The oldest and most complex of the restoration disciplines, fire remediation work requires an understanding of how fire and combustion residues behave to effectively neutralize and return a structure to a livable state. Cole Stanton explores four fundamental chemistry subsets of fire damage and how each can impact restoration work.

Every fire has its own chemical makeup or DNA – the fuels that burned, the types of chemicals that have reacted or interacted, the duration of the fire, the intensity of the heat, the odors and gases the fire generates all contribute to the uniqueness and toxicity of structure fire environments. 

Abby and Brent Thompson own and operate Paul Davis Emergency Services of the Golden Triangle, located in Starkville, Miss. They recently sat down with R&R to share tips on removal of the most common sources of odor they treat.

Not having textiles tested after a cleaning could expose people to a wide range of chemicals and health risks. This could, in turn, expose restoration contractors and insurance companies to considerable liability.

Between 2014 and 2018, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 353,100 house fires per year, resulting in $7.2 billion in property damage. 

How much thought have you given to what you put down your drain? Everything that goes down your sink, toilet, or runs-off your property all goes to the same place, the waste water treatment plant. Lucky for us, we have facilities who filter through and treat all the gunk that people discard without a care and transform it into clean water.

The West Coast of the United States is a beautiful place full of spectacular and majestic high mountain forests. People travel from all over the globe to hike, relax and take photos of some of the oldest forests in the world including the famous redwood forests in Northern California. 

With nearly 4.5 million U.S. homes in high or extreme risk of wildfire, it’s important to have the proper restoration certifications to give customers peace of mind during wildfire season. The IICRC offers a Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Technician certification within the restoration division.