Fire Prevention Month

10/12/2023 (Permalink)

Cooking safety starts with you! Fire prevention month 2023 tips.

October is Fire Prevention month! The National Fire Prevention Association slogan for 2023 is "Cooking Safety Starts with YOU!" 

Cold weather brings families together for warm meals shared indoors. While this is a great opportunity for sharing homecooked meals and entertaining family, it's also a great reminder that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home injuries.  Here is a list of safety tips from the NFPA to help keep you and your family safe!  

Cook with Caution

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire...

• On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire…

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the home

We hope these helpful tips and reminders will help you avoid a kitchen accident. However, in the event a cooking accident happens to you, SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula is here to help! Call us at (906) 204-2450 and we would be happy to assist you in your time of need.  

Emergency Fire Damage Process

10/5/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and Smoke Damage is especially destructive.

Fire and smoke damage is especially destructive. In many cases, your property will also suffer from water damage from firefighting efforts. With our emergency fire damage process, we can get your property back to pre-fire condition “Like it never even happened.” 

One Hour: 

Within one hour from notice of loss, we will contact you to arrange for service. You will know help is on the way! 

Four Hours: 

Within four hours of loss notification, we will be on-site to start mitigation services. The key to reducing damage and saving money is responding quickly to your damage. 

Detailed Explanation: 

A trained, uniformed, and equipped SERVPRO professional will walk you through the job process step-by-step, explaining what to expect and the anticipated outcome. 

Pretesting: 

We will begin pretesting for restorability, working from the source of the damage outward. 

Eight Hours: 

Within eight business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of scope will be communicated to the appropriate person, normally your adjuster or property manager. 

Cleaning, Restoration, & Deodorization: 

We will work neatly and efficiently to help you regain control of your property when a damaging event has taken over. We use state-of-the-art restoration techniques to ensure your property is taken care of right the first time. 

Final Walk-Through: 

After the work has been completed, a final walk-through will be conducted with you to help ensure your satisfaction. 

Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. 

Fire Prevention Week October 3-9, 2021

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety! October 3-9 is Fire Prevention Week.

This year’s FPW campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” works to educate everyone about the different sounds the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds will keep you and your family safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action.

Hear a chirp, make a change! A chirping alarm means the battery, or the entire alarm must be replaced. 

What if someone in my home is deaf or hard of hearing?
There are smoke alarms and alert devices that alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices include strobe lights that flash to alert people when the smoke alarm sounds. Pillow or bed shakers designed to work with your smoke alarm also can be purchased and installed.

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

For further information visit https://www.nfpa.org/Events/Events/Fire-Prevention-Week/About and learn how to keep you and your family safe.

Unfortunately fires do occur. When fire and water damage take control of you life, we help you take it back. Call SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula at 906-204-2450.

Fire Hazards

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

Do Not Plug Space Heaters Into Power Strips.

SERVPRO of the Upper Peninsula would like to inform everyone of the dangers of using power strips. Power strips have become a necessity in the world we live in. Everything runs on electricity and we just plug it in and let it go never realizing how many amps or load that the power strip can handle.

With cooler temperatures expected, some may want to use their small space heaters. If so, DO NOT plug them into a power strip.  These devises are not designed to handle the energy load of a space heater and can overheat causing a fire hazard.

We want you to stay warm and stay safe this winter. But, if damage strikes your home we are here to help make it "Like it never even happened." Call SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula (906) 204-2450 where a team of professionals will help your house feel like home again.

Tips to Cook Safely This Holiday Season

9/30/2021 (Permalink)

We're available around the clock because the leading cause of home fires is cooking.

We are entering into holiday season and that means family, food and a whole lot of time in the kitchen. Everyone loves to eat, including the SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula team, but we are not here to talk to you about eating. We wish we were, but we are here to talk to you about being safe during the preparation process this year:

Prep Food Ahead of Time

The common theme to our tips today is going to be avoiding multitasking and focusing on the meal at hand. When you have two items on the stovetop, a turkey in the oven, and a home full of hungry guests, it can be hard to be careful in the kitchen. To avoid the dangers of multitasking, try making your holiday side dishes before the big day to avoid the madness.

Seek Help for Other Chores

Kitchen fires make up close to half of the house fires annually throughout America. Most kitchen fires are also started by unattended cooking. If you are trying to set the table, vacuum the living room and baste a turkey all at the same time, that could be extremely hazardous. Get your friends and family to help you out with other chores so you can stay focused in the kitchen.

Keep Others Out of the Kitchen

We know the kitchen is the hot spot for guests to gather, but you don’t want it to turn into a literal hot spot. Someone can knock a hot pan or pot off the stove and fires can start when things are getting knocked out of place. Try to enlist the help of one trusted sidekick and let everyone else enjoy their drinks and appetizers in a different room!

Beware All Towels

Whether it be paper or dish towels, you don’t want anything flammable near your stove. The heat or flame from your burners can get hotter or stronger with drips from your pan. There is no sense in risking it, so before you start cooking, locate these items and get them out of harm’s way.

Smoke and burn damage can be difficult to deal with if you don’t know the proper cleanup techniques. Luckily for you, the SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula team is here to help with whatever you need. Fire, water and mold restoration is what we do and we will be there for you and your family whenever disaster strikes.

Halloween Safety Tips

9/21/2021 (Permalink)

The spookiest thing about Halloween is the hazards. Here's a list of safety measures you can take to make sure your Halloween celebration stays fun!

Halloween is near and you’ve prepared costumes, decorations, and special treats. But have you considered the accidents that can occur on Halloween? According to the US Fire Administration, for each year from 2014 to 2016, there were about 10,100 reported fires over a three-day period around Halloween in the US. Those fires caused an estimated 30 deaths, 125 injuries and $102 million in property loss.

As you can see, the spookiest thing about Halloween is the hazards, especially those related to fire. Here’s a list of safety measures you can take to make sure your Halloween celebration stays fun and memorable.

Halloween Fire Safety Tips

• Decoration placement — Don’t place decorations near candles and other heat sources, such as electric heaters or light bulbs. Also, place decorations far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, driveways, doorsteps, and walkways. Ensure exits are clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Jack-o-lanterns — Use battery-operated lights or flashlights instead of candles in jack-o-lanterns. If you use real candles, be extremely cautious when handling the pumpkins. Keep them at a safe distance from flammable items.
• String lights — Indoors and outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Also, check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and loose connections. Discard damaged sets. And don’t overload extensions cords!
• Other lights — Use battery-operated candles as alternatives to wax candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.
• Costumes — When choosing a costume, stay away from long trailing fabric. If you are making your own costume, choose a material that won’t easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame.
• “Stop, drop and roll” — Tell children to stay away from open flames. Have them practice the “stop, drop, and roll” technique in case their costume catches fire: stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with their hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.
• When kids attend parties — If your children are going to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for ways out of the home and plan how they would get out in an emergency.

Other Halloween Safety Tips

• Accompany your kids — Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by a trusted adult when going out at night. Teens can be allowed to go in groups and trick-or-treat in well-lit areas.
• Know where your child is going — Be familiar with the route your kids will be taking and make sure they carry a mobile phone. Tell them to check in with you every hour and to come back home at a designated time.
• Costume props — Any props that a child might carry, such as a pitchfork, knife or scythe, should be flexible and safe enough to not cause an injury.
• Pets — If you choose to dress up your pet, make sure that the costume does not constrict the animal’s movement or annoy him in any other way. Additionally, keep candles, props, wires, and cords out of reach of your pets. Make sure jack-o-lanterns with candles can’t be knocked down by dogs or cats.

Tips to protect children from vehicles while trick-or-treating:

• Costume design — Choose a light-colored costume and attach reflective tape or stickers to make them more visible.
• Masks — Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, so consider replacing them with face paint or makeup. But if your child does wear a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.
• Carrying lights — Children should carry flashlights or glow sticks to see and be seen during night time. Those can be a fun addition to their costumes, as well!
• Crossing streets — Tell them to walk and not run. Before crossing a street, they must use crosswalks whenever possible and look both ways.
• Driving — Adults should pay close attention when driving, and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, especially between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; remind other drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters, too.

Unfortunately, fire disasters can happen even to the most vigilant of people who follow these Halloween safety tips. If you require professional fire and smoke restoration services, contact your SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula at (906) 204-2450. Be safe and have a Happy Halloween!

Tips to Keep Your Home Safe From Fire This Fall

9/3/2021 (Permalink)

If you experience any property damage due to a fire, we are here for you. Contact SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula to learn more.

Are you ready for fall? Many people look forward to changing leaves, cooler days and fall sports like football. They also enjoy traditional fall activities like Halloween parties and visiting pumpkin patches or apple orchards.

But did you know that fall carries the highest risk for house fires to start? According to the American Red Cross, statistically most house fires happen in the fall and winter months.

Luckily there are steps you can take to lower your risk of a fire starting in your home. The first one is actually very simple. Just check the batteries in your home’s smoke detectors.

Working smoke detectors help keep your home and family safe. Experts recommend having a smoke detector in every bedroom.

If you have issues remembering when you need to change your smoke detector batteries, a good rule of thumb is to switch them every spring and fall when you change your clocks.

Don’t Forget Basic Fire Safety

Do you enjoy a big, happy bonfire with family and friends? If you do, you aren’t alone.

Bonfires are one of the most popular American fall activities. (And they’re a great way to make s’mores.) But if they aren’t properly attended, they can turn a fun night out into an accident waiting to happen.

Supervising a bonfire safely really comes down to keeping an eye on the fire. Don’t leave a fire burning by itself in your yard. If you’re done for the night, be sure to put out your bonfire so it doesn’t cause any unintended damage.

If there’s a fireplace in your home, then using it becomes more tempting on chilly fall nights. Before you light your first fire this fall, have a professional check out your chimney and fireplace to be sure it’s safe.

You don’t want to light a fire in a fireplace when the chimney is clogged or damaged. Having them check the condition of your home’s other heating units (like your furnace) can also help prevent fires caused by maintenance problems.

We’re Here if You Need Us

If an accident happens at your home this fall and you need help restoring fire or smoke damage, you don’t have to look far.

Our team is always ready to help you if a fire damages your home. Local experts can guide you through the fire restoration process and help get your home back in top shape.

Don't be a turkey this Thanksgiving

10/28/2019 (Permalink)

We're available around the clock because the leading cause of home fires is cooking.

We're available 24/7/365 because the leading cause of home fires is cooking. (Not your cooking, of course)

With November upon us, the holidays will be here before we know it. While signature dishes are a staple at every families holiday gathering; we would like to take the time to address the dangers of deep frying a turkey.

With a minimal amount of preparation there are a few simple precautionary steps that you can take in order to keep your home and family safe while still impressing the socks off your in-laws.

Safety Tips for Deep Frying a Turkey

1.Be sure to place your turkey fryer on a solid, even ground a safe distance away from any flammable objects. They are known to tip easily; spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.

2.Be sure to take into consideration the size of the turkey when filling the cooking oil. An overfilled fryer will displace hot oil when the turkey is placed into the fryer.

3.Due to a change in temperature, a partially frozen turkey when being placed in the fryer will cause cooking oil to splatter, be sure to thaw properly.

4.Be sure to wear heat proof gloves when handling the pot, lid or turkey in any way as the fryer surfaces can become dangerously hot.

5.Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can easily overheat and start fires, even the slightest amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a very large fire.

6.Most importantly, always use turkey fryers indoors or on wooden surfaces.

If you decide to be a turkey and blatantly disregard these tips, you may end up causing damage to your property. If that's the case SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula will be here to help. We would much rather have enjoying your dinner with your family and friends however. We hope you all have a SAFE and happy holiday season!

Fire Hazards

10/28/2019 (Permalink)

Do not plug small space heaters into power strips.

SERVPRO of the Upper Peninsula would like to inform everyone of the dangers of using power strips. Power strips have become a necessity in the world we live in. Everything runs on electricity and we just plug it in and let it go never realizing how many amps or load that the power strip can handle.

With cooler temperatures expected, some may want to use their small space heaters. If so, DO NOT plug them into a power strip.  These devises are not designed to handle the energy load of a space heater and can overheat causing a fire hazard.

We want you to stay warm and stay safe this winter. But, if damage strikes your home we are here to help make it "Like it never even happened." Call SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula (906) 204-2450 where a team of professionals will help your house feel like home again.

Tips to Cook Safely This Holiday Season

10/28/2019 (Permalink)

We're available 24/7/365 because the leading cause of home fires is cooking. Not your cooking, of course.

We are entering into holiday season and that means family, food and a whole lot of time in the kitchen. Everyone loves to eat, including the SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula team, but we are not here to talk to you about eating. We wish we were, but we are here to talk to you about being safe during the preparation process this year:

Prep Food Ahead of Time

The common theme to our tips today is going to be avoiding multitasking and focusing on the meal at hand. When you have two items on the stovetop, a turkey in the oven, and a home full of hungry guests, it can be hard to be careful in the kitchen. To avoid the dangers of multitasking, try making your holiday side dishes before the big day to avoid the madness.

Seek Help for Other Chores

Kitchen fires make up close to half of the house fires annually throughout America. Most kitchen fires are also started by unattended cooking. If you are trying to set the table, vacuum the living room and baste a turkey all at the same time, that could be extremely hazardous. Get your friends and family to help you out with other chores so you can stay focused in the kitchen.

Keep Others Out of the Kitchen

We know the kitchen is the hot spot for guests to gather, but you don’t want it to turn into a literal hot spot. Someone can knock a hot pan or pot off the stove and fires can start when things are getting knocked out of place. Try to enlist the help of one trusted sidekick and let everyone else enjoy their drinks and appetizers in a different room!

Beware All Towels

Whether it be paper or dish towels, you don’t want anything flammable near your stove. The heat or flame from your burners can get hotter or stronger with drips from your pan. There is no sense in risking it, so before you start cooking, locate these items and get them out of harm’s way.

Smoke and burn damage can be difficult to deal with if you don’t know the proper cleanup techniques. Luckily for you, the SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula team is here to help with whatever you need. Fire, water and mold restoration is what we do and we will be there for you and your family whenever disaster strikes.

Fire Hazards!

12/3/2018 (Permalink)

Power Strips are not designed to handle the energy load of a space heater and can overheat causing a fire hazard.

With cooler temperatures expected, some may want to use their small space heaters. If so, DO NOT plug them into a power strip.  These devises are not designed to handle the energy load of a space heater and can overheat causing a fire hazard.

We want you to stay warm and stay safe this winter. But, if damage strikes your home we are here to help make it "Like it never even happened." Call SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula (906) 204-2450 where a team of professionals will help your house feel like home again.

Don't Be a Turkey This Thanksgiving!

10/26/2018 (Permalink)

We're available 24/7/365 because the leading cause of home fires is cooking. (Not your cooking, of course)

We're available 24/7/365 because the leading cause of home fires is cooking. (Not your cooking, of course)

With November upon us, the holidays will be here before we know it. While signature dishes are a staple at every families holiday gathering; we would like to take the time to address the dangers of deep frying a turkey.

With a minimal amount of preparation there are a few simple precautionary steps that you can take in order to keep your home and family safe while still impressing the socks off your in-laws.

Safety Tips for Deep Frying a Turkey

1.Be sure to place your turkey fryer on a solid, even ground a safe distance away from any flammable objects. They are known to tip easily; spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.

2.Be sure to take into consideration the size of the turkey when filling the cooking oil. An overfilled fryer will displace hot oil when the turkey is placed into the fryer.

3.Due to a change in temperature, a partially frozen turkey when being placed in the fryer will cause cooking oil to splatter, be sure to thaw properly.

4.Be sure to wear heat proof gloves when handling the pot, lid or turkey in any way as the fryer surfaces can become dangerously hot.

5.Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can easily overheat and start fires, even the slightest amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a very large fire.

6.Most importantly, always use turkey fryers indoors or on wooden surfaces.

If you decide to be a turkey and blatantly disregard these tips, you may end up causing damage to your property. If that's the case SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula will be here to help. We would much rather have enjoying your dinner with your family and friends however. We hope you all have a SAFE and happy holiday season!

Thank You U.P. Firefighters!

10/5/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula would like to thank all of the firefighters in our area for your incredible service to the community. As a fire damage restoration company, the jobs of the local fire departments are integral to our day-to-day actions, as the volunteers and staff members fight dangerous fires to recover property that SERVPRO can restore.  

More importantly, however, thank you for the work you do daily to keep us and the members of our community safe and protected from fire emergencies. We at SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula would like to sincerely thank you for all that you do! To help with fire prevention efforts, we are donating coloring books to local fire departments to assist in their educational efforts at local schools next week for fire prevention week! We're also dropping off snacks to keep our local heroes fueled for the tough work they do!  

It's not enough, but it's a start towards thanking you for all that you do! 

Fire Prevention Week October 7-13, 2018

10/5/2018 (Permalink)

This year's theme for Fire Prevention Week is "Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware-fire can happen anywhere." 

"LOOK" for places fire could start. Take a good look around your home and identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.

"LISTEN" for the sound of your smoke alarms. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm goes off. Go to your outside meeting place which should be a safe distance from your home and where everyone should meet.

"LEARN" two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside can be easily opened and are clutter free.

People need to be educated about these three basic but essential steps to reduce the likelihood of having a fire and how to escape safely in the event a fire should a occur.

For further information visit www.firepreventionweek.org and learn how to keep you and your family safe.

Unfortunately fires do occur. When fire and water damage take control of you life, we help you take it back. Call SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula at 906-204-2450.

Smoke and Soot Cleanup

5/8/2018 (Permalink)

Smoke Damage to a kitchen in Au Train, MI

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action. 

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke-wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke-Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke-Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue-Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have questions about Fire, Smoke or Soot Damage?

Call Us Today-SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula (906) 204-2450

Smoke and Soot Cleanup

1/27/2017 (Permalink)

Smoke and Soot Damage Can Cause a Pervasive Odor in Your Upper Peninsula Home.

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action. 

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke-wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke-Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke-Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue-Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have questions about Fire, Smoke or Soot Damage?

Call Us Today-SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula (906) 204-2450