2 Sources of Water Damage During a Fire

8/20/2018 (Permalink)

Knowing to expect water damage when you walk through your building after a fire can alleviate some of the stress.

If your commercial property in Northeast Dallas, TX, catches fire, you probably expect a lot of fire damage. In addition to smoke cleanup, however, you also will need to hire professionals who specialize in water cleanup. Even when a fire is the cause of the problem, the building also sustains water damage from the fire being neutralized. Water damage in this situation typically comes from one of two sources or, in some cases, from both.

Sprinkler System

A fire sprinkler system can save your building. Because each sprinkler is equipped to detect extreme heat and burst into action when it does, your fire cleanup process is likely to include extra tasks:

• Water extraction
• Disinfection
• Mold testing
• Industrial drying

In order to put out the fire as quickly as possible, a sprinkler has to release a large volume of water in a short amount of time. That's enough to cause some water damage.

Firefighters

Even if your building doesn't have a sprinkler system, you are still going to have to do some water cleanup after the emergency responders leave. Firefighters use a powerful water hose to target the flames and put them out as soon as possible. A fire hose can release dozens of gallons of water every few seconds, and that water doesn't magically disappear when the fire is out. It seeps into floors and walls and any crevice it can find. You may even be left with standing water in some areas of your building. Technicians have to remove the water before they can really begin cleaning your building and getting it back to its normal state.

Knowing to expect water damage when you walk through your building after a fire can alleviate some of the stress. It doesn't make the water cleanup process any easier or faster, but knowing what to expect can keep you from being broadsided by the news. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROnortheastdallas.com/.