You’ve had a fire, and your finances aren’t looking so well. A typical solution most come up with is to save some money on fire repair by doing part of the cleanup yourself. Isn’t that a good plan? Perhaps not. Smoke and soot are more than just a soiled reminder of the catastrophic fire that destroyed your house.

All smoking is dangerous to one’s health. Smoke is a mixture of particles and substances that results from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials. The same pollutants identified in fire smoke are frequently present in the air from sources such as cars, power plants, industries, incinerators, restaurants, and wood stoves. The main distinction between pollutants released into the atmosphere from these sources and smoke from flames is that smoke from fires is frequently more concentrated and provides a more urgent, short-term health threat to those who breathe it.

What Makes Smoke and Soot Dangerous?

Fine particles, chemicals, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants in smoke irritate the eyes and respiratory system. The danger of smoke exposure is greater for people with respiratory conditions, particularly asthma, allergies, and other allergies like hay fever. Long-term exposure to smoke particles can cause chronic respiratory diseases, such as emphysema and lung cancer.

Many factors affect the way smoke and soot get into our bodies, including the amount of time spent exposed to them, the speed at which we’re inhaling, and the size and condition of our respiratory tract.

Because smoke can seep into your home through the tiniest opening, it’s essential to understand the dangers that can lead to health problems.

Common Symptoms from Smoke and Soot Exposure Can Include:

• Irritated eyes and throat
• Coughing and difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Asthma attacks
• Skin rashes and itching
• Headaches
• Nasal congestion
• Sinus infections

When it comes to your health and that of your family’s, do not take any chances. As soon as you smell smoke, evacuate your home.

What to Expect and Do During and After a Fire

• Even if no visible smoke is present, people may still feel health effects from smoke, heat, flames, and scents linked with the fire.
• People in the vicinity of the fire should heed the advice of first responders. In some circumstances, evacuation zones may be notified, and individuals will be directed where to go during the event. People may be encouraged to “shelter in place” in different instances (i.e., remain at home and keep doors and windows closed).
• Individuals should also take steps to decrease their exposure to smoking. For example, during a fire, surrounding dwellings and other buildings’ doors and windows should be closed to prevent smoke from entering, and air conditioners should be switched off.
• After a fire has been entirely extinguished, smoke-damaged structures should be ventilated with fresh air to remove smells. Depending on how much of the structure was impacted by smoke, this might be a lengthy operation. Carpeting and other porous building materials could continue to off-gas leftover smoke compounds for some time if smoke damage was severe. Buildings destroyed by fire and smoke will almost certainly sustain considerable damage from the water used to put out the fire.
• Professional fire restoration firms should be used to clean and repair these structures in most circumstances.
• After a fire has been controlled and extinguished, buildings will be inspected by local fire and building code inspectors. Local fire and building code inspectors may also need to investigate nearby structures. These officials will assess the structural integrity of the impacted buildings and determine if they can be reoccupied.

Conclusion

Fire and smoke damage will not only cause you headaches from the stress, but it can be incredibly expensive to repair. It is highly recommended that you call professionals to deal with these issues to get rid of the issue in one go.

AAA Restoration Utah is a full-service general restoration company that provides restoration from molds, water damage, flood damage, and fire damage in Utah. Let us restore any property damage brought about by accidental fire incidents in your home. Contact us today to get started!