Preparedness of a Fire Restoration Technician

12/16/2021 (Permalink)

There are many different dangers for a SERVPRO of Salem West Technician to consider when responding to a fire loss.

Our team has to take into account prevention of cross contamination, possible toxic levels of smoke and Ashe in the air, and whether or not the structure can be cleaned or not, and much more.

Each Fire Technician responding to a Fire loss needs to make sure they have the following items on hand:

-Respirator (with carbon filters)

-Shoe covers (multiple pairs for going in and out of the structure)

-White Suit or Coveralls (Ashes that may still be floating in the air are highly acidic)

-Protective glasses

-Camera (For capturing pictures of surroundings)

-Laser Tape (if measuring is needed)

-Gloves

-Cleaning Supplies (To decontaminate any items before packing them into vehicle)

-Cell Phone (to update team on findings or in case back-up is needed)

-Sponges (For smoke testing)

That is just the start of a long list of items to consider.

There are other things to consider when responding to a fire loss.

Here are some key questions our Fire Restoration Technicians need to ask themselves:

-Has the site been cleared by the fire department for entry?

-Are other vendors onsite or being called out to estimate loss?

-Is there water damage from fire fighting efforts? How extensive is it?

-Will I need to determine if contents are salvageable or not?

-Am I prepared to enter this structure and gather the pictures and measurements needed to create a proper estimate of damages if it is requested before work beginning?

Being prepared comes with the job. A Fire loss is one of the most heavily toxic environments we encounter. Facing a fire damage it is always crucial to be prepared for the worst case scenario. At SERVPRO of Salem West our technicians approach each fire with training and preparedness.