What Happens to My Canned Goods During Fire Damage Cleanup in Brockton?

9/7/2020 (Permalink)

If you need help with fire damage remediation, call SERVPRO of Metro Brockton at (508) 690-4690.

Brockton Residents Trust the SERVPRO brand for Fire Damage Cleanup and Restoration

Any busy Brockton resident knows that a well-stocked pantry is a great way to fight the urge to live on takeout food. Keeping your pantry stocked is an investment, and naturally, you want to stop your canned and packet goods from getting damaged.

When it comes to fire damage cleanup in Brockton, you might wonder what will happen to your food stocks. Is it safe to keep canned food after a fire? What about getting your kitchen back to working order?

Is it safe to keep canned goods after a fire?
Unfortunately, you must dispose of most canned goods after a fire. The only exception is if you stored the cans so far from the source of the fire that they have not suffered smoke damage or heat exposure. However, it is better to err on the side of caution, as canned food can easily get contaminated during a fire.

Heat can cause cans to expand or crack, letting in microbes and soot particles. Once a can has a compromised seal, the contents can quickly spoil. Damaged cans might also get contaminated by highly toxic firefighting chemicals.

What about other food?
You must dispose of all fresh food that was exposed to heat, fumes, or smoke. You must also dispose of food kept in plastic or paper packaging. Refrigerator and freezer seals are not smoke-proof, so if you suspect smoke got into your fridge or freezer, you must toss the food from there too.

We know how frustrating this is – food is not cheap. However, it is better to trash it than risk eating spoiled or contaminated food.

How do I know how far the smoke damage extends?
SERVPRO of Metro Brockton trains its technicians to carry out a thorough examination of your home. Our teams know how to look for the faintest signs of smoke damage. We understand that smoke damage varies widely depending on the substances involved in the fire. If the fire started in your kitchen, burning protein can cause thick yellowish residue that is harder to see than black soot, and often smells pungent.

Is there a way to protect my pantry from a fire?
The best way to protect your pantry is to be fire aware. The kitchen is a common location for fires, and it is all too easy for a pan to catch alight, or for oil to combust. SERVPRO recommends being safety conscious at all times:

    •    Never leave hot pots unattended
    •    Keep your oven and stovetop clean
    •    Be mindful of trailing or worn appliance cords – move the trailing ones and replace the damaged ones
    •    Use a gate to prevent small children or pets entering the kitchen while you are cooking
    •    Keep appliances clean and in good working order, and unplug them when not in use
    •    Keep an ABC type fire extinguisher under the sink or another handy place

We also suggest installing a smoke alarm in your kitchen and testing it regularly.

Can I start cleaning my pantry before SERVPRO arrives?
We understand that after a fire, you want to get your home back to normal quickly. Many of our customers want to help with cleanup or get started while waiting for our crew to arrive. However, we do not recommend cleaning smoke and soot residues by yourself.

Fire cleanup is a job for the professionals. Effective remediation requires protective equipment and a range of professional cleaning solutions and tools. By tackling cleanup yourself, you put yourself at the risk of breathing in smoke and soot.

Because our technicians understand the theory of fire and how it spreads, and how soot bonds to surfaces, they know how to search for fire damage. SERVPRO teams check everywhere for traces of smoke, including:

    •    The ceiling and walls of the room where the fire began
    •    The furthest corners of the house
    •    Unseen nooks and crannies such as behind heaters or under pictures on the wall
    •    Furniture, drapes, and rugs
    •    HVAC systems and ducts

Once we locate smoke residues, we draw up a cleaning plan.

What is the SERVPRO fire damage cleanup process?
We start with a thorough assessment of the fire damage and draw up a tailored remediation plan. If there is water left over from firefighting efforts, or your home is damp, we factor water pumping and drying into our plan.

We take care of any immediate safety risks, such as boarding up where necessary, or stabilizing the structure as needed.

Once your home is secure, we set to work cleaning up using a range of mechanical and chemical processes. We clean your home from top to bottom, including HVAC systems, crawl spaces, attics, and basements as needed.

After fire cleanup, we deodorize your home to ensure it smells fresh.

If you need help with fire damage remediation, call SERVPRO of Metro Brockton at (508) 690-4690.