The Importance of Smoke and Soot Cleanup After a Fire | SERVPRO® of Flagstaff/East Sedona

2/3/2020 (Permalink)

Do you have smoke related restoration issues in need of repair? SERVPRO of Flagstaff/East Sedona is on call 24/7 and will guide you through any fire

Fires are an extremely common problem around the United States, with the National Fire Protection Association estimating that there is an average of more than 350,000 each year. With that level of commonality, many individuals are doing everything they can to prevent and prepare for the event of a house fire, including learning the nuances of fire restoration.

While the restoration of charred material and other physical elements of the home is important, it is just as vital to ensure that smoke and soot are handled properly after a house fire. Due to the emotional and physical impact of smoke and soot, professional restoration that takes these into account is vital for a full recovery.

Why Cleaning Up Smoke and Soot Is So Important

Smoke Scents Can Linger

After the flames are extinguished, the scent of smoke can persist in many ways. It can embed into fabrics, saturate furniture and even impact porous, hard surfaces such as wood cabinetry and walls. While the scent of smoke will generally be most concentrated around the area where the fire took place, airflow can carry it all throughout the home if it is not treated in a timely manner, impacting belongings that may have been nowhere near the fire. 

Soot Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

While soot generally appears as an oily residue, it is actually made up of extremely tiny carbon particles that are a result of items burning incompletely. Because of the small size of these particles, they are not generally filtered by the upper respiratory system and instead are often found traveling directly to the lungs. Due to the harmful compounds soot can contain, this can be extremely dangerous and lead to health and respiratory issues for those who are exposed to it without proper protection.

Scents Can Hinder Emotional Recovery

While the physical impact of a fire is apparent and jarring, the emotional impact of house fires can continue long after the restoration is completed—and because scent is so closely linked to an emotional response, lingering odors can further exacerbate the after-effects one may feel. It is common for survivors of house fires to feel shock, stress, frustration and devastation, but a full and complete restoration that handles your belongings, your home and any lingering odors can make recovery much easier.

If you’ve been impacted by a fire or just want to learn more about restoration, contact us today to learn how we can help you recover quickly.