· Fire Damage · 3 min read
Facts About Residential Fire Damage In Minnesota
Fire is one of the most important elements humans have ever harnessed. It’s a powerful tool that has helped us with countless aspects of our daily lives. But it can also be dangerous and has caused a lot of damage over the years.
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, fires have caused almost $2.5 billion worth of residential property damage in the last 29 years. Here are some important facts from the most recent Fire in Minnesota report from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety:
Number Of Structure Fires In Minnesota
There were 6,165 structure fires in 2017 and 75% of them happened in residential buildings. 50% of residential fires started in the kitchen, so always make sure you have a full fire extinguisher in your cooking area just in case!
The Cost Of Residential Fire Damage In Minnesota
You might expect fire damage to be expensive, but do you know how expensive? According to the report, residential structure fires cost people nearly $26,000 per incident in 2017.
Causes Of Minnesota Fire Deaths
57 people died from house fires (single-family and multi-family) in 2017. Careless smoking was the leading cause, and the other major causes were alcohol and drug use. If you insist on smoking indoors, always make sure your cigarettes, cigars, or other smoking objects are completely put out before you leave the room. Never fall asleep while smoking and avoid drinking too much or doing drugs when smoking.
Minnesota’s Deadliest Months For Fire Damage
When you think of fire-related deaths, you probably assume they happen in the summer months. Think again. According to the report, the most fire-related deaths occurred in:
- December (11)
- April (10)
- February (8)
- October (7)
- November (6)
Avoiding Injuries And Death From House Fires
In 2017, smoke alarms were 79% effective in alerting people about fire threats. Make sure you have smoke detectors on each level of your house. Test them monthly to make sure they’re working properly and replace the batteries every six months.
In addition to smoke detectors, be mindful when cooking to avoid accidental fires. It’s best to avoid smoking in the house, but if you do, be extremely cautious. Finally, make sure your furnace and heating system have been properly inspected before the winter months.
Finding the Right Fire Restoration Company
There are seven steps to mitigating and restoring a fire-damaged building:
- Board-up
- Dry out
- Deodorization and emergency pre-cleaning
- Contents pack-outs
- Contents inventory
- Dry cleaning and garment restoration
- Contents cleaning and restoration
These steps can be overwhelming and frankly, most people can’t handle it all on their own. It’s necessary to hire an experienced mitigation and restoration company, and we can offer emergency and non-emergency services for all your needs.
How We Can Help You
UNGERMAN is a trusted local company providing full-service mitigation, restoration, reconstruction, and renovation. We have spent over 40 years perfecting our soot damage cleanup, fire cleanup, and smoke odor removal. We are experienced in cleaning techniques for walls, floors, cabinetry, appliances and many other specialized items. We also have the know-how to attack smoke odors hidden in carpets, clothing and furniture upholstery.
Our crews use safe and specialized deodorizing techniques that will reach into small areas to neutralize odors caused by fire and soot residue. Our fire and smoke technicians understand the effects of heat, smoke, and residues left behind from a tragedy. Mitigating the loss immediately can help save the insured personal belongings.
We have the proper certification, training, and extensive experience to assess and resolve your emergency damage needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are licensed, bonded, and insured and will work directly with your insurance company to restore your damaged property with the highest quality.
