5 Most Common Causes of House Fires

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are more than 500,000 residential fires each year causing more than 4,000 deaths.  

The number one most common cause of house fires is cooking.  Kitchen fires are responsible for 28% of all house fires.  Be cautious when using a deep fryer with hot oil or grease. Make sure you turn off your oven and stove. And don’t wear loose clothing while cooking over a flame.

The second most common cause of house fires is supplemental heating appliances such as space heathers and fireplaces.  They cause on average 120,000 fires a year. Make sure to turn off all supplemental heating appliances when you leave the home and when you go to bed. When they are on, make sure to keep all combustible materials such as furniture, curtains, and fire wood at least 3 ft. away. A screen should be placed in front of any open flames.  It is wise to have your furnace serviced and your air filters changed regularly.

Other causes of fires include faulty wiring, candles, and cigarettes. Electrical wiring should never be exposed and should always be insulated. Never try to do electrical work yourself, hire a registered electrician. Be careful not to overload power outlets and don’t place extension cords under the furniture or carpet.

Use candles only on noncombustible surfaces and away from flammable materials. Never leave a candle unattended and don’t let it burn to close to the bottom.

Cigarettes and lighters are dangerous and require caution.  Never smoke in bed or on upholstered furniture.  Ensure cigarette butts are extinguished completely in an ashtray. Embers can smolder in bedding or trash cans and burst into flame. Don’t smoke when tired or drowsy as you may drop your cigarette onto carpet or furniture.  Keep all lighters and matches away from children.

Fires happen every day.  Protect your family and your home by being cautious and diligent about fire safety.  Plan an emergency route out of your house and educate your children about who to call in case of a fire.  Buffalo Restoration sees the aftermath of fires on a routine basis. Don’t let a careless mistake destroy your biggest investment. 

Buffalo Restoration Sells Coffee to Benefit Local Firefighters

Join Buffalo Restoration and the Bozeman Fire Department at the Bogert Farmer's Market on Tuesday August 21 from 5pm-8pm.   The Firehouse Blend coffee, made by City Brew, supports the many programs of the International Association of Firefighters Foundation.  IAFF provides assistance to burn victims, fire prevention awareness, and advocacy. Buffalo Restoration has purchased a case of this coffee and is offering to sell the coffee to benefit the local Bozeman fire stations. 100% of the sales of the Firehouse Blend coffee benefit the Bozeman fire stations.  So, we've got a win win. Each bag you've purchased has supported not only the IAFF fund but will also support your local firefighters.  It is great coffee to boot!

Be an everyday hero and join us as we raise money for the men and women who keep our families, homes, and entire community safe everyday.

For more information about the Fire House Blend coffee, visit City Brew Coffee.

Got Condo Insurance?: Not So Simple

Buffalo Restoration knows the ins and outs of insurance coverage. We've learned from our years of experience that people are often confused about their coverage and don't see the issues until a disaster has happened.

The most confusing and complicated insurance situations we've seen involve condominiums, town-homes, and apartments.  Most of these complexes are insured through the homeowners association with a policy that covers the common areas such as the roofing, walls, and ceiling. Some people may think that this policy will cover their belongings, appliances, or structures within their unit but it all depends.  If you live in a condo, apartment, or town-home, we suggest that you check to make sure that you have coverage inside your unit, as well as through your H.O.A. Here is a helpful article that examples some of the different types of coverage for these types of buildings. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5982545_condominium-owner-insurance-information.html

Buffalo Restoration offers a program called Disaster Shield, free of charge. If your H.O.A. would like Buffalo to present on disaster preparedness so that your building has a plan in case of disaster, please call. We're happy to help you prepare for the worst to give you peace of mind.  We know that thinking ahead can save time and money when something unexpected happens. Don't wait until its too late. It is always a good idea to be proactive when you're dealing with your biggest investment, your home.

Buffalo Restoration Offers2012 Fire Scholarship

At Buffalo Restoration, we understand the sacrifices our local firefighters make. We see their heroic actions go often unnoticed or unrecognized. It is time to thank them, and their families, for what they have given to our communities.

We're offering a $1,000 scholarship to the child or grandchild of a career or volunteer firefighter in Gallatin, Park, and Madison counties. The scholarship may be used for educational or enrichment opportunities for a child of any age.

Applications are due by September 17, 2012. Applications are available online at www.buffalorestoration.com/scholarship or at a local fire station.

Contact E.J. Porth at 406-586-1809 for more information. Thank you to all our local firefighters for their service!

Going for Gold...

Watching the Olympics? Buffalo Restoration technicians, like athletes, know that training pays off. Our technicians are experts in specialized techniques to restore your home or business after water, fire, or mold damage. We know that hard work, practice, and constant education are important to making sure that we preform at the top of our game, and in the industry as a whole.  


And our most recent gold medalist, resident carpet and rug cleaner Randal Halvorson, has achieved national recognition for his work on restoring a rug that was damaged in a house fire.  Randal's work was featured as a winner for Photo of the Month in Cleanfax Magazine. He will receive a chemical prize package worth $500! 


In the article he says "This rug came from a severe house fire. This is by far the worst rug I've attempted to salvage since 1997, when I started cleaning. The first step was to dry the rug, then I vacuumed it and dusted it. I soaked the rug in our pond for six hours, agitating four times during that period, and then rinsed it thoroughly. My next step was to clean with a rug shampoo, deodorize and then a final rinse." http://www.cleanfax.com/carpet-cleaning/article/photo-of-the-month-contest-august-2012

Congratulations to Randal for his outstanding work. And it just goes to show, the Buffalo herd is going for gold, every day.