Data Recovery for Fire Damaged Devices

Q: What should I do if my device has fire damage?

Do not turn the device on. While fire damage is usually noticeable, smoke damage may not always be visible. Powering up the device can cause further damage, as any hidden soot can cause it to crash. In the same vein, a hard drive that has sustained comprehensive external damage may be perfectly operable internally. In either case, it’s important to take caution and have the drive checked by a professional data recovery specialist as soon as possible.

Q: How does fire affect devices?

Extreme heat has the ability to damage both the external and internal electronics of your device. The exact amount of damage depends on the intensity of the fire.

Q: How can I protect electronics from heat or fire damage?

Fire may not always be preventable, so having a good response system should an incident occur is highly recommended. Survey the areas where your electronics are stored and ensure that Highly Sensitive Smoke Detection (HSSD), automatic sprinkler systems and clean agent extinguishing systems are properly installed. Keeping your devices out of direct sunlight and away from tight spaces with other electronic devices that may generate heat is also important. Remember, any source of heat can cause damage.

Q: How much heat can a laptop withstand?

Short timeframes of exposure to temperatures of 100° Fahrenheit may not cause any major damage, however, exposure at 200° Fahrenheit will most likely lead to some corruption of data. Exposure at 300° Fahrenheit or higher can cause more extensive damage, warping HDDs and platters and de-soldering your device’s electronic connections.

Q: Can I put my fire damaged device in the fridge to cool it down?

Never place an electronic device in a refrigerator or freezer as an attempt to cool it. Just as extreme heat can cause damage to your device, so can excessive cold temperatures. The sharp drop from hot to cold can lead to condensation which will damage the internal components of the device, rendering it unusable.

Successful data recovery from any device.

As the world’s leader in data recovery, our R&D team is equipped with the knowledge and ability to address your data recovery needs in the event of an incident involving fire, no matter the device or make and model.

Ontrack recovers data from devices damaged by fire, including:

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Ontrack’s engineers are trained to provide services for devices damaged by fire, internal and external heat sources as quickly as possible by implementing a simple 4-step data recovery process:

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Consultation

Customer service representatives are available 24/7 to provide fire damage data recovery consultations and a written quote estimation.

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Free Evaluation

Ontrack’s experts will recommend the best data recovery solution after reviewing your fire damaged device. They will also follow up with a price quote and an outline of service levels and delivery schedules to help get your data back as quickly as possible within your time frame.

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Data Recovery

Once approved, your data will be recovered based on the service level you’ve chosen. You will be provided with a link to our secure portal, which allows you to track your data recovery status and view recoverable files.

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Data Return

Once data has been recovered from your fire damaged device, we’ll send it back to you saved on an encrypted external drive via next day delivery.

+65 3158 5817 Begin your recovery

What should I do if my device is damaged by fire or another source of extreme heat?

Losing crucial data can be devastating in any case, but there are a few tips to keep in mind to lessen the possibility of additional damage when you’ve experienced data loss from extreme heat or fire.

Do not try to operate a device that has been involved in a fire.
Trying to operate laptops, desktops and other devices that may have been damaged in a fire, even if smoke damage is the only harm done, may cause further damage within the device’s hard drive.
Avoid any excessive attempts to dry any devices that have become wet.
In instances where your device may have been exposed to water during a fire incident, it is best to send it to a data recovery professional for further evaluation. Drying out your device after water damage starts the corrosion of the media, so avoid hair dryers, putting the device in rice or any other home remedies which may increase the risk of data loss. Instead, just pat the device with a towel to remove any excess water (so it’s not dripping) and wrap the device securely for transit.
Contact a professional data recovery expert, immediately.
Truth be told, recovering data from fire damaged devices requires a unique set of skills. In cases where media has been potentially damaged due to extreme heat, smoke, or water, it’s best to trust the experts with recovering any critical data.
Consider any available back up data.
Having data readily available can make all the difference, so it may be helpful to proactively create a recovery plan in the event of a fire. Keep your location in mind when estimating the opportunity for fire, smoke or water damage from natural incidents such as wildfires or extreme summer temperatures and align your information security policies with the risks accordingly. It’s also important to remember that there’s no time like the present to back up your data. A good backup strategy is a fail-safe way to ensure that all is not lost should your devices become exposed to fire, smoke, or water damage.

Fire Damaged Device Data Recovery FAQ

What should I do if my device has fire damage?

How does fire affect devices?

How can I protect electronics from heat or fire damage?

How much heat can a laptop withstand?

Can I put my fire damaged device in the fridge to cool it down?

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