Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

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WUI fire contamination is composed of smoke and heavy metals and has a huge impact on buildings, learn how restorers should assess, test and clean up. 

Learn why smoke odor can return after proper fire damage restoration which includes deodorization limits and the science behind our perception of odor.

Learn how weather patterns are changing and driving fire and water events that overlap, and how restorers can proactively prepare.  

Learn how wildfire smoke and thermal pressure enter stucco wall systems through drainage openings, creating hidden contamination inside wall cavities and building assemblies.

Did a Travelers builders’ risk policy cover damage from invisible combustion byproducts? Behind the costly, prolonged legal aftermath of an Alabama arson.

In this episode of Ask Annissa, a homeowner impacted by the Pacific Palisades Fire asked for guidance on restoring her antique porcelain dolls damaged by the smoke. Annissa shares best practices for cleaning, deodorizing, and documenting.

This week’s Technical Tip shares why annual respirator fit testing is critical for OSHA compliance and worker safety. Barry Rice, CSP, highlights key aspects of fit testing, what it prevents, and why consistency is key.

Homeowners often struggle to find and choose a qualified fire restoration company after a loss. Annissa Coy breaks down what proper onboarding looks like, what questions professionals should ask, and how to identify a trained, certified restoration team. 

Homeowners face information overload after WUI fires, while real risks linger indoors. This article translates science into practice and defines burn/near/far-field impact zones, separates visible from invisible, outlines forensic sampling strategies, and provides heavy-metal background context with defensible, ALARA-based PRV targets restorers and IHs can use to close complete their projects confidently.

Barry Rice, CSP, shares how restorers can make informed, defensible respiratory protection decisions in post-fire environments where conditions constantly change.