When using candles, a fireplace might be considered one of the safest places to put them. However, even under the safest of circumstances, candles can prove very damaging and all rules must be followed.
In this instance, candles were lit in the fireplace of a condo in Baldwinsville. The homeowner thinks the candles were extinguished before leaving the home, however, upon returning the entire condo was blanketed in a heavy black soot. While away, the candles themselves ignited in the fireplace, bellowing heavy smoke until they burned up.
While nothing else in the condo burned, the smoke damage was as heavy as a fire where a portion of the home was burned. The homeowner contacted her insurance company who recommended Stanley Steemer for the cleanup and mitigation.
As the photos demonstrate, heavy cleaning was needed throughout every room of the condo. The ceilings and carpeting on the main floor needed to be removed and all clothing and curtains needed to be dry cleaned.
After four days of intensive cleaning and demolition, the condo was ready for repairs, painting and new flooring. Chem sponges and wall wash were used for the surfaces alongside airscrubbers while all the work was performed.
One of the most important rules of using candles is to never leave a room where a candle is burning — even if it is in the fireplace. Candle wax is fuel, and under very rare circumstances, they can catch fire too, and if you are in the room, you can prevent the ensuing damage.
|
