What Are the Dangers of Smoke Damage?

A fire can be devastating on many levels, from the damage caused by the flames themselves to the injuries resulting from smoke exposure and the heat, but there is a hidden danger created by the smoke. Smoke permeates throughout the house and can embed itself deep into fibers, wood, insulation and more, but it can have dangerous effects far beyond the initial fire.

Odor

• The most common danger associated with smoke damage after a fire is the odor caused by the smoke. Even a small fire can create a large amount of smoke and it seeps into almost every part of the home and furniture. The smell of smoke can be overpowering and the bad odor can cause nausea and coughing.

Toxins

• When a fire burns through plastic and other toxic materials, poisons can become caught in the smoke and carried throughout the home. The toxins can seep into the furniture, insulation and walls and settle in the duct work of the home. Breathing in these toxins can make you sick and may even require medical attention and hospitalization, depending on what kind of toxins are present in your home.

Structural Damage

• Most people are familiar with the damage associated with the fire in a home, but smoke can also be a contributing factor to structural problems. The smoke can weaken wood that it seeps into, regardless if the wood had been exposed to fire. While the damage is no where near that caused by the fire, over time the wood can become structurally unsafe. Before moving back into a home damaged by fire and smoke, have a professional inspector with knowledge of fire and smoke damage says it is safe.