Fire damage
Restore-It Blog

Home fires are not that uncommon. Every once in a while, you can tune into the news and see it happen to some unfortunate family. And while you might think, "this could never be us,” the reality is that home fires can happen to anyone. And when they do, they happen fast, and in those moments, there is no time to figure things out. You need to have a plan.

When a pipe bursts or a kitchen fire coats your property in a blanket of smoke, the last thing you want to do is take your time shopping around contractors. You want quick action, but how do you tell which companies are trustworthy from the ones that are scams? Here is where the IICRC certification comes into the picture.

Coming back to reopen your small business on a Monday morning, only to find it in a bad condition, can turn even the most optimistic person into a bundle of nerves. What was supposed to be the start of your working week has now turned into a burning question: Will I be able to open soon?

January 1. It's the morning, and you are walking through your house trying to see how bad the New Year’s Eve damage really is. Then, you start to notice it, clear as day: a red wine stain on your light carpet, or some other mess a guest made in a drunken mood.

Homeownership costs, including insurance premiums and repair and material expenses, are on the rise. However, that is not the primary focus of this discussion.

Once the festivities are over, it's time to pack it up. All the decorations are taken down. The wrapping paper goes to the bin. The Christmas tree goes to the curbside for pickup, to drop-off centers, or for composting. And the ornaments go into the attic until next year. The point is, you want to be done with everything as quickly as possible. But, wait. Before you close the hatch of your attic, take a second look.

For many of us in South Arkansas, the holidays mean one thing: going back to visit Grandma's place. It's where so many memories live, and now you get to create new ones with other members of the family.

You’ve had a fire in your home. The flames were contained and put out, and your loved ones are safe. Now that the fire department is gone, it's time to call your insurer and a restoration company. While you know some of the structural damage will need to be fixed, you wonder about your electronics. What if they were damaged? If so, can something be done to repair them?

It gets chilly here in South Arkansas in December. You want to relax at home, watch some TV or a movie (maybe finally there is something good on Netflix?), and yet your feet are cold. Your home's central heating is on, but a corner of the living room doesn't get warm enough. That's where people usually go for a portable heater. But what happens if you get too sleepy? An unsupervised electric or gas heater can be a serious risk.

So you had an incident in your home. Maybe you "overcooked" your chicken, turning it into a kitchen fire. Perhaps an old, rusty pipe finally gave in, leading to a water flood in your home. Whatever the issue, you want the problem to be fixed. But do you know what to do? Making an insurance claim is the most important step to restoring your home to normalcy.

Do you own or manage rental homes in Southern Arkansas? Then it's best to be prepared for these upcoming holidays! If you are worried about what could go wrong with your property while everyone is enjoying the season, you are in the right place. From the spooky fun of Halloween to the festive lights of Christmas, this season also represents the single highest-risk period for your rental properties.

Sarah is cooking in her kitchen when she gets a phone call. It was an old friend from high school, Susan, who contacted her for a potential reunion. As they talk and reminisce about the good old days, a smell alerts her. It's the kitchen. She completely forgot about turning off the stove. She rushes to the extinguisher and puts out the flames. The emergency is over... or is it?

Halloween is a fun time for everyone involved. Just as children dress up in costumes to go trick-or-treating, homeowners transform their places into spooky wonderlands. But your Halloween decorations can turn into a serious fire hazard.

One of the advantages of living in Arkansas is access to a spacious yard you can enjoy all year long. But "with a great backyard comes great responsibility". This involves keeping up with the seasonal cleanup and ensuring those wonderful bonfires don't become a matchstick for your home.

The mess left after a home fire is nothing to scoff at. Besides the destruction, you have to deal with the smell, toxic residues like soot and smoke, as well as the dampness that threatens your home and your family's health.

A fire in your home is an immediate danger to you and your family, which is why the first rule of order is to keep people away while it's being contained and dealt with. But have you ever thought about what happens after the flames are out?

Have you just experienced a fire in your home? Are you wondering if it’s safe to step back inside — or worse, live there again? The honest answer is no: it is not safe to live in a house after a fire until it has been professionally inspected.

When there is a fire in people's homes, their priority is usually to safeguard their loved ones and then call the fire department to extinguish the flames. But have you ever wondered what happens afterward? If you think once the flames are put out, there is no more danger, think again.

A fire breaks out in your home. You evacuate and leave the rest to your local Fire Department. It's a scenario most homeowners don't even want to imagine. Sadly, it's more common than people think and could happen to you. But once the fire has been put out, is it actually safe to return?

Few experiences can be as traumatic as a house fire. Fear and panic set in while you do your best to protect your loved ones. While this is a terrifying scenario, the danger is not over once the flames are extinguished. Not knowing about the risks lingering in the aftermath of a fire can cause you unnecessary stress.