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Teaching Kids Fire Safety | SERVPRO of East Fullerton/Placentia

2/7/2024 (Permalink)

The California "River Fire" fills the sky with dark smoke and flames Unexpected fires can be devastating to your home. That's why SERVPRO of East Fullerton/Placentia can restore your home with a quick response. Call us!

There is so much we do every day to protect our children and keep our homes safe. Both of these responsibilities can be almost daily tasks—there are so many risks and hazards we have to be prepared for! 

Along with ensuring our homes are ready to handle each season and our children are ready to handle schools and growth milestones, we need to also make sure both are ready for potential fires. 

Teaching your kids fire safety is crucial to ensure you can all get out in the event of a disaster. There are ways you can prepare your home and your family without creating a lot of fear. Spend some time talking about fire safety with your family to keep everyone safe. 

Start With Prevention 

In order to prevent creating fear as you prepare your kids for a fire, start by sharing with them the fire prevention tools you have in place at home. Walk them through the house and show them where your smoke detectors are. 

These should be placed outside of every sleeping area and on every floor of your home. Turn them on while your kids listen so that they know what they sound like and you know their batteries are good. 

Talk with your kids about the power of fire, and teach them to never play with matches or lighter. Children are naturally curious about how things work, so further protect them by keeping matches and lighters out of their reach. 

Remove candles from your home as well. Flameless candles are a great alternative and can still offer the ambiance and even the smell of a regular candle without the risk. 

If your kids are older and utilize appliances in the kitchen, make sure they know how to properly respond if something sparks. There should always be a pot lid close by to smother flames, but also keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Teach older children how to use them. Remind them to always turn heat sources off and to unplug appliances when they are not in use. 

Make a Plan

Disasters can still strike in even the most prepared home. While ensuring you have plenty of prevention in place is crucial for protecting your loved ones, you also need to make a plan so they know how to respond if things get out of control. Fires can spread rapidly, leaving you less than two minutes to safely get out. 

Draw a basic map of your home with your children. Make a game out of deciding what the fastest route out of each room is. Set a timer and have them race to see who can get out of a space and to a safe meeting spot outside of the home the fastest. Do a belly crawl race as well so that your children can learn how to stay low and avoid smoke in a fun way. 

Talk to your children about safely navigating stairs in their exit route and how you will handle exiting out a window when it is the only option. Practice your plan regularly, and play your escape games. The more you can make your family comfortable, the better a potential disaster scenario will go. 

Do you have damage from a fire in your home? Contact our SERVPRO® team, and we will get things back to normal fast!

Facts About Garages and Car Fires

10/31/2023 (Permalink)

All too often today, we hear sensational stories about Electric Vehicles (EVs) bursting into flames in home garages. When they do occur, these fires will burn at intensely high temperatures and fire departments find them far more difficult to extinguish than fires involving gas or diesel powered vehicles. Extinguishing an EV fire requires copious amounts of water that can become contaminated with lithium and other chemicals and firefighters and others can be exposed to electrocution risks. But, EV and hybrid vehicle fires don’t occur all that often and the concerns of homeowners or property managers of public parking facilities can be diminished when the facts are more closely examined. 

Firefighting tactics don’t work the same on electric vehicles as on gas powered vehicles. Lithium ion battery fires are more tricky to put out, sometimes they can reignite hours, days or even a week later. Since California has the highest number of EVs and hybrid (gas and electric) vehicles among the 2.5 plus million such vehicles in the U.S., we have significant risk exposure. Studies have shown that fire occurrences among gas, hybrid and electric powered vehicles differ significantly. Hybrid-powered cars are the most prone to experiencing fire and have been involved in about 3.5% of vehicles sold (3,475 fires per every 100,000). Gasoline-powered cars experience 1.5%, (about 1,530 fires per every 100,000) vehicles. And in spite of the sensational headlines, electric vehicles (EVs) saw just 25 fires per 100,000 (.00025%) of vehicles sold.

So Do You Need To Protect Your Garage from a Fire?

The answer is yes – no matter what vehicle type you park there. A majority of garages contain flammable substances and electrical situations that are easy to ignite. You can vastly decrease the odds of a garage fire by following these simple garage-keeping safety steps:

  • For gas or hybrid car owners, inspect regularly for gas and oil leaks.  Clean them up and get repairs started immediately.
  • For EV owners, avoid over-charging EVs. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends owners avoid charging their EVs overnight and park EVs that need repair outside. Not charging to 100% every time will also help prevent overheating.
  • Have an electrician inspect your wiring before installing EV chargers to ensure they will handle the high voltages necessary to charge the vehicle. Older homes and damaged systems may be unable to charge EVs safely.
  • Store any oil, gasoline, propane, paint and varnishes in a structure like a shed that isn’t connected to the rest of the house – these are highly flammable and shouldn’t be stored in your garage.
  •  If you have washers, dryers, refrigerators, shop vacs and other appliances in your garage don’t store any items on top of the machinery as it can lead to a fire.
  • Always avoid overloading electrical outlets with multiple plugins. Overloaded outlets are a leading cause of garage (and home) fires.
  • Avoid using extension cords in garages, especially when powering or charging appliances. It just adds another danger that wires could short and spark a fire.
  • Sweep your garage frequently and throw out unneeded stuff. The more clutter, the more fire hazards.
  • Never install a solid-fuel burning device in a garage. It’s against building codes and a serious fire hazard.
  • Install a heat alarm instead of a smoke alarm in your garage. A heat alarm is more consistent and reliable. Smoke alarms are prone to sound off when the temperature gets too hot, or dust and fumes interfere with its reading. False smoke alarms will bug you so you’ll soon detach the monitor anyway. 

October is National Fire Protection Month; a good time to inspect and apply some common sense so that home garages, basements and attics aren’t neglected year-round.

Storm Prep for Residents and Business's in Fullerton - Build a Disaster Supply Kit

10/31/2023 (Permalink)

When it comes to combating oncoming storms, the best offense is a good defense. In other words, being prepared for storm damage is of the utmost importance. Whether it be a snow, ice, rain or windstorm, having a plan in place and a disaster supply kit assembled, will have you one step ahead when they strike. Here are a few recommendations for your Disaster Supply Kit:

  • Water (one gallon per person per day for a minimum of 3 days)
  • Food (no less than a three-day supply)
  • Battery powered radio
  • Flashlight 
  • First aid kit
  • Additional batteries
  • Cell phone with chargers/battery backup
  • Toolbox
  • Pet food (if there are pets in the household)
  • fire extinguisher
  • Change of clothing for the appropriate weather and sturdy shoes
  • Matches (preferably in a waterproof container)
  • Writing utensil and paper
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Paper towels, plates, cups, and plastic eating utensils.

Other tasks that should be kept in mind prior to a storm:

  • Fill your vehicle's gas tank
  • Check your vehicle's tires
  • Have cash on hand
  • Charge your phone
  • Plan alternate evacuation routes if necessary
  • Gather important documents in a waterproof bag
  • Have an extra set of keys
  • Move your valuables to the highest level of the home

These are but a few items and tasks that can help you better be prepared when a storm is on its way. Of course, safety is of the utmost importance and should be your top priority. If your home or commercial property experiences fire, water, smoke or mold relating from storm damage, be sure to contact SERVPRO® and we'll be there to assist you. Always here to help!

Staying Safe During A Thunderstorm in Fullerton - Indoor Safety Tips

10/31/2023 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms can be exciting to watch but it is important to also be aware of and protect yourself and your family from the potential hazards associated with thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms can produce hail anytime during the storm. Hail can vary in size from smaller than the size of a pea to the size of a grapefruit! These chunks of ice can plunge to earth at speeds up to 120 mph.

Thunderstorms also produce lightning which can kill or seriously injure one caught in its path. Here are some safety tips to follow once you get indoors:

  • Don’t use corded phones and electronics like power tools or computers. The electrical wires can conduct lightning.
  • Don’t use the shower/bathtub, wash dishes, do laundry or wash your hands as the metal plumbing is also conductive.
  • Stay away from windows, skylights and doors as high winds and hail can break the glass.
  • Keep candles, matches/lighters, flashlights and batteries in a secure and easy to reach location in case they are needed during a power outage.
  • Always have emergency non-perishable food and potable water in your pantry just in case.
  • Keep a first aid kit fully stocked and in an accessible location in your home.
  • Stay inside until the storm is over.

How to Manage Storm Damage Before Professional Help Arrives

1/2/2022 (Permalink)

Especially on the Central Coast, the thunderstorms that come rolling across the coast can cause severe damage, leaving homes and businesses upset and at risk in their wake. Coming home to an uprooted or fallen tree (or two) can inflict costly damage, particularly if you don’t know how to ensure it doesn’t get worse before it can be properly cleaned up. That’s why it’s important to know how to manage storm damage before professional help arrives.

Storm damage comes in all shapes and sizes—it doesn’t fit into one clear box, but there are a few general steps to take to manage storm damage immediately after it happens:

  1. Don’t Go Outside Until You Hear the Okay

Whenever severe storms, tornadoes, or other natural disasters have watches or warnings around you, take caution! Make sure you monitor your radio and your phone to hear the okay to leave your home when the threat of the storm has passed. Your safety and well-being always should come first.

  1. Document the Damage

Before doing anything else, take out your phone and snap pictures of all the damage. This is essential to make any insurance claims on property damage that you have sustained due to a storm. By having photos of the damage before any cleanup has occurred, you’re more likely to be able to claim the maximum amount of coverage from your insurance that you can in order to cover the costs.

  1. Cover Any Areas Where More Water Could Enter

If your roof or home has any holes or damage that allows water to continue to enter your home, make sure you cover them to the best of your ability with a tarp or something else to prevent more water from entering. Chances are, rain may still be pouring down after you sustain some storm damage, and you never know when it may start up again even if it has stopped.

  1. Remove Excess Water

Is your basement now a mini-ocean? Do your best to remove any excess water you can by the bucketful or with a shop-vac. However, don’t attempt to do this until you are certain that there is no electrical damage and you aren’t at risk of your power channeling itself through the standing water. 


In all that you do after storm damage occurs, be sure to take caution and keep your safety in mind first and foremost. Once you have the time and signal to do so, call a local professional restoration company like SERVPRO of E. Fullerton / Placentia to get your place looking back to normal. You can reach us at 714-525-0158.

Why Should You Choose SERVPRO?

12/28/2021 (Permalink)

Every day at SERVPRO we get asked by our customers: “Why SERVPRO?” We, of course, can give you statistics and show you our outstanding reviews from Google. But that just paints a picture of what we do – and how we do it. But to us, the answer of “Why SERVPRO” goes a bit deeper and we can find it in our staff.

Our staff is filled with amazing people, and each person brings unique qualities to our team. You’ll be hard pressed to find a day where someone isn’t laughing or telling some sort of story. We’re so much more than just a team, we’re a family here at SERVPRO of E. Fullerton / Placentia and we are proud of that fact. In the following blog posts we will be showcasing members of our family – letting you learn a little more about them, and why SERVPRO is the best team to handle your disaster.

Commercial Property Water Loss and Extraction

12/27/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial Property Water Loss and Extraction

Water is the single most long-term destructive substance in the indoor environment. It can dissolve or weaken building materials, damage floors and ceilings, and can also cause microbial growth if you don’t fix water damage quickly and professionally.

The faster the water is extracted the less damage to the building structure and contents.

The first thing to do if you are dealing with water damage at your place of business is to remove the water immediately. The faster the water is extracted the less damage to the building structure and contents. In situations, this is not enough. Standing water from carpet, flooring and walls can cause permanent damage if not taken care of in a timely manner

Extracting water in commercial buildings or properties, is a very important part of any large water loss. Fire sprinklers, used to stop fire from spreading, can leave you with wet and soggy office spaces. 

Water extraction is used to assist in the prevention of microbial growth from expanding and growing. Extraction of water is also needed to keep floors from buckling. The dehumidifiers and air movers will be placed by the technicians in the necessary areas of the building.

A SERVPRO manager will walk the property with the owner/manager and adjuster explaining the process and to answer any questions they may have about removal of property, items and demo.

At SERVPRO of E. Fullerton / Placentia we are here for your water and fire needs 24 hours day seven days a week. Call us at 714-525-0158

Helping to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Restoring Commercial Property After Water Damage

12/26/2021 (Permalink)

Restoring Commercial Property After A Water Damage

Commercial Buildings Flood and Water

Commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response when dealing with flood and water damage in the E. Fullerton / Placentia area. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large-scale event, SERVPRO ofE. Fullerton / Placentia works quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

SERVPRO ofE. Fullerton / Placentia technicians specialize in the water damage cleanup and restoration of commercial property after a water damage event. Our technicians are 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. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So, when an emergency arises in your business, give us a call!

SERVPRO of E. Fullerton / Placentia

714-525-0158

 Helping to make it

“Like it never even happened.”

 

We are IICRC Certified

12/26/2021 (Permalink)

The IICRC, or Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration, is the most trusted independent name in the restoration industry. They have developed industry-accepted standards, language, and terminology that enables the industry to communicate more effectively and make sure the correct procedures are being followed. SERVPRO ofE. Fullerton / Placentia has taken special classes and exams as part of our IICRC certification. This certification helps you rest assured that your damages and losses are being handled by some of the industry’s most dedicated professionals.

No matter the size of the loss, we always complete every single job to meet the IICRC’s lofty standards. Whether you live in Fullerton or Placentia or anywhere in the area, your job will be completed to the highest standards in the industry. When you are trying to protect your home or business from water damage or fire damage, you need to be sure that every step has been completed correctly. Call us today at 8714-525-0158 to see how our expert technicians can make any damage look “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of E. Fullerton/Placentia Can Clean Up Your Hotel Rooms!

12/21/2021 (Permalink)

If you run a hotel in the E. Fullerton / Placentia area then you know how important it is to provide the cleanest rooms possible to your patrons. Your business runs on a solid first impression and customer approval.  When your guests enter into one of your rooms for the first time, it’s imperative that it looks clean and smells great.  This encourages people to come back time and time again plus promotes outstanding reviews.  Allowing SERVPRO of E. Fullerton / Placentia to deodorize your rooms helps create the amazing first impression you want them to experience.

We Identify Odors

Hotels and many commercial buildings do not always have the ability to open windows and let in clean fresh air. This is one reason SERVPRO of E. Fullerton / Placentia has special deodorization techniques.  We have a highly trained staff that knows how to identify and eliminate stubborn odors. 

We Handle Odors

The techniques we use to handle odors are specifically designed to restore your rooms to a desirable state. Unwanted smells can be trapped in upholstery, carpets, draperies and even hard surfaces.  Using fragrance or air fresheners is not the answer to an odor problem.  There have been state of the art advances in proprietary cleaning that has changed the way deodorization works.

The professionals here at SERVPRO of E. Fullerton / Placentia are ready to take your hotel to the next level of clean. We would be honored to work with you to even schedule routine cleanings to prevent offensive odors from becoming excessive in any room.

SERVPRO of E. Fullerton / Placentia is here to help!

Our phones are answered 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.

Give us a call! 714-525-0158