Every 24 seconds, a fire department responds to a fire here in the United States (NFPA). While most people are well-educated on the effects of fire, one factor we don’t discuss enough is smoke damage. Smoke can be equally devastating—in fact, smoke is the leading cause of death by fire.
Why is Smoke Dangerous?
Composed of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and soot, smoke can wreak havoc on homes and businesses. We’ve uncovered smoke damage in ductwork, in closed space (including dressers or desks), and even behind drapes or on blinds far from where the fire took place.
Cleaning up soot and smoke damage is a task that you want to address right away. If you let it linger, smoke permeates your home, becoming increasingly difficult to remove.
What to Do If You Have Smoke Damage
Immediately call a trusted restoration expert. Then, turn off your HVAC system to avoid the further spread of smoke and soot. Open windows and doors to help increase air circulation. Once onsite, Paul Davis technicians will use specialized cleaning methods and equipment, combined with unique training, to safeguard and restore exposed items.
The thing you don’t want to do? Hire a company that isn’t qualified. Never trust contractors who show up on your doorstep, pitching their fire restoration services. More often than not, they can cause more damage than they fix!
Why Trust Paul Davis?
As fire restoration experts, we have specialized in soot and smoke damage for decades. Our expert technicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist with:
- Rapid damage assessment, pretesting, and estimates for cleanup and restoration
- Emergency board-up and structural stabilization
- Environmentally-friendly methods for cleaning soot and fire damage residue
- Smoke odor removal, sanitation, and air purification
- Careful removal and securing of damaged household goods, personal possessions, and other contents for cleaning and restoration
- Industrial-grade water extractors, dehumidifiers, air movers and other equipment used to efficiently remove water resulting from fire extinguishing efforts
The Doll: A First Hand Account
One of our favorite stories about smoke damage involves our beloved Warehouse Manager, Angie. When Angie’s friends suffered a devastating fire, they hired the insurance-recommended restoration contractor because they believed they had no other option. Unfortunately, that other company wasn’t up for the challenge. Angie spoke with her friends, who mentioned a few issues that had transpired, including one with their beloved doll.
This doll has special meaning: after their daughter passed at a young age, this couple came upon a company that creates dolls to match photos of real people. They had a doll created in the likeness of their daughter. Sadly, this doll was damaged in the fire. The original restoration company claimed they wouldn’t be able to clean the doll from smoke damage, despite knowing the sentimental attachment. There was “simply nothing they could do,” so Angie took the doll home and cleaned it herself. When Angie handed the restored doll to the parents, they both choked up. While a touch of staining remained, the mother made light of it saying, “she just came home with a little bit of a sun tan.”
Stories like this touch our hearts and keep us doing what we do every day. Angie never disparaged the other company, she simply did the right thing. Team members like Angie delivering Best-In-Class service, displaying our brand with pride are the foundation of Paul Davis and the building blocks to our future.
Call Paul Davis!
If your home or business has fallen victim to fire, don’t wait to repair the damage. At Paul Davis, our specialized methods, and our extensive experience mean quicker cleanup and lower costs as you return to normalcy. We are also happy to assist with the insurance claims process to make it as painless as possible for you!
We hope you never do, but if you need fire and smoke damage restoration, reach out. For immediate assistance, call 651.243.0737. Because when it comes to dealing with fires and smoke, this is no time for second best™