Fire is the most common classical element of earth and is used for many purposes by humans and even other living organisms. But sometimes fire ignites devastatingly, causing not only physical damage but also damage to the properties and even spreading to whole neighborhood.

Even after the fire is extinguished, the long-lasting airborne pollutants can linger in the atmosphere, causing dangerous health issues and difficulty in breathing. Maintaining good indoor air quality after a fire incident is necessary for restoring comfort and safety for your health and properties.

Today, we will guide you through the necessary steps to maintain healthy indoor air quality, reduce potential health hazards, and restore your business and residency place.

Why is it important to maintain the indoor air quality after a fire incident?

Wildfire pollutants pose a significant health risk to certain populations, including children, those with chronic diseases, and those in certain occupations. The infiltration of wildfire PM2.5 into buildings determines exposure, and a study in California found that infiltration during wildfire days was significantly reduced due to people’s behavioral changes. This study highlights the importance of taking precautions during and after wildfires to protect health and inform the public about effective ways to reduce exposure.

Also read: Top Tips for Smoke Protection: Protecting Your Home and Health During and After Wildfires

Steps for Maintaining Good Indoor Air Quality After a Fire

Now that we have established the importance of maintaining good indoor air quality, let’s look at the important steps that you need to undertake for this to happen.

Step 1. Ventilate the Area Immediately

The smoke and other harmful chemicals released at the time of the fire can impact and settle in your home interiors, so it is a very vital factor to properly ventilate the fire-affected areas. It is very important to expel these pollutants as early as possible. Open the windows and ventilation machines and allow fresh air to pass into the home. This process can lower the concentration of polluted particles and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) still lingering in your environment.

But what if the outdoor air quality is as bad as the indoors, as observed during the California wildfires? In that scenario it is advised to restrict the opening of the windows and doors and solely rely on the air purifiers to cleanup the air within the covered area of the property.

Also read: The Role of Restoration Services in Mitigating Climate-Related Disasters

Step 2. Use Air Purifiers with HEPA Filters

Advancements in technology bring much comfort to our lives; air purifiers are one of those vital tools used for improving the air condition after a fire. HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are specifically designed to catch the tiny particles in the air, such as smoke, soot, and even ash. HEPA can trap particles as tiny as 0.3 microns and can remove them from the air in a quick time. Below is some of the high-tech that is utilized for indoor air quality maintenance.

• HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) Filters: Used in air purifiers to trap fine smoke particles.
• Activated Carbon Filters: Absorbs VOCs and odors from smoke.
• UV-C Light Purification: Helps eliminate bacteria and mold spores.
• Electrostatic Precipitators: Use electric charges to remove fine particles from the air.

For a thorough air filtration, it is best to use purifiers in several rooms throughout the building, focusing on the areas where you spend most of the time, such as living areas and bedrooms. Also, it is advisable to consider using multiple units or industrial-grade air purifiers specifically designed for filtration of after-fire smoke particles.

Step 3. Inspect and Replace HVAC Filters

Inspect the heating, ventilation, and conditioning (HVAC) system installed in your building. HVAC can cause redistribution of pollutants throughout the building if turned on without cleanup. Although the HVAC system can catch contaminants, these particles can be exhaled back by the system into the air again as the system operates. Here is what needs to be done:

• HVAC System Cleaning: Makes sure ducts and vents don’t circulate smoke residue.
• Air Exchange Rate (ACH – Air Changes per Hour): Measures how often fresh air replaces indoor air.
• Thermal Fogging: A technique to neutralize smoke odors.
• Hydroxyl Generators: Breaks down airborne contaminants safely.

After a fire, make sure to replace all HVAC filters from the building so that no ash or soot is recirculated in the air again. It will be great to professionally clean your HVAC system and have inspection and cleaning properly. This will help the air to flow freely and the system not to cause any further contamination.

Step 4. Clean and Remove Smoke and Soot Residue

The soot and smoke residue is obvious after the fire, settling on every corner of the building. These particles release harmful substances into the air, even after the fire is extinguished. During the cleaning process, it is necessary to remove all those particles from the surfaces of anything being installed in the building.

• Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10): Tiny particles from smoke that can cause respiratory issues.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Harmful gases released from burnt materials like plastics and furniture.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO): A toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion.
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Hazardous chemicals found in soot and smoke.
• Dioxins & Furans: Toxic compounds released from burning synthetic materials.

Make sure to wear gloves and a mask during the cleaning process and wipe down all affected places with a damp piece of cloth to remove the soot and ash. It is advised to seek professional help for a proper smoke damage restoration process especially if the area is large and the surfaces are brittle.

Step 5. Control Humidity Levels to Prevent Mold Growth

Well, humidity level in your property might be secondary, but it can eventually help the mold growth in your property. Water damage can also occur during firefighting efforts and can encourage mildew development, causing risk to your property and serious health issues.

It is advised to maintain the humidity at 30-50% indoors to prevent mold growth. Use dehumidifiers to dry out any residual moisture and growth of mold. To adjust the dehumidifier level, consider using a hygrometer to observe the humidity level in your place.

Step 6. Replace Damaged Materials

After the proper cleaning process, the next step is to remove certain damaged materials from your property. Such as rigs, drapes, curtains, furniture, and mattresses are the materials on the list of retaining smoke and soot particles deep down.

Even if the after-fire damage is not very big, replacement of these materials is necessary due to the nature of the fabrics. This will help in restoring a healthy environment and maintaining good indoor air quality levels.

Step 7. Regularly Test and Monitor Air Quality

When you think it’s now final and everything has been restored as earlier, consider regular monitoring of the air to make sure it remains free of harmful pollutants. Use air quality monitors to assess the concentration of unhealthy particles, VOCs, and other pollutants. These devices are very helpful in providing real-time data on air quality in multiple areas of your building.

• Air Quality Index (AQI): Measures air pollution levels, often used to assess indoor conditions.
• Gas Detection Sensors: Detects CO, VOCs, and other harmful gases post-fire.
• Negative Air Pressure Systems: Used to prevent contaminated air from spreading.
• Ozone Generators: Neutralize odors and airborne pollutants (though controversial for indoor use).

These regular checkups of the air quality can help you to identify long-lasting issues and tackle them with proper techniques. For example, if the device is showing high levels of particles and VOCs, you can easily adjust the range of purifiers for proper cleaning.

Step 8: Consider Professional Smoke Odor Removal

Even after cleaning the visible residue, the smoky odor can easily settle deep down into materials like carpets, curtains, and even floors and walls. This can be a challenging condition and very difficult to eliminate the smell of smoke with initial cleaning techniques.

Professional smoke odor removal services are advisable for these persistent odors with highly effective techniques. These services include special ozone treatment or hydroxyl generators to weaken the bond of these particles and neutralize odors at the molecular level.

Hire Green Planet Restoration – Smoke Damage Restoration Company in LA.

Sometimes the process of reclaiming air quality indoors can lead to complexity and be time-consuming after the fire. If you are not sure about the techniques and steps to tackle the intensive level of damage, consider getting the services of a professional smoke damage restoration company like Green Planet Restoration. We are equipped with the latest technology, machinery, and experts specialized in cleaning up after fire damage. A professional service can also offer valuable insights into other areas of restoration, such as water damage from firefighting efforts, structural repairs, and odor removal.

Final Assessment

Maintaining good indoor air quality is of utmost importance for the health and well-being of the occupants. The long-lasting effects of soot, smoke, and ash can make your environment hazardous. Adopting the right techniques and following the right steps can help to improve the air quality in minimum time.