How Does Fire Damage Affect Electronic Devices?

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

From an electrical fire to unattended food on the stove, there are many ways a commercial or residential building can catch fire. Once the fire is put out, you should immediately turn your thoughts to how you are going to clean and restore. You likely have valuable computers, appliances and other electronics around your business or home, and you want to make an attempt to salvage anything.

Structural Damage

Personal electronics can be significantly damaged following a fire. Some common examples of these include:

• Cell phones
• Tablets
• Laptops/ Desktops 
• Televisions 

One sign of damage you will instantly notice is if there is any deterioration to the overall structure. High temperatures create stress the metal components, causing them to warp and melt. In addition to fixing the structure, you need to make sure the item still performs its desired function.

Water Damage

Another part of computer cleanup after a fire is seeing if anything sustained water damage. Firefighters will use water to put out an out-of-control flame, but this water can damage certain items. You want to avoid turning on the item before having someone look at it. If you turn it on while water is still in the system, then it could short circuit.

Chemical Residue Damage

Soot is a highly hazardous product. It contains various acids that can wear away metals. You also need to pursue remediation so that your workers can stay safe from these potentially dangerous materials. Touching an acid-soaked item could result in complications. 

The best thing to do is to not utilize electronics until professionals have a chance to look at them. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to salvage many electronic items following an electrical fire. You just need to be patient and have the right professionals to guide you such as the team at SERVPRO of Edmonds.

Visit us for more on fire at http://www.SERVPROedmonds.com.