We all know that fire is dangerous. It’s one of the most disastrous forms of property damage imaginable. However, it’s not just the flames that wreak havoc. Once the fire is extinguished and the fire department has left the scene, it’s the ensuing smoke damage, soot, and water damage that continue to pose a problem. Perhaps the worst of all three, smoke damage seeps into your furniture and fabrics within your home, and hides in the air ducts. In these spots, it continues to fester. You’ll notice a persistent, foul odor permeating the air. Your respiratory health may be negatively affected, too. As such, hiring a professional fire & smoke damage restoration company is the only sure solution. Smoke and the Surrounding Environment For the most part, homes are not empty spaces. You have furniture, decorations, and features that would not interact well with smoke damage. Often, smoke can be found in bizarre spots within a home – places you never even thought to consider. For instance, we often find smoke damage in: Enclosed Spaces – If you thought some of the spaces in your home were sealed off, then you thought wrong. It’s common to find smoke damage in dresser drawers, sealed closet spaces, and wall crevices. The molecules become excited by the warm air caused by the fire and rapidly move into such areas. Behind Drapes and Blinds – The temperature difference between your living room, for example, and the space behind your drapes is often quite large. As smoke is inclined to move to a cooler area, it’s common to discover smoke damage behind drapes or blinds. Smoke Damage and Your Health Exposure to smoke damage and soot during the fire restoration process typically occurs via inhalation and ingestion. As the airborne soot particles are nearly invisible to the naked eye, you may be unknowingly breathing in harmful particles every time you enter the property. Once smoke and soot enter the bloodstream, a large number of health concerns arise. For instance, after a fire, homeowners often suffer from respiratory disease, shortness of breath, bronchitis, asthma, stroke, heart attack, and even premature death – all caused by smoke damage. In infants, short-term exposure to smoke and soot have been known to cause developmental disorders. Most often, these disorders are focused on developing respiratory diseases, like asthma of varying degrees and severity. Toxic Materials Found in Smoke Some of the most common toxic materials found in smoke include: Mesothelioma-causing asbestos fibers used in building materials from the 1950s-1980s. Carbon materials producing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and tar. PVC producing hydrogen chloride, phosgene, dioxin, chloromethane, bromomethane, and halocarbons. Sulfur forming hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and thiols that cause smoke odors. In the aftermath of a house fire, Restoration 1 of Jacksonville is here 24/7 to help you recover and put your life back on track, please call us at 904-543-3844 !