Glendora Home Fire

6/12/2024 (Permalink)

Glendora Residential Fire

It all started at approximately 11:00pm on Monday night, July 25th, 2016.  Returning home after an evening out, Jason and his family entered their house in Glendora ready to call it a night. That’s when their 9 year old daughter happened to notice an unusual discolored spot on the ceiling about 15 feet from the front door.

They were all about to find out how important this little girl’s casual observation would be.

Upon examining the ceiling, Jason reached up and discovered there was heat coming from the ceiling where the spot was.  Climbing a ladder to get to the attic access opening, Jason discovered a fire was burning above the ceiling.  He immediately dialed 911.  Within minutes, the Glendora Police and the Fire Department arrived on scene.  Preparations were being made to penetrate the roof while FireFighters inside the home removed the ceiling where the flames were burning. 

Because of the quick observation of the resident and the immediate action of the first responders, the roof did not have to be penetrated, avoiding extensive structural damage to the property.   As the fire hadn’t spread, only a minimal amount of water was induced to suppress the fire.  Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Once the property was stabilized, the fire investigator was on site to determine the source of the fire.  It appears there was an electrical short that damaged a flexible gas line allowing gas to leak from the line and ignite.

Attic fires are not that unusual.  However, in this case the chance observation of the discolored spot on the ceiling by Jason’s 9 year old daughter was indeed fortunate.  If it wasn’t for her noticing this when they first arrived home, the trouble brewing in the attic could have been a much bigger problem for their home and their safety.

Joe McCann has over 16 years as a SERVPRO owner. With three franchises, Joe and his team have a plethora of cautionary tales to learn from. In case of an emergency fire, always call 9-1-1. For fire restoration, call SERVPRO of Glendora / San Dimas. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What Kind of Smoke Damage is This?

6/5/2024 (Permalink)

There are three different types of smoke that can damage your home. SERVPRO of Glendora / San Dimas is expertly trained in cleaning all of them.

Synthetic: Synthetic residue appears when oil based materials are burned such as plastics and fabrics. This could include everything from window coverings, furniture, carpets, and electronics. Synthetic materials produce a thick black smoke when they burn, leaving behind a smeary residue. Avoid touching any of the residue to prevent smearing. Vacuuming the residue has proven to be the best approach to cleaning synthetic residues left behind, followed by dry-chem sponge cleaning.

Protein: Proteins such as meat and beans, for example, will leave behind a yellowish brown residue when they burn. The texture is greasy feeling and can stick to any surface, making it a pain to clean up. Make sure you  head over to your local home improvement store and ask for the proper fire cleaning solution that will work well on cleaning up after protein fires.

Natural: These type of fires are caused by the burning of natural products such as wood and paper. They produce dry powdery residue that is greyish-black in colour. These residues are easier to clean up than the synthetic or protein residues. Removing the residues can be done by vacuuming with a bristled brush, followed by dry-chem sponge cleaning.

Always contact SERVPRO of Glendora / San Dimas after any fire in your home for proper fire restoration services. Joe McCann and his team can be reached at 626-852-9922.

Common Workspace Fires

9/29/2023 (Permalink)

Just as you work to ensure that your home is a safe place, making sure your workspace is also safe and protected from potential fire damage is also important. Offices have spaces and areas that you’ll want to make sure are safe and preventing potential fire damage. Here are some areas that you may not expect could cause a fire in your office. 

#1: Loose and Overloaded Plug Sockets & Extension Cords 

Making sure that all plugs in your outlets are securely plugged in and not loose in any way can help prevent fire damage. When a plug is loosely in an outlet it can cause reduced functioning, as well as strains wiring, connects which can cause sparking within your outlets. Additionally, do you not overload your extension cords, overloading can create too much electricity which can lead to overheating and potential fire risk. 

#2: Dishwashers & Other Kitchen Appliances 

Stovetops, microwaves, coffee makers and dishwashers all have the potential risk of starting a fire in your workplace. In order to ensure that your appliances are safe to use it’s important to check and make sure there are no faulty aspects of the appliances, everything is securely plugged in and no outlets are overloaded. Dishwashers, in particular, can be a surprising culprit in creating fire damage. Since dishwashers are a combination of electricity and liquids, it’s important to make sure they are functioning properly and not left on overnight to reduce the potential risk. 

#3: Paper Piles 

Whether it’s paperwork, magazines, newspapers, or items that need to be shredded, sitting piles of paper around the office can be potential fire starters. Make sure that paper piles are not near outlets, extension cords, or plugs and that they are reduced or eliminated as often as possible. 

SERVPRO of Glendora/San Dimas is a Large Loss, full-service fire, smoke, wind, water repair and restoration company. We offer immediate response to residential, commercial, industrial, and commercial property owners.

Is it Still Storm Season?

9/29/2023 (Permalink)

It is not very often that we have storms in Southern California. However, they definitely do occur. We often look up to the mountains towards Big Bear Lake, California and we can see the piles of snow that have accumulated during a wet winter. Now that the weather this week is starting to look sunny, one might ask, is winter weather really over?

 SERVPRO of Glendora and San Dimas happily will help you get a tarp on your roof when more wet weather occurs. We are able to provide this service to our clients and it is one of our best services that we offer during the cooler months. 

 If you are in fear of a roof leak before more rain hail or even snow comes our way give Joe McCann and his team a call. Usually, we are able to come out the next day to cover your roof to protect it from further damage. Once the wet weather dries up, allow SERVPRO Joe and his team to come back out and assess your roof to see if any water damage has occurred in the past. Often there might be mold lying within the drywall, wood or even underneath tiles in your roof and attic that you were unaware of. 

 Preventing further damage to your home is the first step of keeping your house mold free. Being actively aware of any leaks that might occur in your household is very useful information to share with our technicians when they come out to assess any damage that may have happened in prior storms or during the last rain spell.

Is Rain on it's Way?

9/29/2023 (Permalink)

Is the Rain Over Yet?

Last year around this time, southern California had approximately 27 more days of rain than the year prior.  It seems as though the San Gabriel Valley is off to a dry start, if you will. Who else is ready for rain? The California wildflowers will hopefully be here soon! Nothing is more beautiful than our freeway views littered with Golden Poppies and Mustard Seed flowers as far as the eye can see. 

Rain is so beneficial for our state's drought. Is there anything more beautiful than our San Gabriel Mountain range after a torrential downpour?

Speaking of downpours, being a wildfire state and all, rain after fire season means flood risk. The high temperatures change the composition of the Earth’s soil, making it “slick” (for lack of better words), and a slick surface makes it very easy for water to travel far and quickly. 

If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, make sure your home is prepared!

In the event of water damage in your home, call SERVPRO of Glendora & San Dimas. Joe McCann and his team are available for water damage services 24/7/365!

Dryer Fire Prevention

9/29/2023 (Permalink)

Each year, firefighters across the country respond to around 14,630 home fires caused by clothes dryers, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Unfortunately, most dryer related fires can be prevented. An estimated 34 percent of these fires occur due to failure to clean the machines

If dryer fires are relatively common, but preventable, what can you do to make sure a fire doesn’t occur at your home? Here’s how to prevent an incident:

Clean Your Lint Filter: The most common cause of a clothes dryer fire is lint build-up and reduced airflow. Lint is an extremely combustible material. Clean your lint screen after each dryer load. 

Take Care When Washing Stained Items: Clothes stained with flammable chemicals or substances, such as gas, cooking oil, cleaning agents, or paint thinners, need special care. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends washing the clothing more than once to minimize the volatile chemicals, then hanging to dry. If you must use a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that concludes with a cool-down period.

Clean the Vent Line: Cleaning should not only take place inside of vent hoses and inside of dryers, but also outside of the machines. The vent line is the wall area that is behind the dryer and goes toward the outside flap of the dryer. If this area is difficult to clean yourself, you can hire a professional to do so for you.

Maintain a Clear Drying Space: The entire surrounding area near a dryer should be clean and free of debris. No clothes, towels, cleaning supplies, or other materials should be gathered outside of a dryer.

This extra clutter, especially if cleaning supplies or flammable materials are present, will enhance the chance of a fire spreading across the home if one sparks. Fires spread rapidly, and anything that can contribute to that spread should be removed.

In the case of a dryer fire, immediately call 911. For after fire care, contact SERVPRO of Glendora and San Dimas at 626.852.9922

Past Water Damage

9/29/2023 (Permalink)

A Trip Down Memory Lane:

The morning is June 1, 2016:

It’s 8:30 am, morning of June 1st, SERVPRO of Glendora/ San Dimas receives a call from progressive orthopedic solutions requesting the crew to come restore the office from water damage due to a toilet leak in the upstairs women’s restroom. A plumber has been hired to stop the leak until SERVPRO crew members arrive. Project Manager Drew Weaver, Estimator Justin Calorino, technician’s Pete Fregoso (Crew Chief), Danny Guzman (Crew Chief), Brandon Gibons (Technician), and Jose Muro (Technician) arrive on site, with equipment in hand within 2.5 hours. By 11am, equipment has been set up and the restoration process begins.

The crew inspects the damage and concludes that the coffee area, two storage rooms, the hallway, the downstairs hallway, and the men’s restroom have been affected by the leak. In order to restore the facility, the team first extracts the excess water. Next, the crew begins to remove sagging ceiling tiles to prevent more ceiling tiles from collapsing.

SERVPRO crew left four dehumidifiers and 16 fans to dry out the structure to ensure the commercial building would be as good as new. The job was completed by June 8th.

 Thanks to Drew, Justin and the technicians of SERVPRO of Glendora/San Dimas, Progressive Orthopedic Solutions’ commercial building received quality service for the water damage. In the end, it was "Like it never even happened."

Joe McCann and his team specialize in large loss and commercial jobs. Always feel free to reach out to our office at 626-852-9922.

Wild Fire Can Cause Damage

9/29/2023 (Permalink)

Intense Wildfire

About eight years ago, Glendora experienced a very intense wildfire, in the foothills directly behind the city.

It was started by a group of young men, who had illegally started a campfire. The Santa Ana winds had picked up embers from the campfire and chaos ensued. It is now known as the Colby Trail Fire. In total, it burned over 1,992 acres of land, destroyed 5 homes, and injured one person. 3,600 city residents were evacuated. 

Concern For Our Homes

Many Glendora and Azusa residents were very concerned about their homes. Removing dry debris around them and watering their lawns was a tactic that many residents used in the hope to protect their property. 

Residents shut their windows and doors to keep falling ash and poor air from coming into their homes. Others take pieces of plywood or tarp and cover the vents on the roof or chimney, in order to prevent embers from entering their housing structures. 

Water Bombs

Homeowners with pools would fill up their pools and spas with additional water from their garden hoses. It is not unusual for water-bombing helicopters to pick up water from residents' backyard pools in order to aid in putting out wildfires. It is a small gesture that can be of huge help to the air bombers looking for bodies of water nearby. 

The Colby Fire lasted approximately ten days.

Here For You

Glendora residents are always encouraged to call SERVPRO of Glendora and San Dimas if their home is ever affected by a fire. SERVPRO specializes in fire restoration and is available 24/7.

Address:

SERVPRO Glendora/ San Dimas 

433 Fleetwood Place

Glendora, CA 91741

(626) 852-9922

Commercial Large Loss

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

In the Fire and Water Restoration Industry, there are relatively small jobs that can occur in a home or business that may be easy and quick to remedy.  However, there is a common term for jobs that are much bigger, these jobs are called “Large Loss” projects.  The word loss refers back to an insurance term for property-loss or claim.

Some SERVPRO Franchises have certifications to provide emergency services specifically for restoring Large Lose projects.  These Franchises are called Large Loss Response Teams (LLRT).  For any LLRT Franchise in a metropolitan area, being prepared for a natural or man-made disaster is a continuous process.

SERVPRO of Glendora/San Dimas is a Certified Large Loss Response Team Franchise and is located on the Eastern perimeter of the Los Angeles Basin where approximately 10 Million residence live and work.  The number of commercial “large loss” events in a city this large occurs on a daily basis.    Also, the technical complexity of a large loss event can be extreme as the downtown districts of many communities within the LA Basin have high rise structures, reaching dozens or more floors above ground and frequently multiple stories below ground level.   The required technical capability can frequently be a critical resource and one method that SERVPRO has to quickly adapt to extraordinary cases is to have a diverse staff of subject matter experts available at any time, day or night, who can be on their way to a disaster site within hours.

Also, as a Large Loss Response Team Member, SERVPRO of Glendora/San Dimas is ready to address potentially millions of square feet of commercial and residential properties in a disaster situation.     The very high density of property in Los Angeles creates the need to have a large inventory of reserve equipment and people to handle losses on a massive scale.  The method to handle the equipment and skilled labor requirements at this scale is to draw on stores of equipment located in strategic locations around the metropolitan area and to partner with other SERVPRO Franchises to deploy the right level of skilled Technicians and Management support.  This is our way of assuring consistent high quality service, expertise, and processes are available when major disasters strike.

SERVPRO of Glendora/San Dimas (LLRT) is a restoration partner you can depend on when a commercial loss occurs to a single property or on a city wide scale.

Sewer Water Damage

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

While floods are probably best known for causing extensive water damage to homes and businesses, they can also cause sewage from sanitary sewer lines to back up into houses through drain pipes. These backups not only cause damage that is difficult to repair, but also create health hazards. 

Much like drain pipes, the main sewer line can become clogged, this can cause sewage backups in the home. Sewer backups should be considered an emergency since water may contain bacteria and/or other microbes that may cause illnesses and/or serious health issues.

If it is just one toilet, sink, or tub that seems to be the problem, it may just be a clog in the drain. If, however, every flush creates a sewage backup in your home, you likely have a blockage in your main sewer line.

SERVPRO of Glendora / San Dimas is just a phone call away for any water damage caused by sewer drains. We also are able to fully clean out, and sanitize crawl spaces affected by build up.