Data Recovery Options for Burned Homes and Businesses

The recent fires in California damaged thousands of homes and businessess and owners have only just begun the clean-up process. And for some who worked from home, they lost both their houses and businesses. As consultants and freelancers, many of us also operate businesses from our homes and this tragedy is a reminder of how important it is to not only have a disaster-preparedness plan, but to also be properly insured. Even so, insurance cannot replace precious photos and important documents. For those digital items stored on home and business computers, there is hope.

Data can often be recovered even from severely damaged and burned hard drives. And, for those California residents affected by the fires, one company is offering to help. DriverSavers, a company specializing in data recovery has partnered with over 150 computer service providers in Southern California to offer support and discounts on data recovery. DriveSavers is offering $500 off data recovery servcies from salvaged hard drives from the fires; and other discounts are being offered by the network of service providers. "We've recovered thousands of burn-related hard drives that looked unrecoverable," said Scott Gaidano, president of DriveSavers in a company-issued statement. "While the fire-damaged computer's plastic components may be melted, the data encased in the metal hard drive may be recoverable. By working with our network of computer retailers and consultants in the area, we can help people in this region get their data back."

Gaidano said the company has successfully recovered data from thousands of drives with extreme physical damage when others have said data recovery was not possible. Hard drives with a physical or mechanical failure require a clean environment and specialized expertise for opening and making delicate repairs.

If your computer is damaged from fire, follow these tips for the best possible chance to get your data back.

• Do not attempt to power up a smoke-damaged or burned hard drive.


• Do not attempt to clean the hard drive..


• If the computer is wet from fire hoses, remove the wet hard drive (but do not dry); then place in a plastic bag with an airtight zip closure..


• If the drive is sealed in a melted computer, leave it intact and send the entire system to recovery professionals where cleanroom engineers will safely remove the drive for you..


• Caution: there may be live electrical cables at the site of your computer, please talk to your local fire official to be sure your area is safe before removing your computer drives. .