Securing and Restoring Your Property After a Fire

8/26/2022 (Permalink)

Secure Your Business Property

If fire damage occurs to your Brunswick, ME, business, there will be a lot to do. One of the most important tasks will be protecting your property from further damage.

Securing the Property

What do criminals, wildlife, and inclement weather have in common? They can all wreak havoc upon a fire-damaged building. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to secure your business property.

• Install a security fence
• Tarp over openings
• Board up broken windows

When a fire department extinguishes a fire, they often break windows and cause other damage that leaves your building vulnerable to looting and other dangerous situations. Inspect the structure for openings and entry points, and block them off using either plywood or a tarp. A security fence can add a second layer of protection.

Remember that your business could be liable for injuries sustained on the property, even by someone who did not have permission to be there. Following these steps will help protect your business from further harm while you are busy repairing the initial fire damage. Additionally, if the insurance company finds you did not take adequate steps to secure the site, they may refuse to pay for any secondary damage that they deem occurred as a result of negligence.

Restoring the Property

In addition to outside factors, soot from the fire and water from the extinguishing efforts can also cause further damage if left too long. It is important to begin the fire cleanup process as soon as possible. Remove the standing water using either a pump or specialized vacuum. Use a dehumidifier to dry out any remaining water. Clean the smoke and soot from the affected surfaces using an appropriate cleaner and technique. There are a variety of products available on the market for this. Throw out all items that cannot be completely dried and cleaned. Finally, repair or replace all damaged items.

Protecting your property and restoring fire damage can seem like a Herculean task. Fortunately, a professional restoration team can help you get your business back to normal quickly and safely.