Smoke and Soot Damage

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

This smoke damage was caused by a small electrical appliance. Burnt plastic is the main cause of the soot.

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Glen Cove / Jericho will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

This photo shows a bathroom covered in soot after a small appliance caught fire and the plastic in which the appliance was enclosed in caused this WET Smoke to stick to the entire bathroom as shown in the photo.