Are There Different Types of Fire Damage?

7/7/2020 (Permalink)

When fire damage happens, contact SERVPRO at (973) 928-3705. No matter how big or small the problem.

With smoke effects, there are multiple types that our SERVPRO team must address in Little Falls homes based on the material burned and the conditions of the fire.

Smoke is one of the most common effects of a fire because it gets generated during the combustion of almost every material in your Little Falls home. The variances in the type of damage that occurs involve the kind of material combusting and the areas of the house impacted. As challenging of a loss effect as this can become to clean up, there are several methods at our disposal to address these conditions.

Our SERVPRO team strives to be the one-stop-shop for all of the fire damage in Little Falls homes and businesses. To do this, we begin with a prompt response amid the crisis to begin mitigation and emergency services as soon as possible. This fast arrival can dictate the kind of smoke damage and structural losses present in the house and determine the appropriate surface and content cleaning techniques.

What Kind of Smoke Damages Exist? 

The combustion of a fire is often a combination of three primary factors: oxygen, heat, and fuel (material that burns.) A perfect blend of these elements would leave no residues or coatings behind, but this is rarely the case. Instead, smoke gets generated. As if the situation were not enough of an obstacle, the variances in heat, structural components, and exposure can leave homes contending with each of these smoke types in certain circumstances:

• Wet Smoke
• Dry Smoke
• Protein Smoke
• Fuel Oil Smoke

Is Wet Smoke Challenging to Remove? 

Identifying wet smoke often occurs with a pre-test when our professionals arrive. When we can note that most of the damage results from a slow-burning fire, deposits on the surfaces of construction materials and the contents of the house are often this more challenging residue. One of the reasons that this type of smoke damage can be a substantial obstacle is the time that these loss effects have during the fire itself to spread. Thick residues commonly left behind after smoldering can get pushed and forced into crevices, cracks, and inaccessible areas of the property.

Specific cleaning practices exist for wet smoke damage, typically involving agitative approaches like vacuuming, brushing, scrubbing, and more, along with our more potent chemical agents. In some cases where it gets believed that materials can get preserved, restoration might involve stripping and refinishing a surface. Cleaning up after wet smoke is not without its potential problems, however. These residues often lead to:

• Smearing
• Staining
• Strong Odors

How Does Dry Smoke Form? 

Dry smoke is another challenge resulting from a specific fire type. Instead of a slow, smoldering fire, dry smoke gets created from a fast-burning, quick-moving blaze. Combustion is far more complete with dry heat fires. Instead of a thick, oily residue, our technicians instead must clean up a chalky film left behind on surfaces and contents otherwise unaffected by the fire.

Materials impacted directly by the moving flames before extinguishment are often too charred, blistered, and burned to protect and preserve. Controlled demolition is a practical approach to these situations. Removing only the compromised portions of wall systems, flooring, and ceiling materials can reduce money spent on materials and the installation you later require.

What Makes Protein Residues Challenging to Remove? 

Protein fires are not often thought of when it comes to fire restoration but can be one of the most common obstacles in kitchen fire scenarios. Often these fires originate from food burning or grease igniting. Burned meats, foul, and fish can leave a thick and odorous residue on surfaces in the kitchen area. Some of the worst areas impacted by these protein smoke residues are the cabinets and wall materials directly connected to the ignition point on the stove. Be mindful of the risks of grease fire flare-ups in your kitchen and the appropriate ways to handle emergencies when cooking:

• Red Meat
• Poultry
• Fish

How Common is Fuel Oil Soot Damages? 

Furnace puff backs result from the ignition of your furnace getting delayed, and with older units, this can happen more often than homeowners think. Vapors can build up in the chamber to the point of a small explosion when the furnace does start. This blast shoots soot and other debris through the house and out of registers and vents. This ionized smoke damage can easily be identified as it commonly stays within the vicinity of registers and vents in the furnace system and can appear like black spider webs on surfaces.

Smoke can be a considerable obstacle for even well-trained service professionals. Let our SERVPRO of Clifton help you to make fire losses “Like it never even happened,” no matter what kind of smoke damage you have to face. Give us a call anytime at (973) 928-3705.