Commercial Property Fire: How Fires Can Result in Water Damage

1/4/2022 (Permalink)

If you already have damage due to fire or water in your commercial property, call SERVPRO, we are ready to help you.

How Can Commercial Property Fires Cause Water Damage?

While fire damage is apparent after a blaze, many business owners are shocked when they are confronted with a surprising amount of water destruction, especially when it occurs outside of the areas affected by the disaster. However, water and fire go hand in hand, and that is somewhat obvious when you consider that moisture is needed in these three common methods to extinguish flames.

1. Fire Hose

The most significant contributors to excessive water in your facility are the hoses used by firefighters to combat and resolve the blaze. These hoses operate at nearly 400 psi, going through gallons of water per second. Additionally, rescuers may need to douse other areas of your building to prevent the flames from spreading through your property onto someone else’s.

2. Fire Suppression System

While some suppression systems are designed only to operate where fire damage is occurring, others open all sprinklers throughout the building when heat is detected. Therefore, the type of suppression system you have can contribute to water buildup after a disaster.

3. Fire Extinguisher

Beyond the main moisture contributors, there are also fire extinguishers. While these are filled with CO2 or other extinguishing agents, they all leave behind residue and water damage. Though mandatory, these tools can contribute to the overall contamination to your property.

Despite the problems that all of these tools inflict on your commercial property, each is necessary and life-saving in its own right. When a fire occurs, it is more important to resolve the issue quickly than to worry about the potential damage. Insurers know the risks, which is why many provide coverage for
a disaster restoration specialist in the La Crosse, WI, area who can help mitigate loss and restore operations.

Water and fire damage are a pair; you can’t have one without the other. However, with adequate insurance coverage, you can resolve and repair the issues sooner rather than later.