There is only one type of fire, which is fire itself, whether it occurs in man-made structures or in open, natural areas. While we distinguish between structural fires and wildfires, both produce heat, smoke, particulates, and odors. The key to effective fire cleaning and remediation is understanding the common nature of shared cleaning and remediation procedures. Water and water-based suppression techniques are the most commonly used to extinguish fires in both environments except for electrical. However, using water for fire suppression can lead to the growth of microbes, bacteria, and unpleasant odors.
Tailored Restoration: Understanding the Differences Between Structural and Wildfire Damage
Regarding fire damage cleaning and restoration, it’s essential to understand that not all fires are the same. Structured fires and wildfires, for example, differ in several ways, including the type of materials burned, the flames’ intensity, and the resulting smoke and soot. These tests are typically performed by restoration professionals and Indoor Environmental Professionals (IEPs), who use the information gathered to create a restoration work plan (RWP) or protocol tailored to the specific type of fire damage that you are dealing with. By taking into account the unique characteristics of each type of fire, these experts are better equipped to develop effective strategies for cleaning and restoring damaged structures and ensuring the safety of those who inhabit them.
The phenomenon of structure fire contributing to wildfire and vice versa is well-documented. It is a complex interplay of factors such as fuel availability, weather conditions, and topography. The ignition of a structure fire can provide a potential ignition source for a wildfire, while a wildfire can pose a significant risk to nearby structures, mainly if they are located in a wildland-urban interface area. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the dynamics of these two types of fires and take appropriate measures to mitigate their impact.
Structure: The Role of HVAC, Fans, and External Factors in Fire Damage and Remediation
A fire can spread throughout a home due to pressure and with the help of HVAC systems and fans such as box, tabletop, kitchen or bathroom exhaust, window units, and a faulty home envelope. This can cause the fire to move into different rooms, areas, and voids. Smoke, odors, particulates, and debris can be limited to a tiny area or multiple parts of the home, ultimately leading to devastating consequences. Cleaning and remediation efforts can be restricted to surfaces or require a complete demolition. On the other hand, events in exterior structures like barbecues, deep oil cookers, fireworks, cigarettes, faulty electrical wiring, and buried utilities can also result in fires that can spread to multiple structures and cause wildfires.
Wildfires: Unstoppable Spread and the Hidden Pathways into Homes and Businesses
Wildfires are driven by pressure and burn everything in their path. They consume dead brush, which then, by heat, dries out the green brush and provides additional fuel for the fire to spread even by the roots. As the fire moves through different areas, it can range from affecting only a few acres to completely engulfing homes and businesses. The fire’s heat, smoke, particulates, and debris can also enter buildings through various points such as HVAC systems, kitchen or bathroom exhausts, windows, and doors. Even engineered points of home breathing, such as attic exhausts, crawl spaces, and garages, can draw the fire into the home.
Chemical Fires: The Impact of Illicit Substances on Fire Spread and the Need for Analytical Testing
Illegal drugs and illicit alcohol use their unstable environment to create the necessary support for fire consumption and movement. Whether burning a structure, i.e., residential, commercial, industrial, or secluded property, they have similar characteristics to structure fire movement around or out of a home and wildfire movement with entry points into a home. Regardless, chemical fires should be analytically tested by a certified laboratory that will render value to the RWP or protocol.
Effective Fire Restoration: Balancing Cleaning Methods, Surface Protection, and Lasting Deodorization
Even though there are many ways to create fires and give fire value to be destructive, the point is to clean and remediate the facilities and property to agree to pre-fire loss. The two current Fire Standards, BSR/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration, define a value to the visual and olfactory at the scene when there are smoke webs, oily smoke, odors, etc., and how they are not quantified means of the scene. These indicators of smoke webs, oily smoke, nail popping, shadowing and odors, etc, allow the restorer to have the means to start the preliminary procedures to initiate the cleaning and restoration. These visuals and olfactory can be necessary for the safety, health, and welfare of the technician, client(s), and other mutually interested parties (MIPs)
Restoring a building after a fire may involve using light, medium, and heavy cleaning methods. The building may have different materials with different surface finishes, so it’s important to avoid using methods that damage the surfaces unnecessarily and require resurfacing or replacement. It’s recommended to focus on subtractive deodorization to eliminate odor sources. However, sometimes, odors may persist after cleaning, and it may be difficult to address them. Using measures that only temporarily mask the odors should be avoided. If the surfaces don’t respond as expected, the restorer should document and communicate the deviations to the concerned parties.
During the cleaning and remediation process, the cleaner or restorer may want to perform a pH test of the standing water to define the pH Acid to Alkaline to develop the initial neutralization of the scene for the safety, health, and welfare during the process. The cleaning and restoration process should allow for:
Exterior assessment and investigation
The remediate and the IEP examine the property’s exterior to document and record its environment they will move from the exterior to the interior. This is done to determine how it may affect or not have any value to the RWP or protocol. During this period, the contractor assesses and investigates whether they can perform the necessary services or if additional support is required. This may include hiring engineers, HVAC specialists, electrical specialists, and other support outside of the contractor’s abilities.
Interior assessment and investigation
The Cleaner, Remediator, and IEP use observation and their sense of smell to collect data and document a preliminary assessment and investigation. During the assessment and mitigation, it is crucial to be mindful of potential hazards such as fire venting and other holes caused by fire damage that could threaten or harm human life. This information helps create a job hazards analysis (JHA) and job safety analysis (JSA) to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of the restoration team, the client, and the MIPs. Once the observation and olfactory are complete, the building stabilization and control process can begin. This involves assembling the necessary resources, such as board-up materials, isolation barriers, power supplies, equipment requirements, security, and potential timelines.
Note: If the building is thoroughly assessed and investigated by the contractor, and it is discovered that there are certain aspects of the cleaning and remediation services that they do not possess the necessary qualifications or training to execute, they should contract with a suitable professional who possesses the required skills and expertise to perform the task efficiently and effectively.
In conclusion
To ensure effective cleaning and remediation, it is essential to engage the services of a professional restorer who has a detailed understanding of the process. A professional restorer will take into account factors such as the type of materials involved, the extent of damage, and the environmental impact of the restoration process. They will also use specialized equipment and techniques to ensure that the cleaning and restoration are done safely and effectively.
It is important to note that improper cleaning and restoration can not only lead to further damage but also harm the structure’s environment. Therefore, it is crucial to entrust the process to a professional who understands the importance of cleaning and remediation and has the necessary skills and expertise to carry out the process safely and effectively.
