Types of Fire Smoke and Residues
According to the National Fire Protection Association, a fire department responded to a fire, on average, every 24 seconds in the United States. More specifically, a home fire occurred roughly every minute and a half. It is estimated that these damages cost over $43 billion dollars in property losses. Luckily, professional property restoration companies like Tidal Wave Response are on standby to act and limit those losses.
For the sake of educating our community on fire damage, we have put together this article on the types of fire smoke and residues so that you can understand and proactively respond to them. If you have any specific questions or if you would like to consult with a professional, then call Tidal Wave Response today.
Three Types of Smoke and Residue
The following types of smoke and residue are divided based on the product burned, but they can all damage your property further if left as is. There are three primary types of smoke and residues:
- Natural: Burning of natural products like paper and wood produces dry, greyish-black powdery residue that is fortunately easier to clean up than the other two types of smoke and residue. A simple bristle-brushed vacuum followed by dry-chem sponge cleaning should take care of removing these residues.
- Synthetic: Our society produces and consumes a ton of synthetic, oil-based materials such as plastics and fabrics. When these synthetic materials such as furniture, carpets, and electronics burn, they produce a thick black smoke with smeary, greasy residue. It is best to avoid rubbing this type of residue. Instead, grab a vacuum and follow it with chem-dry sponge cleaning.
- Protein: Surely you notice the smoke that is produced by cooked beans and meats. This smoke will leave yellowish brown residue on your walls, ceilings, and appliances. It is awfully greasy and will be a pain to clean up. You should make a quick trip to your local hardware store and ask for chemical cleaners designed for this greasy residue.
Restoring Smoke Damage
Smoke and residue continuously chew away at your property, so it is important to act quick if you want to restore your property. Tidal Wave Response has three primary methods of dealing with smoke damage after a fire: cleaning, resurfacing, and replacing. The method to use depends on the residue’s intensity, type, and time passed. Simple natural smoke type damages can be cleaned by yourself. If the residue is worse and has permeated your property, then we try to resurface them and return them to their original state. When the damage is extreme, we will have to replace the items. The professionals at Tidal Wave Response work with your property insurance provider so that they pay their fair share.
Act Quick, Call the Professionals!
Naturally, the sooner you contact a professional, the less damage your property will suffer. If you are not confident in how to clean, resurface, or replace your property, then call Tidal Wave Response as soon as possible to have a specialist at your door within the hour. We are always ready to take your call.
