Electrical Residential Fires: How to Protect Yourself

5/26/2022 (Permalink)

Dealing with an electrical fire in your Englewood home? SERVPRO of Teaneck/Englewood can clean and restore your home "Like it never even happened."

How To Protect Yourself from Electrical Residential Fires 

Electrical fire damage is one of the most common types of fire damage, especially in urban environments. Despite recent improvements in consumer electronics' safety and fire resistance, electrical fires still claim many buildings each year across the nation. Unlike regular fires, electrical fires can not be doused with water, leaving many homeowners unable to contain the blaze. There are, however, some safe ways to stop this accident from happening and to safely clean up after it has occurred. 

Have a Household Fire Extinguisher 

An essential step in keeping an electrical fire at bay in your Englewood area is ensuring that there is a portable or household fire extinguisher nearby. Ceiling-mounted sprinklers will do nothing to contain an electrical fire, so chemical or foam fire extinguishers are the only options. Make sure you know what you are buying, however, as a water-based extinguisher will not be of any help. Englewood residential fire extinguishers should be foam or chemical-based, aiming to smother the fire and deprive it of any oxygen. 

Do not use the extinguisher sparingly. Many homeowners try to use as little of its contents as possible to save their electronics and prevent a mess. This is highly dangerous, as these extinguishers typically rely on a heavy, smothering coat to be effective. Make sure you completely cover the source of the fire when putting it out yourself. 

Use Safety Equipment During Cleanup 

To safely clean up damage from an electrical fire, you should always be wearing rubber gloves and boots and do your best not to touch the electronics directly. If the fire is particularly damaging, you may want to employ a professional cleanup service like SERVPRO. We equip all of our personnel with proper training and equipment to avoid almost every disaster that can come from a cleanup job. 

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

If you require cleanup and restoration services for an electrical fire or any other fire damage, don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO of Teaneck / Englewood at (201) 266-0482 for 24-hour service and assistance. SERVPRO has become a trusted name nationwide, famed for quality service, professional technicians, and high-end equipment. We are ready to send our best to any fire disaster cleanup.