Be Mindful this Thanksgiving, and Fry Your Turkey Safely!

11/26/2024 (Permalink)

Every year, there is an average of two thousand house fire calls, that occur due to turkey frying on Thanksgiving. It causes an average of five deaths a year and millions of dollars in property damage to homeowners.

How to prevent these issues from occurring

1. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed out, a frozen turkey when dropped into the fryer can combust.
2. Do not place fryer underneath deck or inside garage
3. Make sure kids and pets are inside when frying is active
4. Make sure the pot isn’t over filled with oil
5. Make sure thermostat is not defected

One of the main reasons, turkey frying is so dangerous, is because people do not set up the process properly. Due to its volatility, it’s very important to make sure the turkey is completely thawed out. Do not try and fry a turkey when it is still frozen in the center. Due to its density while frozen, when it is dropped into the fryer the frozen molecules in the turkey will rapidly spread far apart. This causes the turkey to combust.

The second main reason, turkey frying is so dangerous is because people tend to place their fryers under decks or in a garage. When the flames spike for any number of reasons, it catches the home on fire.

Another cause of a turkey fryer fire is that the pot is too heavy with oil and the turkey. This causes it to tip over and ignite the spilt oil. Or when the turkey is placed into the overfilled pot of oil, it overflows and spills into the ignitor.

Always keep pets and children away from the fryer. Curious pets and children will tend to knock into the fryer or check it and cause a spill to the fryer, which results in a fire.

While a fried turkey may taste good and be a family tradition, we do advise you to seek other safe options to cook your turkey this Thanksgiving. Due to the unpredictability of turkey frying it poses many safety and health risks to people and their homes.

If a fire does occur in you or a loved ones home this Thanksgiving, and you aren’t sure who to call.

SERVPRO® has a 24/7 Emergency hotline that can get you connected to your local franchise.

It is answered by a live person who can help assist you and get you the answers that you need to help you through this time.

SERVPRO of Sparrows Point, Essex, chase has the latest technology in fire restoration.

We provide services such as: content cleaning, packing and storage, demolition, cleaning, and deodorization, and finally we offer services in reconstruction. We can assist you from start to finish, helping you all along the way with your insurance company. If you are not sure who to call, make us your first call.

6 Things to do after a Fire in your Middle River, Maryland home.

7/7/2022 (Permalink)

8 Things to do after a Fire in your Middle River, Maryland home. 

Everyone tells you how to put out a fire, prevent a fire and EVEN what to do if you yourself on fire… but no one ever tells you what to do next after a fire strikes your home or business. The following checklist serves as a quick reference and guide for you to follow if fire strikes your home in Middle River or Dundalk Maryland. 

1. Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Be mindful of any structural damage caused by the fire. The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site.  DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself.
2. Contact your local disaster relief service, such as The Red Cross, if you need temporary housing, food, and medicines.
3. If you are insured, contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on protecting the property, conducting inventory, and contacting fire damage restoration companies. SERVPRO of Sparrows Point / Essex / Chase is approved by all insurance companies and has over 20 years of experience in restoring homes after a fire.
4. Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made. SERVPRO of Perry Hall / White Marsh crews are trained to properly document, clean and store damaged items. Nothing will be disposed of without your knowledge or permission, and we do our best to salvage your precious items.
5. If possible, locate valuable documents and records-deed to home, car, bank information, birth certificates, etc.Here is a handy list of all documents to locate, and where to get them replaced in the event that they are damaged.
6. Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and for verifying losses claimed on income tax

If you've experienced a home fire, and aren't sure what to do, please call SERVPRO of Sparrows Point / Essex / Chase.

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 Us Today – (443) 231-6372

Smoke and Soot Clean up in Sparrows Point

12/7/2021 (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 Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase 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 Us Today – 443-231-6179.

7 steps to prevent a fire damage in your kitchen – Sparrows Point, Maryland, USA.

5/14/2021 (Permalink)

7 steps to prevent a fire damage in your kitchen – Sparrows Point, Maryland, USA.

1. Stay in the kitchen – Fires happen when cooking is left unattended. If you have to leave the kitchen, turnoff the stove, and take pots and pans off the heat. This is especially important if you are broiling – remove food from the oven and turn off the broiler.
2. Watch your clothing- Long sleeves that can get caught or catch onto things can catch fire. Instead wear short or close-fitting sleeves, and keep shirts tucked in or tied back with a well fitted apron.
3. Beware of items around stovetop – move flammable items away from your stovetop before you begin cooking. Keep oven mitts, kitchen towels and appliance cords away from burners.
4. Keep fire extinguisher in kitchen – keep a fire extinguisher nearby to put out any potential fire. Make sure the extinguisher is up to date and hasn’t expired.
5. Learn your fire extinguisher – Read and get to know your fire extinguisher, practice operating it using expired fire extinguishers outside.
6. Never throw hot grease in garbage can – hot grease can cause the contents of the trashcan to catch fire. Always pour hot grease into a heat safe container with a aluminum foil underneath to catch drips!
7. Extinguish candles – candles themselves are a leading cause of fires in homes. Keep candles extinguished while cooking and if you do decide to use a candle in the kitchen, opt for short wide candles that are hard to tip over and keep the wick trimmed!

About SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase

SERVPRO of Sparrows Point Essex/Chase is a fire water damage restoration franchise and is accepted by all insurance companies. If your home is affected by a kitchen fire damage, please call SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase 443-231-6179

7 steps to prevent a fire damage in your kitchen – Sparrows Point, Maryland, USA.

5/14/2021 (Permalink)

7 steps to prevent a fire damage in your kitchen – Sparrows Point, Maryland, USA.

1. Stay in the kitchen – Fires happen when cooking is left unattended. If you have to leave the kitchen, turnoff the stove, and take pots and pans off the heat. This is especially important if you are broiling – remove food from the oven and turn off the broiler.
2. Watch your clothing- Long sleeves that can get caught or catch onto things can catch fire. Instead wear short or close-fitting sleeves, and keep shirts tucked in or tied back with a well fitted apron.
3. Beware of items around stovetop – move flammable items away from your stovetop before you begin cooking. Keep oven mitts, kitchen towels and appliance cords away from burners.
4. Keep fire extinguisher in kitchen – keep a fire extinguisher nearby to put out any potential fire. Make sure the extinguisher is up to date and hasn’t expired.
5. Learn your fire extinguisher – Read and get to know your fire extinguisher, practice operating it using expired fire extinguishers outside.
6. Never throw hot grease in garbage can – hot grease can cause the contents of the trashcan to catch fire. Always pour hot grease into a heat safe container with a aluminum foil underneath to catch drips!
7. Extinguish candles – candles themselves are a leading cause of fires in homes. Keep candles extinguished while cooking and if you do decide to use a candle in the kitchen, opt for short wide candles that are hard to tip over and keep the wick trimmed!

About SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase

SERVPRO of Sparrows Point Essex/Chase is a fire water damage restoration franchise and is accepted by all insurance companies. If your home is affected by a kitchen fire damage, please call SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase 443-231-6179.

Bowleys Quarter Fire Damage Prevention Tip: How to Extinguish an Oven Fire

4/14/2021 (Permalink)

How to put out an oven fire to prevent a fire damage – Bowleys Quarters MD, USA

SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase has cleaned smoke damage from hundreds of Bowleys Quarters homes since our doors opened in 2001. Oven fires are one of the main causes of smoke damage clean up in the Bowleys Quarters Maryland area and can happen for numerous reasons:

• Fat and grease splatter, causes a flame
• When batter overflows
• Simply forgetting something in the oven
• using the self-cleaning feature.
• Electrical malfunction

Here are tips on how to put out an oven fire:

What to do if something in the oven catches fire

1. Leave the oven door closed! – this will starve the fire of oxygen.
2. Turn off the oven and allow the fire to deplete existing oxygen in the oven.
3. If it does not go out on its own, leave the house and call 911.
4. If it does go out, thenopen your windows before opening the oven door. If you’re not positive, just wait a bit longer to be sure.
5. With your fire extinguisher close-by, carefully open the oven door (it will be smoky!) and remove the hot pan.

• Allow the smoke to clear before determining the cause of the fire and possibly resuming cooking.

Sparrows Point: Reduce your risk of a fire in your home or business by inspecting Storage areas

3/14/2021 (Permalink)

Reduce your risk of fire – inspect storage areas

At SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase, we see many homes and businesses in eastern Baltimore county, experience fires. Many people are vigilant on checking areas of their home and keep smoke alarms up-to-date...but some areas may be forgotten, such as a garage, shed, or unfinished storage space within your home. Your garage, basement and yard can present hazards as well — in fact, they have the potential to be even more dangerous. Here are tips on what to inspect to prevent a fire in your garage, shed, or basement.

TIPS:

• Avoid cluttering debris or junk near your furnace or heater.
• Old newspapers piled in damp, warm places can actually self-combust — they don’t even have to be close to a heat source.
• Keep oil soaked rags in a metal container – think linseed oil, oil-based wood stains, oil rags from mechanical maintenance.
• Store flammable solvents and liquids in a fire cabinet
• If you have gasoline or other flammable liquids at home, keep them tightly sealed in metal containers and make sure they’re far away from heat sources, including the gas or charcoal grill you love to use in the summer.
• The grill itself should be at least 10 feet from your home and placed away from any overhead branches or structures.

 If you've experienced a home fire, and aren't sure what to do, please call SERVPRO of Sparrows Point Essex/Chase, or your insurance agent. 

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 Us Today – 443-231-6179

How to Escape a Burning Building

2/14/2021 (Permalink)

WARNING: If you are in a home fire RIGHT now, Call 9-1-1!

Timing is everything, in just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames. Here are things many people don’t expect after escaping a home fire, and tips on how to escape safely.

Fire is FAST! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a serious fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for it to be engulfed in flames - impairing vision and breathing.

Tip: make sure all fire alarms are in working condition and appropriately placed fire extinguishers

Fire is HOT! Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.

Tip: Always crawl on the floor – the air will be cooler and there will be more oxygen.

Fire is DARK! Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.

Smoke is DEADLY! Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire produces poisonous gases that disorient you. asphyxiation (suffocation) is the leading cause of death from home related fires.

Tip: If you open a door, open it slowly. Be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or fire is present.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services for Sparrows Point and Dundalk MD

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase has 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 Us Today –443-231-6179

Source: https://www.ready.gov/home-fi

Fire damage clean up: what to expect when working with SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/ Essex/ Chase

4/9/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Sparrows Point /Essex/Chase is available 24 hours a day for fire emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with fire damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the fire damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (443)-231-6179

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase has the specific fire damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your fire damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed. SERVPRO will also work with you to connect you to specialty services such as such as electronic restoration specialists and Textile restoration specialists.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the fire-damaged home or business
• When did the fire damage occur?
• What caused the fire damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?
• Has the fire department declared it safe to enter?

About SERVPRO of Dundalk/Essex/Chase

SERVPRO of Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase Smoke and Soot Cleanup

11/16/2017 (Permalink)

Smoke and Soot Damage Can Cause a Pervasive Odor in Your Home

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 Sparrows Point/Essex/Chase 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 Us Today- 443-231-6179