Even after the flames from a fire are extinguished, the after-effects of soot and smoke can cause long-lasting harm to your health and that of your family and pets, as well as to your home and its contents.
All types of smoke and soot contain acidic components that are hazardous to health and that can corrode or etch many materials and surfaces in your home. Soot and smoke can also cause discolouration to floors, fabrics, furniture, appliances and fixtures, and the unpleasant odours can permeate fabrics and other porous materials and make them unusable.
HEALTH HAZARDS OF SMOKE
Smoke contains microscopic airborne particles that can damage your lungs when you breathe them in. Older adults and children are especially vulnerable to lung damage from smoke. Just as the acidic content of smoke residue can corrode materials and surfaces in your home, it can also cause severe irritation to the skin. Smoke and soot particles can also become embedded in clothing and bedding and continue to irritate skin over the long term.
3 TYPES OF HAZARDOUS SMOKE
There are 3 basic types of hazardous smoke, and each has its own distinctive properties, but all can cause damage to health and property if not dealt with properly and in a timely manner.
Wet Smoke
Wet smoke is caused by low-heat, smoldering fires. Because of the low heat, much of the material is left unburned. Unfortunately, however, the smoldering material fills the air with thick, black, sooty smoke, and the airborne toxic particles are a serious health hazard for humans and animals. The soot from wet smoke sticks to surfaces, leaving a gummy residue that is very difficult to clean, and the odour of wet smoke is extremely harsh and invasive and can be difficult to locate and eliminate.
Dry Smoke
Dry smoke comes from hot, fast-burning fires, where the fuel source is usually natural, cellulosic material such as wood, paper or cotton fabric. The powdery residue left behind by dry smoke is easier to clean than the sticky residue of wet or oily smoke, but it can still be very acidic. This residue is a very fine powder, and it can find its way into cracks and porous materials in the home and continue to cause smoke odour and damage in places you can’t see. Dry smoke residue can be very abrasive, and scratch glass, marble, and other semi-porous, soft surfaces. It also causes stains, discolouration, odours, and acidic etching to surfaces, furnishings and other belongings.
Oily Smoke
Oily smoke, also known as “petroleum residue,” is caused by fires that originate from a flammable fuel source, and for this reason they are not as common in homes as the other types of smoke. The fumes from fuel-based smoke is very hazardous, however, and can cause nose and throat irritation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and more. Some types of oily smoke that can occur in a home include:
If you have a fuel-burning furnace, it may also be at risk of oily smoke damage even if a fire does not occur. When furnaces don’t ignite correctly, they release a ‘puffback’ that blows smoke and soot into the surrounding area. This very dense type of residue is sticky, foul-smelling, and toxic, and is very difficult to clean from surfaces.
The more common type of oily smoke that occurs in homes is called 'protein smoke’ and is usually related to cooking fires, when protein-rich foods, such as meat, catch fire. The fat from the burning food breaks down into a very fine mist that is difficult to see and even harder to clean. Because it’s so fine, the mist can cover large surfaces with a sticky and smelly residue and penetrate porous materials. Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires, and this type of smoke is a frequent culprit.
Dealing With Smoke Damage
Even though these different types of smoke behave in different ways, they are all harmful to health and property. Left untreated, smoke damage can cause harm to the occupants and contents of your home over time.
If your home has incurred smoke damage, contact the professional fire and smoke damage specialists at ServiceMaster Restore. Our smoke damage repair and restoration experts know how to deal with all types of fire and smoke damage. With over 70 years of experience in the home restoration industry, you can count on ServiceMaster Restore to efficiently restore your home and property… and your peace of mind.