Surprising Causes of Fire in Commercial Buildings

9/8/2021 (Permalink)

No matter how cute baby birds might be, it's safer for you and them to remove nests from above lights. Photo from Bird-B-Gone.

When you own or manage a commercial building, you’ve got a laundry list of responsibilities and tasks to take care of. The last thing you need to worry about is a fire, which is why you probably take fire prevention seriously. However, there are some causes of fire in commercial buildings that might surprise you and still require professional remediation by your local SERVPRO MA team.

While it might sound silly, there are two culprits you’ve probably never considered. One is up above your head and the other is, often, right under your nose. 

Nests and Non-dairy Creamer

What do bird’s nests and non-dairy creamers have in common? 

Very little, as it turns out, except for their potential to cause a fire in your commercial building. We’re not kidding. When birds decide to nest on or around light sources, there is a chance that the twigs and combustible materials they used to build their nests can actually ignite, if they get hot enough. 

Add the following item to your list of commercial chores: inspect your exterior light fixtures for nests and remove them for added safety.

Now, you don’t have to nix the non-dairy creamer from your office kitchen and run the risk of angering your employees. However, you do want to ensure that all non-dairy creamers and other power-based materials are stored safely. These are not combustible materials, but they do send fine particles airbound if they are spilled. If those particles encounter static electricity, spark or open flame, they might ignite, causing a fire in your establishment. 

In the event of a fire in your commercial space, contact your local SERVPRO of Danvers / Ipswich team for fire damage repair and restoration and commercial restoration you can count on.