Milford, MA Fire Damage

2/20/2018 (Permalink)

What is smoke? As burning materials decompose, they release solid particles, gases, and aerosols that become suspended into the air. Suspended particles, gases, and aerosols are smoke. 

Gases are the invisible components of smoke. Oxides of nitrogen are produced by burning organic compounds, and sulfur dioxide is produced by burning inorganic compounds. Some of the gaseous by-products generated in a fire, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, are extremely dangerous if people are exposed to the smoke while the fire is in progress. After the fire has been extinguished and the smoke evacuated or dispersed, gases are no longer a significant factor.

In addition to fire gases, smoke also consists of fine particles of matter and aerosols. The solid particles of unburned material are usually small particles of carbon. The aerosols are extremely fine solid or liquid particles suspended into gases. These particles - while they are suspended into the air - are what makes smoke visible to our sight. The particles are also odor-absorbing, which makes soot smell. 

Smoke particles can be very small. The approximate size of a smoke particulate is .1 to 4 microns (1 micron = 1 twenty-five thousdanth of an inch), and these extremely small particles are potentially harmful to a human's respiratory tract. If you are near a fire in progress, keep down low to avoid breathing smoke-filled air. Technicians working long periods wear heavy, loose smoke residues are present should wear a respirator. Smoke particles from incomplete combustion can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which may be cancer-causing (carcinogenic).

Once smoke settles on surfaces as residues, it is often referred to as "soot." Soot residues can contain different types of acids since chlorides and sulfides in smoke mix with the humidity in the air or with moisture to form acids. Acidic soot residues will cause discoloration and corrosion if they remain on materials over time. 

Does your Milford, MA property require fire restoration service(s)? Call SERVPRO of Southern Worcester County at (508) 234-3399!