After a fire in Irvine, CA, you may find that part of restoring your business also includes water cleanup. But why are you cleaning up water damage if your company was on fire? The answer to this is a lot less complicated than you might think. Here are three ways flooding can occur during a fire.

1. Fire Suppression Systems

In many cases, having a sprinkler or fire suppression system installed in your business can help lessen potential smoke cleanup after a fire. However, depending on the volume of water the sprinkler system uses and how long it’s on, you may find some water left behind. Depending on your system type, water may be located only in the area where the fire was. If your sprinklers were designed to go off all together, there may be water throughout the building.

2. Fire Fighting Efforts

Another reason you may have some water cleanup to do after a fire is from the efforts of the firefighters saving your business. Depending on the amount of pressure provided, most fire hoses can spray at least 100 gallons per minute or more. That’s a lot of water going into your property. While this very water can save your business from burning down, it also may leave some flooding behind. In most cases, this type of water damage will be located in the same location as the fire it was aimed at.

3. Burst Pipes

Another way flooding can become part of your fire cleanup process is through burst pipes. In the same way extreme cold can cause damage to a pipe, extreme heat, such as a fire, can as well. A weakened pipe can potentially break and cause flooding.

Don’t be surprised if after a fire you’re also facing water cleanup. Between your fire suppression system, the efforts of the fire department, and the possibility of a weakened pipe bursting, water damage is not uncommon. Fortunately, many fire restoration professionals are also quite knowledgeable when it comes to flood damage. If needed, they may be able to give you a hand.

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