Tips for Preventing Fires During the Winter

11/8/2024 (Permalink)

The damage to the townhome is due to a residential fire.

Did you know that home fires occur more during the winter than in any other season? Here are some tips for preventing damage to your home:

• Keep any flammable materials and items at least three feet away from all heat sources, like space heaters, fireplaces, radiators, stoves, candles, etc.
• Place space heaters on a level, hard, and nonflammable surface and only plug one appliance into an electrical outlet at a time. Keep dust, dirt, and any other debris clear from heaters.
• Turning off and putting out all heat sources like candles, space heaters, fireplaces, and stoves, before leaving your home is the most preventable cause of fire.
• Never disable a smoke or carbon dioxide alarm and double check that all alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button to ensure that they are functioning properly and will alert you in case of an emergency. Disabling them or neglecting to test them can leave you unaware of a potential fire or gas leak.
• Chimneys and heating systems should be cleaned and inspected annually. Soot and debris can accumulate, creating a fire hazard. Scheduling an annual cleaning and inspection by a professional can help prevent blockages and overheating, reducing the risk of a fire starting in these areas.
• Remove clutter from home, ensuring doorways, hallways, and windows are accessible. 

Laramie County Wildfire Damage Event

9/30/2020 (Permalink)

A forest fire

The active wildfires in Southern California are increasing their impact as growing Santa Ana winds add fuel to these devastating blazes that are encroaching in the area. Here in Cheyenne we can relate all too well with what is happening in California. While, thank goodness, our situation is nowhere near as dire, it is still very real for those of us in Southeast Wyoming.

Here in Laramie and Albany counties we are feeling the affects of the Mullen Fire. This fire is burning in the Medicine Bow National Forest. Currently, (9/30/2020) it is 96, 767 acres. For more information about this fire and any evacuations please go to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7208.

In addition to the Mullen Fire, we have the Cameron Peak fire burning in Northern Colorado. The Cameron Peak Fire is currently 125,006 acres and 22% contained as of 9/30/2020.

Ready to help Here at SERVPRO of Cheyenne we are monitoring these wildfire situations closely. Our thoughts are with those neighbors who may be put in harms’ way during this event. In many cases, a wildfire can result in a total loss for a home or business, but in others it may be a partial loss, or can result in mild smoke damage. If your home or business is affected by a wildfire, SERVPRO of Cheyenne is Here to Help®. 

About SERVPRO of Cheyenne

SERVPRO of Cheyenne 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.

Fire or Soot Damage? Call Us Today – We’re Ready To Help 307-514-9011

Safety First This Thanksgiving

11/19/2019 (Permalink)

Happy Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving comes food; turkey! You have to pick out just the right bird, the perfect one to feed your family and friends. Once you have chosen “the” bird, you have to determine how to cook it. There is the tried and true baking it in the oven, deep frying it in the deep fryer, some even pull out the grill.

No matter which way you choose to prepare your feast please keep in mind that The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) states that Thanksgiving is the leading day for cooking fires. There are THREE times as more cooking fires than on an average day.

Some easy things to do to keep your family and home safe is:

Check your food regularly.

Be alert.

Don’t leave your house when you are cooking. If you have to run out to get something, turn everything off and then resume when you get back.

If you are frying your turkey in a fryer:

Make sure that the turkey is defrosted before cooking…water/ice do not mix with oil.

Keep children and pets away from the fryer.

Always place the fryer on a level surface.

Protect your eyes and hands, oil burns are painful and could be devastating.

Here at SERVPRO of Cheyenne, we want everyone to have a safe, happy and wonderful Thanksgiving!

So please use caution and discretion when getting that dinner ready, regardless of how you are going to cook it.

For more safety tips please visit https://www.nfpa.org/

Fire Prevention

10/10/2019 (Permalink)

“NOT EVERY HERO WEARS A CAPE. PLAN AND PRACTICE YOUR ESCAPE!”

Fire prevention week runs from October 6^th through October 12^th this year.

Plan and Practice. That is the theme of this year. NFPA, National Fire Protection Association wants everyone to have a fire plan and to practice that plan. They suggest that every household practice their plan at least twice a year.

According to Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and advocacy at NFPA, “People tend to underestimate their risk to fire, particularly at home. That over-confidence lends itself to a complacency toward home escape planning and practice,” said Carli. “But in a fire situation, we’ve seen time and again that advance planning can make a potentially life-saving difference.” (https://www.firehouse.com/prevention-investigation/press-release/21083302/nfpa-national-fire-protection-association-nfpa-announces-theme-for-fire-prevention-week)

Here at SERVPRO of Cheyenne, we ask that everyone talk with your family about the dangers of fire. Talk to your children about how quickly a fire can spread. Speak to them about matches and candles, even portable heaters. Make sure everyone in your family knows just how dangerous fire can be. After you have talked about causes and precautions to take regarding

Every home should have an escape plan. Every home needs to make sure that they have WORKING smoke alarms in their home, one on each level of the home and to have one near all sleeping areas.

Make sure you have at least two routes of escape, typically these are a door and a window. Lastly, make sure that you have a meeting place that every member of your household knows about.

Knowing what to do is only half the battle. Now make sure you practice the plan with everyone in the home. This allows everyone to be a little more prepared in case of an actual fire. Everyone will know what to do and where to meet.

If you would like more information or resources please visit https://www.nfpa.org/fpw.

Remember, not every hero wears a cape!

Please visit SERVPRO of Cheyenne’s Facebook page to see a video on just how quickly a fire can spread. https://www.facebook.com/pg/SERVPROofCheyenne/posts/?ref=page_internal

Fireworks Danger

6/27/2018 (Permalink)

The 4^th of July is right around the corner! With the 4^th of July celebrations comes fireworks. Fireworks bring several dangers when mishandled including severe injuries or death and fires. The possibility of starting a fire is especially high when in a drought year.

There are several ways to prevent injury and fires when using fireworks.

• Follow any and all local laws, rules, or regulations regarding fireworks.
• Keep a hose and a metal bucket full of water near the site where you are shooting off fireworks.
• When the fireworks are done going off, dispose of them in the metal bucket of water and leave them over night.
• Keep the metal bucket of water away from any structures or vehicles in an area where it won’t be blown over by the wind.
• Fireworks should only be shot off under direct adult supervision. Children should never be given fireworks.
• Do not light fireworks while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Light one firework off at a time and quickly get out of the way before it goes off.
• Never light fireworks indoors or in a garage or near buildings or vehicles.
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.

Humans are not the only beings that fireworks affect. Pets have very sensitive hearing so keep them indoors during any and all fireworks shows. This will keep them from getting hurt in their confusion and fear.

Holiday Fire Damage!

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

Let’s face the facts, fires are a danger that happens every day. The holidays are no exception in this. In fact, the holidays bring about a whole new set of fire dangers that may not be as prevalent during the rest of the year.

Ways fires can occur during the holidays include but are not limited to:

• Real trees get too dry
• Decorations and trees are too close to heating elements i.e. fireplace, space heater, etc.
• Lights and decorations have been on too long and have started to overheat
• Candles too close to décor, furniture, decorations, trees etc.
• Lights used outdoors are not rated for external use
• Electric holiday decorations have a short in the wiring
• Holiday meal preparations

Ways to prevent fires during the holidays include but are not limited to:

• Make sure real trees have enough water.
• Make sure decorations and trees are far enough from heating elements to prevent them from overheating.
• Turn your lights and decorations off at night and when you are not at home.
• Keep all candles away from anything flammable including drapes, furniture, trees, decorations, and other décor.
• Make sure that all lights have been tested by a professional organization and that the ones you use out doors are rated for external use.
• Check all electronic components of decorations and lights for exposed wiring and or corrosion.
• Never leave a holiday meal cooking unattended.

For any assistance with damage from a fire call SERVPRO of CHEYENNE at 307-514-9011.

Fire Prevention Month

10/2/2017 (Permalink)

The American Red Cross says, on average there are 7 people killed a year and 36 people injured a day due to house fires. They also say that there is over $7 billion worth of damage every year due to house fires.

October is national Fire Prevention Month. There are many ways to prevent a fire in your home and becoming one of these statistics.

Ways you can prevent fires in your home

• Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children
• Clean the lint out of your dryer after every use
• Keep flammable materials away from heat sources
• Have your HVAC system tested regularly and repaired as needed
• Never leave appliances such as curling irons, ovens, or grills are running
• Never leave portable heaters, candles, fireplaces unattended
• Never use appliances or electronics with damaged electrical cords

Even with the best preventive measures in place it is best to prepare for a fire. There are several ways you can prepare you and your family for a fire emergency.

Ways you can prepare for a fire disaster

• Have fire detectors located in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on every floor of the house
• Test fire detectors monthly
• Replace the batteries in fire detectors at least once a year
• Have at least two emergency escape routes
• Teach children the emergency escape routes
• Teach children how to dial 9-1-1 in case of an emergency
• Teach children how to stop, drop, and roll in case an article of clothing catches on fire

These are just a few ways to prevent and prepare for a fire emergency for more information contact the American Red Cross.

For any assistance with damage from a fire call SERVPRO of CHEYENNE at 307-514-9011.

Cheyenne Smoke and Soot Cleanup

8/18/2016 (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 Cheyenne 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 – 307-514-9011