Preliminary Findings by Ian Spiszman
I have now looked at several properties for smoke damage and noted that this fire scenario is different. The main difference is wind (or actually, the lack of wind).
The Station Fire did not propagate from Santa Ana winds as is the typical wild land brush fire scenario here in Southern California. Accordingly, I am not seeing soot, char and ash indoors on window sills, even within a block of actual burn! Even indoor wipe samples close to the burn area are not yielding residue (particles and coloration) typical of smoke exposure. However, there is a carbonaceous (smoke) odor within these residences, but this type of gas-phase pollution could possibly dissipate on its own over a period of several weeks (if not hastened by treatments).
Based on past experience, there will be exceptions. First, if a residence does not have air conditioning, the windows have probably been open (due to the warm weather) and combustion by-products have wafted-in. Second, if the residence has a swamp cooler, its poor filtration capability will undoubtedly have pulled-in the highly polluted (smoky) outdoor air.
Observations made outdoors reveal a light to heavy coating of fire-related fallout. Cleaning of this fire-related residue, unless somehow impregnated, can usually be accomplished by simply hosing-off the roof, walls, plants and hardscape with low pressure water.
There are services available to hasten malodor and help clean-up properties. I hope you will consider AEROSCOPIC for all your evaluation and clean-up needs.
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