FIRE DAMAGE RESTORATION
Fire Damage Restoration and Remediation in Yakima
After a fire, staining and discoloration start within minutes. Baxter Construction secures the site, recovers your possessions and begins mitigating smoke damage, then rebuilds. Call 24/7.
Chapter 01
Remediation is cleaning. Restoration is rebuilding. We do both.
There are two parts to resolving the aftermath of a fire: remediation and restoration. Not every fire damage company offers both services. Baxter Construction & Restoration does, for homes and businesses.
Remediation is the cleaning process: evaluating, preventing and reversing the damage smoke causes. Because hot and cold air interact during a fire, smoke and soot travel to counterintuitive places like ducts, drawers and closets, which is why a professional needs to look. Restoration is the reconstruction process, rebuilding or remodeling the structure back to its former state.
If fire hoses or safety sprinklers were used, you may also need water damage restoration. The same crew handles that too.
Gutted interior of a home after a fire, walls opened to the studs and debris cleared
Board-up, pack-out and contents cleaning, on our own premises
Our First Response team is on call 24/7. When you call after a fire, we work to secure the site, recover your possessions and begin mitigating smoke damage. If the roof or windows were damaged, we board and tarp them, and if needed we can temporarily fence the site for added security. Then we clear out unsalvageable materials, usually drywall or carpeting.
Contents are packed, cleaned and stored. At our own facility we have an ozone room and a dry-out room to restore large personal and sentimental items, mainly pictures, furniture, clothing and electronics. While your home or business is being restored, we are working on those items at the same time in Yakima.
Chapter 03
Fire season in Yakima, and what not to touch afterward
Yakima has a fire season, and most house fires start with something small: the kitchen, a candle, old wiring. Below you will find the prevention habits we pass on to customers, and the do’s and don’ts for the hours before our crew arrives.
The short version: call your insurance, cover the walkways, and leave the soot alone. Oil from your hands can stain it in permanently.
Baxter Construction & Restoration, 2521 River Road, Yakima, with a Kennewick office. Many of our experts are IICRC certified, and our vehicles are branded so you can identify us on site. Call (509) 452-2464.
Remediation and restoration, side by side
Remediation
A cleaning process. We evaluate, prevent and reverse the damage caused by smoke.
- Taking inventory of the structure’s contents.
- Removing and cleaning possessions, appliances, and furniture.
- Removing and cleaning surfaces like fabric, wood, upholstery, flooring, or drywall.
- Odor mitigation.
Restoration
A reconstruction process. We rebuild or remodel the structure back to its former state.
- Structural safety assessment and securing the site.
- Debris removal.
- Replacing surfaces and possessions.
- Reconstructing or renovating affected areas.
Preventing a fire in Yakima
Six places where fires start, and what to do about each.
- Outdoor hazards
- Yakima has a fire season, and outdoor fires spread to structures easily. Keep the property clean and clear, water the lawn, maintain trees and shrubs, clear leaves and weeds, keep bonfires and BBQs away from buildings, and fully extinguish every outdoor flame before heading indoors.
- Electrical
- Suspect a problem if the wiring is old, a breaker keeps tripping, you smell burnt material you cannot trace, or outlets and switches are charred or discolored. If you see any of these signs, contact a professional immediately.
- The kitchen
- According to FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking accidents like grease fires cause up to 37% of residential fires. Turn the stove or oven off after use, set timers, leave space around crock pots, pressure cookers and hot plates, and keep papers off hot surfaces. Never put water on a grease fire. A small extinguisher is worth having.
- Candles
- Neglected candles are a common cause of fire damage. Use LED or string lights, or containers and floating candles instead of open standing ones. Keep them away from children, walls and anything flammable, and check your lease, since many landlords prohibit candles.
- Flammable substances
- Store oils, aerosols, cleaning solutions, gasoline cans and propane tanks by their directions, away from heat, sparks and flames. If you use tobacco, make sure it is fully extinguished before it is thrown away.
- Children
- Every year in the U.S., approximately 20,000 fires are started by children. Keep candles, lighters and matches out of reach until they learn proper fire safety.
After a fire: do’s and don’ts while you wait
Do
Things you can handle while you wait for the professionals.
Call your insurance
Begin the claim and get the process moving. Once you call us, we help you with insurance and keep accurate site documentation.
Clean plants and pets
Wash both sides of houseplant leaves to prevent further damage from toxins or blocked sunlight. Once pets have calmed down, bathe them or take them to a groomer, and clean or replace tank and cage materials.
Empty the refrigerator and freezer
If the power is out, find other storage for unspoiled food and prop the doors open to prevent mold and mildew.
Cover the walkways
Lay clean towels, sheets or linens where people walk most. Keep foot traffic to a minimum; the coverings reduce further damage to flooring.
Don’t
Things to avoid, or leave to us.
Don’t clean
Leave walls, floors, ceilings, electronics like computers and printers, and clothing to professional cleaners with the right methods and products.
Don’t eat spoiled food
Throw out any food or drink that was near the fire, heat or water, even if it is canned or packaged.
Don’t use ceiling fixtures
Avoid ceiling fans and suspended lights, especially under a wet ceiling. The wiring and anchoring may be unstable and debris can fall.
Don’t touch sooty items
The oil from your hands can permanently stain objects with soot. If you have to move something, wear gloves.
