What are the Common Causes of Fires in Cudahy Homes?

11/26/2024 (Permalink)

Cudahy Kitchen Fire Restoration Process

Christmas Tree Fires in Cudahy and St. Francis

During the holiday season, dry Christmas trees, combined with faulty or overheated lights, can ignite and cause rapid fire spread. SERVPRO® specializes in fire damage cleanup and restoration, including soot removal, odor elimination, and structural repairs. The team ensures that damaged areas are cleaned and restored while salvaging valuable items when possible.

Lighting From Holiday Decorations

Overloaded electrical outlets, frayed wires, or poor-quality holiday light sets can cause electrical fires. After extinguishing the fire, SERVPRO assesses fire and smoke damage, cleans affected surfaces, and uses advanced deodorization techniques to eliminate lingering smoke odors. We also ensure electrical safety by collaborating with licensed electricians for inspection and repairs.

Kitchen Fires in Cudahy and St. Francis

The most common type of home fire in Cudahy and the St. Francis area is the kitchen fires. These fires often occur due to unattended cooking, grease fires, or faulty appliances. SERVPRO promptly cleans soot from walls, ceilings, and appliances. Using specialized equipment, we remove grease residues, restore cabinetry and countertops, and mitigate water damage caused by fire extinguishment efforts.

Fireplace Fires

Improperly maintained chimneys or embers escaping the fireplace can ignite nearby materials like rugs, curtains, or furniture. SERVPRO addresses fireplace-related fires by cleaning soot-covered areas, restoring damaged structural components, and removing odors caused by smoke. For fire prevention, we may recommend regular chimney inspections and cleanings.

Electrical Fires

Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, or outdated electrical systems are common culprits for fires in older homes in Cudahy. SERVPRO ensures all areas affected by electrical fires are thoroughly cleaned and restored. We work alongside certified electricians to address underlying electrical issues, ensuring a safe environment for residents.

How SERVPRO Reassures Customers

• Expertise: SERVPRO's IICRC-certified technicians are trained to handle a variety of fire damage scenarios, no matter the cause.
• Advanced Equipment: Using state-of-the-art tools for soot removal, odor control, and structural drying, SERVPRO restores homes to their pre-fire condition efficiently.
• 24/7 Response: Fires can happen anytime, and SERVPRO provides rapid response to minimize damage and start restoration promptly.
• Comprehensive Services: From emergency board-ups to full restoration and rebuilding, SERVPRO offers end-to-end support, ensuring homeowners feel confident in their recovery process.

Summer Grilling Safety Tips | SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis

9/18/2023 (Permalink)

Have you had a barbeque gone wrong? Call SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis to get your space back in shape.

It’s summertime, and we’re all savoring the sunny days and outdoor gatherings with family and friends. As you gear up for backyard BBQs, it’s essential to ensure that your grill and equipment are ready for safe use.

Neglecting proper grill safety can lead to dangerous situations and potential fires. Our SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis team wants you to enjoy your Wisconsin BBQs without any fire risks. Read on to learn more about important safety precautions.

Tips for a Safer Fall Bonfire | SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis

9/18/2023 (Permalink)

Bonfire season is upon us! SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis has your back with these helpful fire safety tips.

We are so glad to see the temperatures starting to drop around here! The fall season is coming fast, and we are not complaining. Who doesn’t love pumpkin spice, cooler weather and football Sundays? We also love spending more time outside around our bonfires, watching the seasons change.

Bonfires are a great way to stay warm as the air turns crisp, but they can be dangerous if you aren’t careful.

Our SERVPRO® of Cudahy/St. Francis team wants you to enjoy the s’mores, family memories and crackling flames without the risk of starting an uncontrollable blaze, so read on to learn some helpful fall fire safety tips.

How to Teach Kids About Fire Safety in a Not-So-Scary Way | SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis

6/10/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis is here for you and your family if you experience a fire in your home or business.

Raising children is an immensely fulfilling journey, but it also demands a lot of effort. As a parent, you hold the crucial role of nurturing their understanding of the world while fostering their creativity and curiosity.

Equally important is the task of ensuring their safety, striking a balance between protecting them and exposing them to scary realities. Teaching kids about fire safety is incredibly important, since house fires can be frightening for people of all ages, whether they are young or old.

Creating a positive and supportive atmosphere while introducing fire-safe practices can make it much more likely your child would respond appropriately during an actual emergency.

<h3the-dangers-of-fire">Explain the Dangers of Fire

Children thrive on learning by sight, since comprehending consequences becomes easier to grasp through direct observation. Talk with your kids about how fires spark, while exploring every area of your home where flames are present.

Teach your children about the dangers of matches and lighters, and be sure to emphasize how they are safely used.

Instruct them that if they discover these items anywhere in the house, they should hand them over to you. Even a tiny match can lead to a catastrophic house fire.

<h3them-with-authority">Familiarize Them With Authority

Recognizing that children can be scared by the sight of authority figures in uniform, make it a point to regularly show them images of police officers and firefighters. Look for local community events that organize meet-and-greets or interactive experiences, helping your youngsters to develop a positive view of these heroes.

Emphasize to your kids that during a fire, these individuals are there to save lives! You should also prepare your kids by showing them to how to react if a fire occurs in the home. Participate in fun interactive exercises together, such as practicing different ways to alert each other and holding an army-crawling race to see who can get to safety fastest.

<h3a-game-plan-together">Make a Game Plan Together

It is essential for every household to establish an emergency exit plan for every room in the home. Consider making it an enjoyable experience by turning it into a game! Encourage your kids to determine the quickest exit route from each room and collaborate on creating a diagram together.

Take the time to explain to your children how the windows in your home operate, so they understand how to open them during a fire. In the same light, though, be sure they know that windows are not to be opened unless it’s an emergency or an adult instructs them to do so.

You should also establish a safe spot outside where everyone can meet if flames break out. Once your plan is in place, make it a priority to run through it as often as possible and ensure your children are familiar with the process of calling for help once they escape.

Fires can cause widespread damage. Call us for a thorough and efficient restoration.

The Shape that Depicts Every Fire | SERVPRO® of Cudahy/St. Francis

1/30/2022 (Permalink)

If your home or business has any damage, SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis is ready around the clock to help you recover.

Fires take many forms, but each one has a shape—a representative shape, anyway.

Every fire can be described with something called the fire tetrahedron—a four-sided triangle, each side of which represents a specific element possessed by every fire.

In fact, all fires require all sides of the tetrahedron working together. This is how a fire lives, and it also becomes our methodology for making sure a fire dies.

Home Fires and Their Causes | SERVPRO® of Cudahy/St. Francis

1/9/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis are here for you if your home is affected by fire.

You would imagine homeowners would go to any lengths to protect their home from a potentially devastating fire. With all that’s invested in one’s home, it only makes sense.

Yet despite decades of awareness campaigns and advancements in technology aimed at fire prevention, a quarter of all reported fires still start at home.

How are these fires continuing to happen, and what should we be doing to make them less likely? Let’s look at the most common causes to shed some light on where we may still be lacking in fire safety at home.

Cooking. The kitchen is far and away the most common area for fires to begin in the house, and the leading reason? Unattended cooking. Yep, the top cause of all fires at home is people walking away from the stove or grill, leaving oils or food items to overheat and spark a fire. The single greatest thing you can do to prevent a fire at home is to pay attention while you’re playing chef.

Heating equipment. Heaters, especially portable space heaters, are known for causing fires, and they start 14% of home blazes. They tip over, overheat or cause short circuits, or they simply cause nearby objects or materials to combust.

Electrical fires. How old is your home? The age of your home is directly proportional to your risk of electrical fire. As wiring ages it’s more likely to develop problems or encounter shorts or overloads, and older homes are not as well-equipped to handle the sheer amount of electricity used by modern devices and families.

Intentional fires. An unthinkable 28,000 intentional home fires are lit each year in the United States. Whatever the reasons may be, these fires are responsible for 8% of all home fires and 14% of all home fire casualties.

Smoking materials. Cigarettes, cigars and even vape pens can cause combustion at home, especially if someone is smoking in bed as he or she falls asleep. Sadly, though this is the least common cause of home fires, it is the most likely cause of casualties from home fires.

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO is here for you if your home is affected by fire. Contact your local team today to see how we can help.

Ready When You Need Us | SERVPRO® of Cudahy/St. Francis

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

If a fire issue pops up during the holidays, remember the trusted leader in the recovery industry, SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis.

Do you remember when pay phones only cost a dime? Wait, do you remember pay phones at all? If you do, then you probably also remember an era when if you wanted certain things, you had to wait for them.

Before the age of front-door delivery for everything and instant gratification from cell phones and music streaming services, sometimes you had to wait, and not only for things you wanted, but for things you needed.

The age of waiting for products and services is largely over, and we here at SERVPRO are in favor of that. When it comes to our lines of service in particular, you shouldn’t be forced to let damage sit and soak while you wait for an office to open—which is precisely why we’re available 24 hours a day for emergency service.

After a fire. If you have a damaging fire at home, some of the effects are immediate and easy to see. But sneaky offenders like soot, which embeds itself in your carpet and uses its micron-sized particles to start eating away at your home materials, begin to take hold right away as well.

Soot sets in in mere minutes, and in only a few hours soot and smoke are permanently damaging your home, and leaving stains and smells that won’t go away without total drywall replacement.

After water damage. Similarly you’ll notice some immediate damage from water, but there are hidden dangers. As if set by a timer, mold growth begins 48 hours or less after water’s initial contact with your surfaces, and if left to fester, it can create respiratory and other health issues. Unchecked mold growth can even erode your home’s framework and impact your home’s structural integrity.

Your home or business can also be damaged by storms, natural disasters or weather events, all of which can create an acute need for service and recovery. Why should you have to wait for service if these things happen in the middle of the night? If you didn’t send this damage an invitation, you shouldn’t have to wait for cleanup.

At SERVPRO, we don’t only say we’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, we prove it by being at the ready on nights, weekends and holidays. Every hour of every day, rest assured knowing you can click or call for immediate help when your home or business encounters damage.

When you need help after a home or business disaster, fast service is a priority, and there’s nobody faster or more prepared than SERVPRO. Call us anytime to take advantage of our 24-hour emergency service.

Fall Fire Precautions | SERVPRO® of Cudahy/St. Francis

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

Be mindful about fall fire safety. Always remember that SERVPRO of West Milwaukee is the trusted leader in the restoration industry.

Do you feel that? The air is brisk, the humidity is low, and you may even be breaking out your favorite light jacket or hoodie.

That’s right: Fall is here again. The season full of comfortable, cool days, full of hiking and camping plans, and of course falling leaves and pumpkin decor galore.

It’s always important to remind ourselves of seasonal fire safety needs, so grab something with pumpkin spice in it and let’s hit a few essentials.

Campfire Safety

Choosing where and how to build a fire is as important as knowing how to snuff it out.

Use a lighter or match to start your fire from kindling, then add tinder such as small, dry sticks, with larger pieces of wood coming last.

Never use kerosene or lighter fluid, as they can easily cause high flames and make your fire grow too quickly. And always build your fire at least 25 feet from buildings or tents.

It’s not safe to break camp until your fire is completely out, right down to the embers. Douse it with water until you’re sure nothing is smoldering.

Leaf Burning

Those beautiful fall colors are giving way to falling leaves, and many homeowners choose to dispose of them by burning. Make sure to get a permit first.

Only put leaves or sticks in your burn pile, and use a barrel if you can. Adding trash or inorganic material can release toxic fumes.

Space Heaters

Portable space heaters may come out for use during fall evenings, but they’re a frequent cause of home fires.

Don’t plug them into extension cords. Make sure they’re on a level area, away from kids and play space, and at least three feet from anything that may catch fire. Never leave a space heater on when you go to bed, or when you’re not in the room.

Halloween

We’ll get into detail later, but be mindful that decorations, candles and even costumes present a certain level of risk, and you should always celebrate carefully.

If a fire hazard should turn from potential to reality in your home, remember the trusted leader in the recovery industry and contact SERVPRO to get your property fully restored right down to the smell of smoke.

Copyright © 2021 SERVPRO of Cudahy/St Francis

Give Your Home a Fair Shot Against Wildfire | SERVPRO® of Cudahy/St. Francis

7/29/2021 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged by fire or any other reason, SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis is ready and able to repair any damage.

One of any home or business owner’s greatest fears is seeing their property engulfed in flames, and wildfires are a more frequent cause of property loss than you might realize. Wildfires are ravenous, and with so much of our world made of material that’s combustible, it’s quite a feat that we can even manage to contain them.

But there are some ways we can be proactive in protecting our homes from wildfire, aside from the simplest and most impactful, which would be simply being more careful.

Let’s talk about “defensible space.”

The Fire Safety Tips You Need for Warmer Weather | SERVPRO® of Cudahy/St. Francis

6/25/2021 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage is one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis to learn more.

Springtime is full of life and hope—flowers are blooming and nature beckons us to come and play. We have left behind the bitter winter, temperatures and milder again, and there’s certainly no lack of things to do.

We often find ourselves at outdoor gatherings, family reunions and cookouts, graduation parties, and gender reveals, but honestly it’s all just an excuse to break out the grill, right?

The increase in grilling and outdoor springtime activity unfortunately also means there’s an increase in fire activity across the country. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year.

But there are simple enough steps you can take to be sure your activities are done safely.

The grill. Grills create lots of opportunities for accidental fires, and it’s pretty simple math to understand why—high heats, grease, electricity, the list goes on. For safety, make sure the grill is in proper working order with no leaks, parked away from anything flammable (like leaves, decking or siding), and are sure to clean your grill thoroughly and regularly. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. Safety must be a priority around the backyard fire pit. Don’t ever leave it unattended or allow children to play around it. Don’t add leaves, paper or pine needles to the fire, because they can create flying embers. And keep a bucket of water on hand to douse the fire.

Chimneys and dryer vents. While you’re on safety duty, clean out your chimney so you don’t set fire to an accrual of soot and ash in the fall, and clean out the vent hose on your dryer to make sure there’s not a dangerous, flammable buildup of lint ready to catch fire.

Your local SERVPRO technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.

We're Here When Milwaukee County Residents Need Help With Fire Damage | SERVPRO® Cudahy/St/ Francis

12/19/2020 (Permalink)

If you have fire damage due to a heating malfunction or other issue, count on SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis to fully restore your home.

We're Here When Milwaukee County Residents Need Help With Fire Damage | SERVPRO® Cudahy/St. Francis

Milwaukee residents know that when they need us most we’re here to help remediate and repair fire damage.

No one likes to think about fire damage, but it’s a common problem in the United States—something millions of Americans will deal with over the next year. That could include some families and neighbors in our community.

Want to know why so many families trust us in the community? Here’s what makes us different:

We believe in restoration. Our team helps families recover from a fire in a way that’s both logical and economical. Experts are there at every step. We’ll help you save money on repairs and insurance premiums.

We can do the entire process for you. House fires can damage upholstery, walls and more. Issues resulting from water and smoke are common problems, too. We have the tools and resources to remediate these issues. We’ll make the damage like it never happened.

We are a locally owned business. SERVPRO locations are everywhere—all across the United States. This location is locally owned. It’s staffed by team members who live in Milwaukee County and the surrounding communities. But since we are a SERVPRO location, we can use the resources, equipment and training you would find at a leading-edge company. Our team brings the advantages of that partnership to the jobs we do for our neighbors here.

We’re here ²⁴⁄₇. Beginning the restoration process quickly is an important step in getting your home back to its original state. When it’s an emergency, we’re available ²⁴⁄₇. We make sure our team is here when it matters most.

<h2fire-damage-during-winter">Increased Fire Damage During Winter

Fires aren’t a seasonal hazard, but more of them happen during the winter months. The season’s unique conditions create additional fire hazards homeowners should know about.

Space heaters without automatic shutoff functions can topple over. Candles left burning can fall over when someone bumps a table.

Kitchen fires happen more often, as many people are cooking and baking for the holidays. Christmas tree accidents are a leading cause of fires.

Other threats have little to do with holiday parties and more to do with the home malfunctioning items. Broken furnaces and issues with appliances happen sometimes.

If you have fire damage in your home due to a kitchen, heating or other fire, you can count on us for restoration assistance. Our team is always ready to meet your needs and help you restore your home. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services.

Tips to prevent a fire in your home

11/8/2019 (Permalink)

Fires can happen any time of year, but the chances go up significantly in the winter. Cooking, smoking, heating equipment, electrical problems and candles are some of the top causes for home fires. Below are some safety measures that you can take as a homeowner to help prevent fires and keep you and your family safe.

                COOKING

                                Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and is responsible for almost half of home fires in the U.S. These rates can more than double on Thanksgiving. Never leave food unattended while it’s cooking and if you have to leave the room, turn off the burner. Keep all flammable materials away from cooking areas and keep a metal lid hand to smother grease fires. Putting water on a grease fire will cause it to explode. Keep a fire extinguisher handy and if a fire does occur, get out of the house as fast as possible and call 911.

                SMOKING

                                Smoking is the #1 cause of fire deaths, most commonly occurring in a bedroom or living room. If you have to smoke, do it outside, use deep wide ash trays and pour water over them to fully extinguish. Never leave a burning cigarette unattended.

                HEATING EQUIPMENT

                                Heating equipment, such as a space heater, cause 2 of every 5 fires and another 1/3 are caused by fireplaces/chimneys. If you choose to use a space heater, keep it at least 3 feet away from anything flammable and 3 feet away from children. Turn off when you leave a room or when you go to sleep. If you have a fireplace, make sure to use a screen in front of it. You should also have your fireplace/chimney professionally cleaned once a year.

                ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

                                In 2014, over 500 people were killed by electrical fires caused by faulty wiring, outdated appliances or malfunctioning lighting equipment. Make sure you don’t overload an outlet. If you are using a heat producing appliance such as a space heater or toaster, plug it directly into an outlet by itself. You should never use an extension cord or power strip. If you have any electrical work that needs to be done, hire a professional. Also, all of your outdoor, bathroom, kitchen, garage and basement outlets should be protected with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) which will cut off electrical circuits when they become shock hazards. If you notice frequent blown fuses, discolored, warm or sparking outlets or burning smells coming from any appliances, call an electrician right away.

                CANDLES

                                Between 2009-2013, 9,300 homes fires occurred due to candles. This resulted in $374 million in property damage. 1/3 of these fires happened in a bedroom. Never leave a candle unattended. Blow them out if you leave a room or go to sleep. Never leave kids alone with a candle and keep it at least a foot away from anything flammable. Alternatively, you can use flameless, battery operated candles or flashlights if you lose power.

There are so many things we can do to help prevent fires, but sometimes they can still happen. SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis can help you with the next steps. Even if you are looking for a shoulder to lean on or advice, we can help point you in the right direction. We know how devastating and emotional a fire in your home can be and we are always here to help.  

Check those smoke detectors

11/7/2019 (Permalink)

Every home should have smoke detectors installed. According to the Residential Fire Safety Institute, over 92% of dwellings in the U.S. have at least one smoke detector, however one third of these alarms no longer work.

While smoke detectors are fairly low maintenance, there are a few things that we need to remind ourselves to do.

1. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors one a year or even every 6 months.
2. Vacuum alarms at least once a year to remove dust, a big contributor to faulty alarms.
3. Make sure to replace them once every 10 years as the sensors can go bad over time.

The locations of smoke alarms are also important. You want to make sure that you hear the alarm and can respond quickly.

1. Outside each bedroom area
2. In each bedroom
3. On every level in your home

It would also be advantageous to keep a fire extinguisher in your home which could prevent something small from becoming a much bigger issue. You can always count on SERVPRO of Cudahy/St. Francis to provide you with the tips you need to keep you and your family safe.