Quick Response to Knoxville Homes affected by Fire and Smoke Damage

1/13/2021 (Permalink)

Fires cause irreversible damage to your property. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for IICRC certified technicians.

SERVPRO is Ready to Offer Reliable Fire Damage Restoration Services in Affected Knoxville Properties   

Knoxville is the largest city in East Tennessee Grand Division and the third-largest city in the state. It is also the county seat of Knox County and the principal city of the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2019, the estimated population in the area was 869,046. As of July 1st, 2019, the city had an estimated population of 187,603.

Knoxville was first inhabited in 1786 and was Tennessee’s first capital. Throughout the early 19th century, the city struggled with geographic isolation. However, in 1855, the railroad arrived in the area and its economy began to grow. The secession issue divided the city during the Civil War and both Union and Confederate armies occupied the area alternately. 

After the Civil War, the city grew rapidly as a manufacturing and wholesaling center. The collapse of the manufacturing sector after the 1920s stagnated the city’s economy. That led to a decline in the downtown area and political fights entrenched the city’s leaders. However, the city rejuvenated after hosting the World’s Fair in 1982. Private developers and city leaders also played a significant role in the revival of the city, especially the downtown area.

The History of Knoxville

The first settlers of Knoxville were the indigenous people who arrived during the Woodland Period. A burial mound is among the oldest artificial structures found in the city and it was constructed during the Mississippian culture period. The city has preserved the earthwork mound but the University of Tennessee has developed the area around it.

The Early Woodland habitation area is among the prehistoric sites in the city. It is at the Tennessee River and Knob Creek junction. Other prehistoric sites include:

Bussell Island: It was originally inhabited by various Native American cultures for thousands of years before early European explorers arrived.

Dallas Phase: Located in South Appalachian Geologic province, it is an archeological phase within the Mississippian III period. 

When the French and Indian War ended the Euro-American, the settlement grew drastically west of the Appalachians. In French Broad and Holston valleys, the white settlers had already established the areas by the 1780s. In 1785, the U.S Congress unsuccessfully ordered illegal settlers out of the valley. 

In the modern days, development in the city has expanded beyond the South Knoxville waterfront and Tennessee River. The city adopted a long-term improvement project called the South Waterfront Vision Plan to re-energize the 750-acre waterfront on the Tennessee River. 

The home of rich arts 

Knoxville hosts several festivals in a year. The city’s contribution to old-time, bluegrass, and country music are significant from Homer and Jethro and Everly Brothers to the Flatt and Scruggs. 

Established in 1935, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (KSO) is the oldest continuing orchestra. Knoxville Symphony Orchestra maintains several full-time musicians who perform in over 200 events annually. The Civic Auditorium, Tennessee Theatre, and the Bijou Theatre are KSO’s traditional venues. However, it also performs in other non-traditional venues. 

In 1943, Sergei Rachmaninoff a Russian composer and virtuoso pianist performed his final concert at the University of Tennessee at Alumni Memorial Auditorium. The Blender, an American music magazine ranked Knoxville city as the 17th best music scene in America.

Knoxville also hosts several art festivals. The most popular festival is the Dogwood Arts Festival, which celebrates and promotes regional culture, art, and natural beauty. The 17-day event takes place in April. In the same month, the city’s residents enjoy the Rossini Festival that celebrates Italian culture and opera. 

June’s Kuumba Festival, which means creativity in Swahili, honors the region’s African American heritage and displays folk arts, music, games, dance, food, theater, storytelling, visual arts, and games.             

The home of sports

The athletics program in the University of Tennessee popularly known as the “Vols,” or the “Volunteers,” is famous in Knoxville and its environs. The Vol’s football team plays at Neyland Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in the world. The city is also home to Thompson-Boling Arena where the men and women basketball teams play. The facility is the largest indoor basketball arena in the U.S. 

The city is home to several professional sports team, including:

• Knoxville Ice Bears
• The Tennessee Smokies
• Knoxville Force 

The Great Smoky Mountains wildfires

In late November 2016, a complex set of wildfires began. Towns such as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, which are near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, were the most affected. The fires left 190 people injured and claimed the lives of 14. It was one of the largest natural disasters in Tennessee’s history. 

On 12 December, the fire had burned a significant chunk of land approximately 15 square miles (10,000 acres) inside the park. The fire also affected over 6,000 acres outside the park. The incident forced 14,000 residents as well as tourists to evacuate. The fire damaged around 2,000 buildings.  

How does SERVPRO’s fire damage restoration process preserve Knoxville properties?

After a fire, do not try to remediate the affected area on your own. A reliable restorer has the experience needed to follow the proper fire restoration process to get your house to its pre-damaged state. At SERVPRO, we have a team of highly trained technicians who aim to minimize damage to our customer’s property. 

Even after extinguishing the flames smoke and soot can continue to cause damage. While working on your property, we are cautious of:

Rust and corrosion: Kitchen appliances and electronics with metallic surfaces can corrode or rust when oxidized. This can cause the appliances to malfunction leading to expensive repairs. We can clean the affected appliances using advanced products to minimize damage effectively. 

Soot staining: This occurs when soot in the air settles on various surfaces causing discoloration. The material and the time that is taken before restoration begins determines whether the soot staining is removable. If restoration is delayed the discoloration can be permanent. Our restorers can agitate affected surfaces using brushes, towels, air, and water pressure to eliminate the soot.

Mold: It can occur within 24 to 48 hours because of the water firefighters used to extinguish the flames. Mold can spread to other areas fast. If not remediated on time, it can cause health effects to occupants. Our restorers use effective disinfectants to clean the area leaving you in a safe home.

Even a small fire can cause irreversible damage to your property if not handled properly. Contact SERVPRO of Rocky Hill / Sequoyah Hills / South Knoxville at (865) 862-8907 for professional restoration.  We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.