Fire Prevention for Your Jackson Restaurant

3/2/2023 (Permalink)

Commercial Fire Damage? Call Us Today – (732) 523-4986!

Understanding fire hazards in your Jackson
restaurant kitchen can help minimize the risk of can help prevent injury or loss of life, property damage and business shutdown which could cause a loss of revenue.

Do you know the most common causes of restaurant fires?

• Open flames are a risk because many things within the kitchen can catch fire from them.
  The staff should be experienced in controlling open flames and know how a fire suppression system works in the event a fire were to start. An automatic fire suppression system is a system in the kitchen is one of the best preventative measures available. According to NFPA,
  more than half of restaurant fires involve cooking equipment. Fire suppression systems automatically release fire retardant materials when triggered. Once activated, the system automatically shuts off the fuel or energy supply to the cooking system.
• Grease and grease traps Grease can get hot and is extremely flammable. A full grease trap that is not cleaned regularly may have pieces of food that can easily catch fire when more hot grease is added.
• Flammable materials such as loose fitting or flammable clothing, dish towels and pot
  holders Make sure everyone in the kitchen has safe and proper attire while in the cooking areas. Also, make sure to keep all dish towels and pot holders away from an open flame.
• Electrical wiring Just a small tear, fray or  cut in a wire can lead to a fire in your kitchen so remember to check for frays, breaks, or damage, even those that are out of sight. 
• Smoking If the staff is allowed to smoke, ensure they have a designated smoking area with disposal bins that are regularly checked and cleaned out.

Remember: The best defense against fire loss is to minimize the risk before a fire breaks out. One of the most accessible strategies for fire prevention involves good housekeeping

What Can Owners, Managers and Employees Do to Help Prevent a Restaurant Fire?

• Train employees on fire extinguisher use/fire submission Train all employees how to properly use a fire extinguisher and activate the overhead fire suppression system, so in the event of a fire, they will know what to do.
• Back up extinguishers: Install back up extinguishers in your restaurant. Extinguishers in the cooking area should be Class K for use on high-temperature grease fires. Use them only after the built-in suppression system is activated. Use Class ABC extinguishers in other areas of the restaurant to deal with fires resulting from other materials such as electrical issues, paper, plastic, or wood. Fire extinguishers are helpful only when staff is trained on their proper use. Staff should know where the extinguishers are located and exactly how to operate one.
• Empty grease traps regularly Overfilled grease traps can catch fire.
• Keep aisles uncluttered Cluttered walkways will hamper employees and customers trying to escape from a fire.
• Turn off gas and electric source Employees should know where and how to cut off the gas and electrical source in case of an emergency ONLY IF SAFE!
• Provide sufficient lighting/make sure exit signs are functioning  The emergency exit route needs to be adequately lit so employees and customers can see where they are going in case of an emergency and allows everyone to quickly identify the exit in an emergency.

During a four-year study by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were 7,640 structural fires in dining and drinking establishments. These fires caused more than $246 million in property damage. The best strategy to protect your restaurant from a fire loss includes fire prevention and proper
training for employees.

If your Jackson restaurant experiences fire damage, SERVPRO of Jackson/Lacey has the training, experience, and equipment to handle large commercial fire damage emergencies. Whether your fire emergency occurs in a restaurant, motel, or office building, we will respond quickly to mitigate the damage and manage the restoration project through to its completion.

Heating Safety Tips for the Cold Months in New Jersey

1/18/2023 (Permalink)

This ceiling is in the process of having fire, smoke and soot damaged removed by SERVPRO of Jackson.

Winter has been relatively kind to us this January 2023 but we still have lots more winter ahead of us. In an effort to keep warm and keep costs down, people sometimes resort to using alternate forms of heating, such as fire places and space heaters. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating is the lead cause of home fire deaths during the months of December, January and February. Based on 2016-2020, space heaters were the type of heating equipment responsible for the largest shares of losses in home heating equipment fires, accounting for one-third of the fires, but nearly nine out of ten deaths and four out of five of the injuries in home fires caused by heating equipment. When used as directed and maintained properly, these can be used safely as a source of warmth. Before operating a space heater, make sure it was evaluated by an independent testing laboratory that will be indicated on the box or manual. 

Follow these simple heating safety tips to help prevent a heating related fire in your home:

• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, like a furnace, fireplace, woof burning stove or portable space heater. 
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. 
• remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving a room.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for burning space heaters.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Never sleep with a wood burning fire place still burning. 

For more information on space heater safety, please visit the NAPA website for valuable information. 

If you do experience a heating related fire in your Jackson home, please call SERVPRO of Jackson for all your emergency cleanup of fire and water damage.

September is Campus Fire Prevention Safety

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

September is Campus Fire Safety Month! Spend some time this month by focusing on creating a fire-safe environment either on or off campus.

As September approaches, students are heading to college, so now is the perfect time to review best practices and learn how to put these practices into action for both students living on or off campus. Whether you are a student or parent, taking a few minutes to evaluate the new housing could go a long way toward preventing potential fire-related injury or deaths.  

Click here to down the Campus Fire Safety Checklist for Students or click here for the Campus Fire Safety Tips for Parents.

When you first move in to your new housing, analyze your surroundings. Take time to educate yourself and your roommates about fire safety can make all the difference in a life-or-death situation. Taking small steps in identifying two ways out of a room, ensuring smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are properly installed and working can go a long way toward preventing potential fire-related injury or deaths.

Listed below are some simple things to evaluate for fire safety measures for campus-related housing:

• Keep combustible items away from heat sources.
• Smoking, candles, and other open flame items should never be used in student housing. 
• Fire sprinklers control a fire and provide lifesaving time for escape. 
• Know and practice the building’s evacuation plan, as well as alternate routes. Create and practice a fire escape plan, if living off campus.
• Ensure smoke alarms are installed in all sleeping areas, test smoke alarms monthly in an apartment or a house.
• Never remove or disable smoke alarms.  
• Keep common areas and hallways free of possessions and debris, and never block exit routes. 

What are some common causes of fires for college students?

There are several common causes for fires in dorms and off campus housing, including cooking, candles and overloaded power strips.

Follow these simple tips from the U.S. Fire Administration to avoid fires in campus housing:

Cooking

• Cook only where it is allowed.
• Keep your cooking area clean and free of anything that can burn.
• Keep an eye on what you are cooking, especially if you are cooking at high temperatures.
• If a fire starts in a microwave, keep the door closed and unplug the unit.

Electrical safety

• Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn.
• Never use an extension cord with large appliances, like a refrigerator.
• Do not overload outlets.
• Use only surge protectors or power strips that have internal overload protection.

We know how exciting it is to make the transition from home to college and we want you to stay safe, so we hope you share this information with friends in dorms and off campus. Don’t forget to check with your school’s individual fire safety plans.

As a certified fire restoration company in New Jersey, SERVPRO of Jackson pledges our commitment to serving local colleges and the surrounding communities. We’re proud to provide the best emergency fire restoration services in Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, Atlantic and Burlington Counties.

Fire Prevention for Your Jackson Restaurant

6/8/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial Fire Damage? Call Us Today – (732) 523-4986.

Understanding fire hazards at your Jackson restaurant kitchen can help minimize the risk of can help prevent injury or loss of life, property damage and business shutdown which could cause a loss of revenue.

Do you know the most common causes of restaurant fires?

• Open flames are a risk because many things within the kitchen can catch fire from them. The staff should be experienced in controlling open flames and know how a fire suppression system works in the event a fire were to start. An automatic fire suppression system is a system in the kitchen is one of the best preventative measures available. According to NFPA, more than half of restaurant fires involve cooking equipment. Fire suppression systems automatically release fire retardant materials when triggered. Once activated, the system automatically shuts off the fuel or energy supply to the cooking system.
• Grease and grease traps Grease can get hot and is extremely flammable. A full grease trap that is not cleaned regularly may have pieces of food that can easily catch fire when more hot grease is added.
• Flammable materials such as loose fitting or flammable clothing, dish towels and pot holders Make sure everyone in the kitchen has safe and proper attire while in the cooking areas. Also, make sure to keep all dish towels and pot holders away from an open flame.
• Electrical wiring Just a small tear, fray or, cut in a wire can lead to a fire in your kitchen so remember to check for frays, breaks, or damage, even those that are out of sight. 
• Smoking If the staff is allowed to smoke, ensure they have a designated smoking area with disposal bins that are regularly checked and cleaned out.

Remember: The best defense against fire loss is to minimize the risk before a fire breaks out. One of the most accessible strategies for fire prevention involves good housekeeping.

What Can Owners, Managers and Employees Do to Help Prevent a Restaurant Fire?

• Train employees on fire extinguisher use/fire submission Train all employees how to properly use a fire extinguisher and activate the overhead fire suppression system, so in the event of a fire, they will know what to do.
• Back up extinguishers: Install back up extinguishers in your restaurant. Extinguishers in the cooking area should be Class K for use on high-temperature grease fires. Use them only after the built-in suppression system is activated. Use Class ABC extinguishers in other areas of the restaurant to deal with fires resulting from other materials such as electrical issues, paper, plastic, or wood. Fire extinguishers are helpful only when staff is trained on their proper use. Staff should know where the extinguishers are located and exactly how to operate one.
• Empty grease traps regularly Overfilled grease traps can catch fire.
• Keep aisles uncluttered Cluttered walkways will hamper employees and customers trying to escape from a fire.
• Turn off gas and electric source Employees should know where and how to cut off the gas and electrical source in case of an emergency ONLY IF SAFE!
• Provide sufficient lighting/make sure exit signs are functioning  The emergency exit route needs to be adequately lit so employees and customers can see where they are going in case of an emergency and allows everyone to quickly identify the exit in an emergency.

During a four-year study by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were 7,640 structural fires in dining and drinking establishments. These fires caused more than $246 million in property damage.

The best strategy to protect your restaurant from a fire loss includes fire prevention and proper training for employees. If your Jackson restaurant experiences fire damage, SERVPRO of Jackson has the training, experience, and equipment to handle large commercial fire damage emergencies. Whether your fire emergency occurs in a restaurant, motel, or office building, we will respond quickly to mitigate the damage and manage the restoration project through to its completion.