thorough cleaning is part of taking care of a home fire.

Is there really something we can call a "small" fire? 

Not really because even the smallest of fire leaves behind clues that it had been there. The initial inspection shows just how much of the home or commercial space has been affected by the smoke.

Our hard working professionally trained crew knows this and is able to diagnose the issue with a swiftness that only the best can. By reaching into our bags tricks and being willing to do the hard work. Tall ladders, lifts, extenders, the proper and safe products and diligent workers with an eye for detail coupled with an accurate plan of action sets us apart. 

The goal is get our customers lives back to normal as quickly as possible while also doing flawless work. 

It gets everywhere

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Inside the closet too!

Soot.

SERVPRO of Bellingham is a leader in the cleaning and restoration industry and we see the most incredible things when fire damages homes or offices. The hardest part of cleaning up after a fire finding all of that darn soot. It literally gets in, on and around everywhere and everything.

Our well trained crew opened a closet knowing they were going to see soot and they were correct. Every item inside the closet had left it's print on the painted shelving below and fire particulate had filled in all of the blank spaces.

We know that every surface in a home affected by fire will need to be cleaned. This includes the front, back, bottom, top, side, inside and outside. 

Who knew there were so many sides?

Fire Escape Planning

11/3/2017 (Permalink)

Two ways out of every room.

SERVPRO of Bellingham helps families and businesses after fires, smoke damage and other scary challenges. We know that the most important part of escaping a fire is to have a plan in place. It's easy and makes sense.

Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.  Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm.

Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.

Everyone in the household must understand the escape plan. When you walk through your plan, check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily.

Having a plan and practicing the plan saves lives. 

Renter's Insurance

11/3/2017 (Permalink)

Have a plan to escape and Renter's Insurance to help.

We live in a college town. Bellingham has about 55% of it's population in rentals.

We at SERVPRO of Bellingham are often called to help clean up after fires. One of the biggest challenges we see for renters is cleaning contents and finding new housing. 

Renter's Insurance is an easy and inexpensive way to be covered financially should a fire occur. Every property manager wants their tenants to have insurance but very few actually require it. Renter's insurance can help you replace burned up or damaged items. It can also assist you paying for housing while you are out of a damaged unit. 

SERVPRO of Bellingham wants all of you renters to ask your insurance agent about Renter's Insurance. You will be thankful if a fire or flood makes life hard.

The Struggle is Real

5/8/2017 (Permalink)

A light switch at a recent home fire.

A fire can be an incredibly devastating experience for yourself and your loved ones. Not only will a fire cause extensive damage to your property, but you may also lose sentimental items. If you experience a fire in your home a restoration company like SERVPRO of Bellingham will be there to assist you. By leaving your fire damage repair to the professionals, you will gain valuable assistance during your fire clean up. Along with repairing your home, you may also need to heal emotional wounds. One of the most difficult things in life is dealing with the loss of your most cherished items, but even more profound is dealing with the loss of security and safety that comes with a fire in your home. We empathize with our clients and always strive to save the most precious items from their homes.

"We clean it all"

6/20/2016 (Permalink)

Yes, that is a Mallard.

What's that sound?

Oh, no. It's a fire alarm.

Whew, everyone is safe.

Fire spreads through the home, but firefighters are able to save it.

A house fire is more than just a damaged structure.

Typically, the good guys in the red trucks also use a lot of water to keep the fire at bay. The flames are scary, but the combination of soot and water is not only coerosive but extremely diffucult to clean up. SERVPRO of Bellingham is able to utilize Chem sponges and various other techniques to clean, disinfect and deodorize smoke affected walls, ceilings, and flat surfaces in commercial and residential structures. But that is just one step in getting things back to normal.

Did you know that we also clean contents affected in said structures? Think about all of the stuff that you have in your home. We see all types- luxurious homes filled with unique art, extravegant furnishing and mountains of high end shoes to studio condominums with simple decor and minimal furniture. Each home is treated with the utmost respect. The care and responsibility for these items is something that take time and effort in to get right. 

We clean it all.

A sigh of relief.

Things will get back to normal.

"Like it Never Even Happened."

Yes, that's a Mallard. #SERVPROofBellingham