Keeping Your Building Secure After a Fire

10/22/2022 (Permalink)

Board up windows and openings with plywood as soon as possible after the fire has been extinguished.

Keeping Your Building Secure After a Fire

A fire can be devastating for a business in San Antonio, TX. Not only does the building need to be repaired, but you also need to worry about looters who will try to steal anything of value in your building after an emergency response has passed. If you don't take action quickly, you could lose even more than just the contents of your store: lost revenue from looters can add up to billions of dollars each year. The good news is that there are simple things you can do during and after an emergency that will help prevent looting and protect your business.

Board Up Your Windows and Doors

How do you keep looters at bay? Board up windows and openings with plywood (or whatever suitable material is available) as soon as possible after the fire has been extinguished. The best way to prevent looting from happening on your property will be to keep your doors locked. Another thing that might help is making sure your home looks unoccupied; this means removing any valuables from view so that potential thieves will not target your place for the valuables they see. 

Looting is a Common Issue 

Looting is a common issue after fires in commercial buildings, especially if there are no security guards present. Looting is opportunistic and criminals look for easy targets to steal from. A fire can cause looting because the building will be full of merchandise and items that can be sold. There is also often very little security on-site during the cleanup process after a fire so it's prime for criminals looking for easy targets.

Looting Makes Getting Back On Your Feet More Expensive

Looting is not just an issue in the aftermath of a natural disaster but also after fires. Looting occurs when people take advantage of an emergency situation to steal property or money. It's a crime that can carry serious penalties if you're caught and convicted. For victims of looting, it’s more than just an inconvenience; lost revenue from looting adds to the costs of recovering from a fire.

To prevent looting, make sure your building has adequate security measures in place throughout its lifespan—not just after it's been damaged by fire.

Call the Fire Damage Experts in San Antonio

Fire damage cleanup is a specialized service, and it's important to find the right company to help you. Fire damage restoration companies have the tools, training, and experience needed to board up buildings after a fire. These experts can get your business back on its feet much faster than you could do it yourself.

It's also important to note that many post-fire cleaning companies will not take down building coverings or boards because of liability issues. They mostly just clean up after fires, so this may be something you should consider when deciding which company you want on the job.

The obvious answer is that you want to board up your building as soon as possible after a fire.

Fire damage is not the only thing that can happen after a fire. Looters can cause damage, steal your property and even harm your employees if they discover them before the police get there.

If you don't take action immediately, you could be liable for any injuries sustained by looters who break in through windows or doors on the front of your property. If they're caught inside doing so, they could also sue for damages caused by their own actions in stealing from or vandalizing a business location.

The best way to protect your building after a fire is to board it up quickly and securely. A fire cleanup company, like SERVPRO, can help you do this.