What to do/not do in event of a fire

In the event of a fire

       Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.

       Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.

       Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.

       If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.

       Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.

       Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.

       Change HVAC filter.

       Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

       Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting your SERVPRO Franchise Professional.

       Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service.

       Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water.

       Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.

       Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

Dryer Fires

Clothes Dryer Fires Cost $35 Million a Year

An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated $35 million in property losses, according to a new government report.
The report by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) said that 84 percent of clothes dryer fires took place in residential buildings.
Also, according to the report:

• Clothes dryer fire incidence in residential buildings was higher in the fall and winter months, peaking in January at 11 percent.
• Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
• Dust, fiber and lint (28 percent) and clothing not on a person (27 percent) were, by far, the leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
• Fifty-four percent of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings were confined to the object of origin.

The report, “Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings,” examines characteristics of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings and was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center, based on 2008 to 2010 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
Damaging fires can occur if clothes dryers are not properly installed or maintained.
The report notes that lint, a highly combustible material, can accumulate both in the dryer and in the dryer vent. Accumulated lint leads to reduced airflow and poses a fire hazard.  Reduced airflow can also occur when foam-backed rugs or athletic shoes are placed in dryers.
Small birds or other animals nesting in dryer exhaust vents is another hazard. A compromised vent will not exhaust properly, possibly resulting in overheating and/or fire.
Source: USFA