“The Roof! The Roof! The Roof Is On Fire!”

3/21/2022 (Permalink)

Before we dive deep into this week’s blog about fire safety. I want to take time to send a special, “Happy Birthday!” to Sparky who turns 71 years young today! Sparky is Durham City’s Fire Dog Mascot and the National Fire Protection Mascot that has been serving our local and national communities through fire prevention education since 1951! If you’d like to meet Sparky in person, he will be at the Museum of Life and Science tomorrow from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm to promote the science of fire safety! Earlier this year I posted a blog, New Year Fire Resolution, that addresses fire preparedness and how well we are prepared to prevent a fire from occurring. While the audience has been prepped on fire safety and prevention, it is helpful to know what to do after an unfortunate experience with fire. Last month in South Durham, a fire started by a pickup truck caused major damage to a home. Luckily, no one was home or injured during the blaze. However, can you imagine the emotion, shock, and disappointment the family must have experienced once they arrived home to see all their personal belongings destroyed? This week’s blog motivation is to help educate the audience on determining the next steps after dealing with a fire. Durham Fire Department offers a great tool, After the Fire, to help families and individuals determine the next step. One of the more important themes I pulled from the manual is to always have a “vital information” sheet. This sheet helps provide first responders, the family, and the main point of contact with important information, like the date and time of the incident, report numbers, and restoration contact numbers to enable a quicker response in the time of an emergency. Many times, during catastrophes, we lose sight of what should matter the most – our wellbeing! The manual states, “immediately after a fire to have any injuries treated by a qualified professional.” This is important as any untreated injury could easily transition into a serious injury. Lastly, as the victim of a fire may be anxious to enter the dwelling and begin to rebuild their life, it is important to remember to check with the fire department to ensure your residence is safe. It is important not to eat, drink, or inhale fumes from anything that has encountered flames, smoke, or soot. When the time comes to enter the home, trust your IICRC Certified Fire Restoration Specialists at SERVPRO of South Durham to help you restore your home and life to pre-fire condition.

When you think, “Cleaning. Restoration. Construction.” Think SERVPRO of South Durham!!!!