If you live in the Tampa Bay area, you may remember seeing the news story about the 24-unit Arbor Glen Apartments building in Lakeland, FL, that caught fire. The fire started in the attic, right around dinnertime, and quickly engulfed the entire structure. Besides the fire damage, the weight of the water used to douse the fire caused three floors to collapse on the north end of the building.
Fortunately, the entire building was evacuated and no one was injured; however, all 24 units were deemed uninhabitable by Lakeland Fire Rescue. Dozens of residents returned home from work to find their living spaces, possessions, and keepsakes up in flames. Until the building was made structurally safe, they wouldn’t even be able to enter the apartments and assess what was left of their lives. Those residents were suddenly without a place to live and were facing an uncertain future.
One man stood and gazed in disbelief at his apartment, and said, “Literally, what I have on right now is now everything I own.” The complex requires renters to have insurance, so those tenants should be reimbursed for their belongings, but the trauma and loss will remain with them. The emotional damage will linger long after the flames of the fire are extinguished.
No one expects a fire to ignite their home or office, and the aftermath of such a disaster is devastating. In a matter of minutes, flames and smoke consume everything in their path. Even the smallest fire can cause significant damage to the contents of a property and pose dangerous health and safety risks.
When it comes to fire and water damage restoration, time is of the essence. Professional restoration services are needed for smoke and fire damage cleanup. In the case of an apartment fire, residents must rely on the commercial property owner to hire experts who can restore the building to the safest standards and who will also restore their possessions.
Master Restoration is the expert in property restoration and will provide complete restoration for commercial and residential properties. We quickly mobilized our licensed Fire Damage Repair Contractor and our team to stabilize the site of the disaster and begin the restoration of the affected property.
Demolition and Fire Restoration Services
- Site stabilization
- Water damage cleanup
- Dehumidification services
- Cleanup and restoring contents
- Structural demolition to damaged areas
- Removal of smoke and soot residue
- Building reconstruction, restoration and repairs services
One tenant from the Lakeland apartment fire was quoted in the local news wanting to know if pictures of his mother had survived the fire. People value their memories and possessions. Content restoration is a priority for the Master Restoration team. We assess cherished possessions, carpets, area rugs, mattresses, and furniture and restore whatever we can with our professional cleaning services.
Nearby residents of the Lakeland fire complained about the strong smell of smoke. Smoke and soot can have a negative impact on air quality. Inhalation causes health risks from coughing, shortness of breath, and headaches to asphyxiation. We have proven solutions for smoke and soot damage. Proper ventilation practices are necessary to protect and restore air quality following a fire. Professional tools, knowledge, and expertise are at the heart of a thorough and safe fire restoration.
In the end, property owners need assurance that their building is structurally sound and safe, looking better than they were before the fire. Master Restoration’s team is always ready to respond to property emergencies resulting from fire or other disasters. Our team is comprised of trusted and licensed professionals that bring experience and expertise to every job, no matter the size.
We are on-call and prepared with our 24/7 Emergency Response line.