Kitchen Fire? We are a Professional Fire Damage Restoration Service in Bellevue

Solutions for Restoring Protein-Based Soot Damage

Over 40 percent of residential blazes stem from cooking incidents, per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA. It is thus essential that professionals offering fire damage restoration in Belleview have training and skills in managing protein-based residues. Cleanup of soot and smoke is a specialized science. What works to resolve the loose, ashy debris of a hot-burning wood fire or the sticky black coating of a smoldering plastic or rubber slow burn is ineffective in response to a kitchen fire's food and grease mist that solidifies quickly into a smelly, lacquer-like substance. Fortunately, over decades, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) developed soot cleanup and restoration protocols precisely matched to cooking blaze-generated soot. Our technicians master IICRC training and hold the required certifications before responding to your kitchen fire challenge. 

Characteristics of Cooking Fire Damage

Although flames definitely can flare during a cooking fire, significant overheating of food ingredients and cooking oils creates the bulk of fire damage needing restoration in Bellevue kitchens. The soot of cooking fires contains tiny particles of dehydrated food, grease, and oils heated above their smoking point. Think about the impossible-to-remove coating on the bottom of a well-used skillet and imagine it as an aerosol propelled on superheated air currents throughout your house. Appliances, walls, ceilings, floors, and counters in the kitchen receive the brunt of the residues, but AdvantaClean of The Eastside inspects all surfaces in your home to ensure we completely restore the damage. Protein-based soot is:

• Nearly colorless, but eventually will discolor surfaces and is corrosive, causing crumbling over time.

• Varnish or lacquer-like, encasing everything it touches in a nearly impenetrable coating.

• Revolting in smell as it consists of rotting food bits and rancid oils 

How Professionals Remove Protein-Based Soot

Our IICRC-certified Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) match the residues and surfaces damaged to cleaning products, tools, and methods demonstrated through years of research to dislodge the soot effectively. Because the residues are oil and protein-based, it is necessary to:

• Use oil-based solvents after testing in inconspicuous areas, as the solvents can be hard on the underlying materials.

• Observe safety procedures to avoid skin contact or inhalation of dangerous vapors--wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is vital.

• Choose abrasive tools or grit added to cleaning pastes to break down the residues so that chemical cleaning agents can break down or emulsify the soot before wiping it away--professionals develop the touch essential to remove and restore the fire damage without destroying the affected building materials or appliance. 

Deodorization Strategies

If a deep cleaning does not remove the nasty smell of protein-based soot, AdvantaClean of The Eastside turns to odor-neutralization advances or enzymatic treatments. Options include:

• Thermal fogging recreates the fire conditions by heating deodorant substances that pair with the soot particles and eradicate the smell.

• Ozone machines use oxidation to change the odor-bearing molecules chemically into non-odorous substances. 

• Hydroxyl generators allow the production of free radicals that transform the remaining bits of residue into harmless and neutral-smelling compounds.

Have confidence that the IICRC-certified technicians from AdvantaClean of The Eastside are up to the challenge of cleaning and restoring fire damage in your Belleview kitchen. Call (425) 649-0600 to arrange an assessment and immediate provision of emergency services to conquer protein-based smoke, soot, and odor challenges.