Can Fire Damage my House’s Foundation? When Is the Right Time to Call the Fire Damage Restoration Company?

Residential fires are extremely common in the US. According to the report released by NFPA, 27% of the reported fires from 2014 to 2018 occurred in homes. Furthermore, more than 77% of civilian deaths and 73% of reported injuries were caused due to residential fires.

There are various effects of fires on people, property, and the environment. During a home fire, there’s an increased level of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and other harmful chemicals and thermal irritants. These irritants can cause various respiratory issues.

One of the most common questions that people have regarding residential fires is whether they can damage the house’s foundation. Before talking about the effects of fire on the house foundation, let’s discuss the health effects and causes of fire.

Health Effects of Fire

Fire can be deadly. It can destroy wildlife and homes in a matter of a few minutes. However, fire can also lead to an array of health effects.

The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles because they can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause serious respiratory issues. From burning eyes to a runny nose, cough and chronic lung diseases, these particles can cause serious health issues.

House fires can also cause serious eye infections caused by smoke and soot getting into your eyes. People who have heart and lung disease such as angina, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at a higher risk of getting sick from the smoke caused by the fire.

Soot damage is as dangerous as smoke damage. Soot can enter your bloodstream and cause serious health issues like stroke, asthma, heart attack, cancer, and premature death. Seeing a medical professional after a house fire is extremely important. If your loved one has asthma or lung disease, make sure you ask them to stay away from the property until the indoor air quality improves.

Most Common Causes of House Fires

• Unattended cooking is the number one cause of house fires that account for 48% of all reported residential fires. Grease fires normally ignite kitchen fires. Make sure you never leave the kitchen when cooking food that can cause bacon, pizza, and fries.
• A cigarette that is not put out properly can set your home on fire in a matter of a few hours. It comes in contact with flammable materials like furniture and can result in serious structural damage. According to National Fire Protection Association, 1000 deaths and 3,000 injuries occur every year due to fire caused by cigarettes. One more thing you should know is that 73% of all houses fire fatalities are caused by the fire that starts in the bedroom or lounge. To avoid fire caused by cigarettes, make sure you keep bedrooms off-limits for smoking.
• Fires caused by faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical outlets account for more than 51,000 house fires and 500 deaths per year. Therefore, before purchasing your house, get it checked by an electrician.
• One of the primary causes of fire is candles. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles caused 7600 fires, 677 injuries, and 81 deaths each year during 2014-2018. Candles look beautiful, and it’s one of those items that can refresh your mood. However, when left unattended, they can cause a room to burst into flames easily.

Can Fire Damage Your House’s Foundation?

A severe house fire can weaken the concrete and steel reinforcement bars in footing stem walls and slabs. Even though concrete has good fire resistance and offers excellent fire protective qualities, it can lose most of its structural strength when exposed to extreme heat. The tests to confirm whether or not the concrete strength for re-using the foundation are really costly.

The average residential fire burns at 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. Concrete strength drops by 50% to 60% when the in-house temperature reaches around 750 degrees. Therefore, concrete foundations damaged by the fire are considered for rebuilding.

When Should You Call the Fire Damage Restoration Company?

The first call you need to make after fire damage is to your friends to let them know that you are safe, the second should be to your insurance company, and the third should be to the home restoration company.

Most people believe that they should ONLY call fire damage restoration experts after a flood and fire. However, it would be best if you didn’t shy away from calling the home restoration company, even in instances where the damage seems minimal.

Fire damage restoration involves soot removal, property board-up, and reconstruction. Depending on the severity of the fire, fire damage restoration can take anywhere between a few days to seven months.

The experts formulate a restoration plan after inspecting the property. Then, they secure the facility, extract water from the property, and remove debris, smoke, and soot from the house. Finally, they make structural repairs and remove odors from the house.

Fire damage restoration can more time if the water used by the firefighters can cause water damage in the house. In that case, the fire damage restoration experts will take care of both fire and water damage restoration.

Fire damage is not the kind of damage that you can deal with on your own. It’s best that you relocate for some time and not enter the property until it is stabilized.

Are You Looking for an Experienced Fire Damage Restoration Company in Minneapolis?

If you are looking for a skilled, experienced, reliable, and certified fire damage restoration company in Minneapolis, do take some time to check the 911 Restoration of Minneapolis.

The fire damage restoration experts quickly remediate issues caused by flames and smoke. Often, fire damage results in water damage. In that situation, the home restoration company repairs the water damage and flooding caused by the firefighters.

The home restoration experts carry all the necessary equipment to immediately restore the house after smoke and fire damage. The company also offers tips and suggestions to prevent future fire hazards. Want to get back to living your normal life? Give them a call today!