RESTORATION BLOG IN TORONTO & GTA

Fire Is a Triple Threat for Property Owners
 
Fire is a triple threat for property owners because it results in (1) fire damage, (2) water damage and (3) the risk of mold due to flooding. Fire damage includes damage to the property and contents, soot, smoke damage and poor air quality. Flooding from firefighting efforts causes the water damage. And with water damage, there is a very real risk of mold growth within 12-48 hours.
 
Recovering from a fire in your home or business is a process, so be sure to take the right steps forward. Here are the 3 key steps to get you started:
 
Step 1: Decontaminate
 
Fire damage poses the risk of health hazards including serious respiratory issues, so it is absolutely necessary to decontaminate and deodorize your property first to restore your air quality. Attempting to decorate over the soot, smoke and fire damage without first decontaminating and deodorising the property, traps harmful air pollutants and odours and also causes staining to work its way back through any paint application.
 
In every case of fire damage, be sure to call a professional fire restoration team who will take all the necessary steps to decontaminate the areas and contents to ensure all the harmful pollutants are sanitized and thoroughly removed. Also, depending on the severity of the contamination, some items will need to be transported to a specialized decontamination unit.
 
Step 2: Address Water Damage to Avoid Mold Growth
 
Water damage from fire fighting efforts is devastating especially when it extends to soaked furniture and flooring, electric appliances and other irreplaceable household items. Furthermore, any kind of water damage should always be addressed immediately as harmful mold growth can begin within 12-48 hours.
 
Other complications from water damage include steel and iron corrosion as well as wood rot in walls and furniture.
 
Immediate water damage remediation includes removing the water, as well as drying and sanitizing both your property and all your contents. Initially, vacuums and pumps are used to remove any standing water; after removing the water, the drying process is initiated with fans and dehumidifiers.
 
It is very important for property owners to note that drying is not enough. All damaged items and personal belongings must be sanitized and cleaned to prevent mold growth including carpets, clothing, and rugs, which require thorough antimicrobial treatments.
 
Step 3: Restoration


Once your property is decontaminated, you need a professional team of restoration experts to address your water damage, assess the full extent of the damage to your property and supply you with a fair and detailed estimate of the cost to restore your home or business to its original state or better.
 
Always engage a professional restoration surveyor to assess the damage and provide you with an itemized estimate for the work. Recommended restoration work ranges from:
 

• Cleaning and decontamination of carpets, rugs, fine fabrics and soft furnishings
• Odor removal
• Restoration of documents
• Restoration of fine arts
• Floor and wall repair and replacement

 

In the event of a fire, be sure to take the right steps forward. Together with your professional emergency restoration team, you will get through this and start again

​How Crime Scene Cleaners Sanitize a Trauma Scene
Cleaning up a crime scene may not seem like the ideal occupation, but someone has to do it. Often times, the dwelling where the fatalities or injuries occurred is going to be placed back on the market.  Not to worry though, as the process is similar to sewage cleanup in that it deals with the removal of bio-hazardous waste. Crime scene cleaners are trained to remove any reminders of the tragedy that occurred, while also remaining cautious and respectful of the injured or deceased.
 
Obtain the Right Gear
Crime scene cleaners are dealing with bio-hazardous waste and should always ensure they have to correct gear before attending a scene. This includes:

• One time full body suit that can be discarded after use.
• A mask to prevent breathing in airborne hazards or from ingesting harmful bodily fluids.
• Thick, disposal gloves to prevent skin-to-skin contact.
• Goggles to prevent the eyes from being exposed to hazardous materials.

 
For a crime scene heavily tainted in blood and bodily fluids, a respirator is handy to filter the air.
 
Remove and Dispose of Blood Tainted Materials
Next, crime scene cleaners will search the area particularly for items that may be tainted with blood or bodily fluids. This can include but are not limited to:

• Mattresses
• Curtains
• Rugs/Carpets
• Sofas
• Clothing
• Anything porous and absorbent

The main goal of this step is to remove any traces of blood or bodily fluids. This is also the most dangerous and risky part of the cleanup as the potential for contact with the hazards is greater. Anything that is clearly tainted with hazardous waste is labelled in bio-hazard containers and disposed of by a bio-hazardous waste disposal professional. In cases of sofas or mattresses, where only some portions may be splattered with hazardous waste, they must be dismantled and the saturated areas cut out and disposed of separately.
 
When dealing with carpets or flooring that is tainted with blood and bodily fluid, each layer is removed until it tests negative for the presence of contaminants. 
 
Clean, Disinfect, and Deodorize
This is where crime scene cleaners conduct an in-depth cleaning to completely sanitize the space and eliminate odours. For concrete, the process usually involves pressure washing with chemical solutions to break down the blood and scrubbing with abrasive tools.
 
Typically, all surfaces are cleaned and sanitized with the use of high-quality medical grade chemicals. This way, they can be sure that viruses and bacteria are eliminated. Sometimes, the cause of death or injury is a virus and that’s why this is necessary. Sometimes it is unknown whether the injured or deceased has a virus in their blood, so it is better to be safe than sorry. Afterwards, special deodorizers are used to remove any lingering odours of a trauma scene.
 
Verify the Trauma Scene is Safe
Once a crime scene is sanitized, a crime scene cleaner will use ATP (adenosine triphosphate testing technology to guarantee the area is disinfected and safe. Never meddle in a crime scene. Always report it, so the professionals can take appropriate measures.