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How to Prevent Destructive Lightning Fires on Your Property | SERVPRO® of Van Nuys South
9/26/2022 (Permalink)
If you are dealing with smoke or fire damage from a recent fire, call SERVPRO of Van Nuys South to learn about a restoration solution for your issue.
It’s possible to prevent many causes of home fires with the right planning and proper safety equipment. However, not all fires have manmade causes, and natural causes can threaten your home more than you might think.
There were over 70,000 claims related to lightning strike damage in 2020, so it’s much more common than most people believe. Lightning strikes about 6,000 times every minute, and just one strike within range of your home can split trees down the middle, fry your home’s electrical system and even start a dangerous fire.
No one is completely protected from this kind of disaster, so it’s equally important for everyone to take steps toward preparation.
When a naturally occurring electrical charge connects the ground to the clouds above, we see lightning. Typically, this happens during thunderstorms, but it can also occur during snowstorms, forest fires and even without any moisture in the air at all.
“Dry lightning” occurs without rain and is known to cause wildfires more frequently than any other kind of lightning strike. This threat changes as seasons do, but we must be prepared for it due to the severity and frequency of this disaster.
Lightning that directly impacts your home can cause immediate damage and even begin fires from either the heat of the strike or electrical surges inside. When a fire begins from the strike, it’s often hard to notice immediately as it will likely begin in the attic or within your walls.
After the fire is out, call an electrician to test your home’s system for malfunctions, and consider installing a lightning rod, one of the best ways to prevent lightning fires. This rod will take the energy from a strike and direct it away from your home so that you can avoid its destructive effects.
You can also add a whole-house surge protector to your electrical panel. This device can assist in preventing surges or other issues that ignite fires after a lightning strike.
Lightning is also a major source of wildfires, with over 9,000 outdoor fires beginning from strikes each year. Even though some areas see higher risks than others, it’s important for everyone to be prepared because of how dangerous this disaster is. These fires can quickly spread to impact properties and houses.
Implementing defensible zones around your property is important, since that will prevent a fire from spreading to your structure. You should also install smoke detectors in every bedroom, floor and kitchen to have full coverage if a fire sparks.
If you suffer a fire in or around your home, call SERVPRO of Van Nuys South immediately. Recovering and restoring your home after a fire can be overwhelming, but our experts are well-trained and always ready for action!
Have you experienced smoke or fire damage in your home? Call us today to get the restoration finished fast.