What Happens to Houseplants during Fire Restoration?

10/27/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO saves houses, contents, and even house plants from fire damage in Tallahassee

Green-Thumbed Tallahassee Residents are Concerned about their Houseplants

After a blaze in your Tallahassee home, there are many items you might be concerned about. If you are an avid grower, it is natural for your plants to be one of them.

Many customers who need fire restoration in their Tallahassee homes ask if their plants can survive a blaze. Plants are hardy things, and many can survive if they are still alive after the fire ends. Some damage can harm plants, however, so it is not always possible to save them.

Can you do anything for your plants?

While you are waiting for SERVPRO to arrive, you might carefully wipe the tops and bottoms of leaves with water or a very mild soapy solution. This will help remove traces of soot, and it will also prevent debris and grime from transferring from plant leaves onto your walls or carpets.

Did you know that potting soil can cause fires?

SERVPRO of Tallahassee customers are often surprised to learn that house plants could be a fire risk! It is not the plants themselves that are the risk, but the potting soil. Modern soils often contain flammable substances such as:

• Polystyrene
• Peat moss
• Wood chips

If a spark ignites near these substances, it can combust. For example, people might put out cigarettes in plant soil or use it as a temporary incense holder. These innocuous actions can create a house fire.

What can you do to prevent your potting soil from starting a fire?

There are several steps you can take to reduce the risk of potting soil fires:

• Keep it damp and do not let your plants dry out
• Do not use plant pots as ashtrays or incense holders
• Store flammable cleaning materials away from houseplants
• Use clay pots for houseplants as they are more fire-resistant than plastic

Does restoration affect houseplants?

Most restoration procedures do not affect houseplants as we can move them out of the way or work around them. However, ozone machines are not plant-friendly.

We use ozone generators after a fire to help with deodorization. Ozone has three oxygen molecules. When it comes into contact with contaminants such as soot, it binds to the particles and changes their chemical composition. Over some time, these chemical changes lead to odor removal, so your home smells “Like it never even happened.”

Ozone generators are a powerful tool; however, they are not safe for use around plants. Ozone can cause damage when plants breathe it in. It is also not a good idea to use it around you, your family, or your pets. That is why we only use ozone after evacuating the area and removing all the houseplants. We will let you know when it is safe to come back, and when it is safe to bring your plants back too.

What other personal belongings can SERVPRO clean?

Customers are often concerned that they will have to toss most of their belongings after a fire. However, this is not true. Yes, if an item has been burned and badly damaged, we cannot do much. But if the main issue is soot stains or being waterlogged with firehose water, we can clean and restore many items. We have saved our customers’ wooden furniture, upholstery, rugs, toys and games, craft materials, kitchen utensils, and even clothing and accessories.

Some items require HEPA vacuuming or dry scrubbing, while others need wet wiping. We have powerful ultrasonic cleaners for small items such as utensils and keepsakes, including jewelry and soft toys. We can send textiles, linens, and clothes to our facility for specialist washing.

What else can SERVPRO help with after a fire?

Of course, your houseplants are just one concern after a fire. Thankfully SERVPRO is here to help you with:

• Removing standing water from fire hoses and drying out damp areas to reduce the risk of mold growth
• Securing your home so our restoration team can safely work within it, including tarping the roof, boarding up windows, and setting up a safe electricity supply
• Sorting through your possessions and letting you know what we can salvage and what needs to be tossed
• Cleaning soot residue from the walls, floors, and ceilings of your home

If your home needs structural repairs, our team will oversee them. We can call in specialists such as plumbers and electricians as necessary.

After we have finished the restoration, we deodorize your home. As mentioned, ozone generators are one method. We can also use air scrubbers, carbon filters, odor-eating compounds, and wet or dry fogging to remove stubborn smoke smells.

If you are concerned about your plants and any other belongings after a fire, call SERVPRO of Tallahassee at (850) 765-5706.