Cleaning Up After A Restaurant Kitchen Fire

8/27/2019 (Permalink)

Restaurant fires can be disastrous but damage can be minimized if you stay prepared.

A restaurant kitchen fire creates a different set of issues than a fire in a home kitchen. The main issue is going to be that damage of this kind will mean the restaurant has to be closed until everything is back to normal. It will be unusual for a restaurant to continue a partial operation, since codes and regulations that address food preparation, storage, and serving are very strict, and rightly so. Therefore, the damage that a restaurant kitchen fire causes will have to be remediated immediately so that the business owner doesn’t lose too much time or money. 

The restoration process will return the restaurant to its pre-fire condition and is done by first performing a complete assessment and inspection of the structure to determine the extent of the damage and what will need to be repaired or replaced. These repairs may even include the dining areas, depending on where the fire traveled. 

Fire damage will require a lot of cleaning to deal with soot, ash, and removing smoke odor. Specialized chemicals may have to be used for counters, kitchen ranges and exhaust hoods, shelving, walls and ceilings, doors, and all appliances, since soot and smoke often create toxic fumes that are hazardous to inhale. Smoke odor may not even be fully removable in some cases, and that will mean surfaces have to be cleaned thoroughly and then repainted and resealed to eliminate the issue. 

The kitchen equipment can possibly be repaired after fire damage, but in many cases, it probably can be replaced. The replacement costs may be less than the cost to repair and more convenient in the long run. Repaired units have to be tested and approved before being put back into service, and that can take more time than a restaurant owner wants to invest. 

Cooperation with local fire and health officials throughout the restoration process will help to facilitate the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, and this means that the restaurant can be reopened for business. 

Cleaning up after a kitchen fire in your restaurant will be time-consuming and costly. Here at SERVPRO of Belle Meade/West Nashville, we are ready to help with this kind of damage. You can also call us for water damage cleanup or if you have developed an issue with mold or mildew.