Resources
What You Need to Know After a Fire Event.
Fire damage is complicated — not just the physical damage, but the science behind it, the insurance process, and the decisions you have to make quickly. These resources are written for homeowners, not contractors. No sales language. Just information.
What Is PM2.5 and Why Does It Matter After a Fire?
Fine particulate matter — PM2.5 — is the primary health concern from smoke exposure. It's invisible, often odorless, and passes through most residential HVAC filters. This page explains what it is, where it comes from, and why it matters for your home.
Read the PM2.5 guideNearby Structure Fire: How Smoke Enters Your Home
A fire in a neighboring house can push smoke into your home through attic vents, HVAC systems, window gaps, soffits, and garage doors — even if your home was never touched by flames. This page explains the entry points and what remains after the smoke clears.
Read the structure fire guideWildfire Smoke: Why It's Different From Other Smoke
Wildfire smoke contains PM2.5, PM1.0, PAHs, VOCs, heavy metals, and acidic compounds from burning vegetation and structures. It can travel hundreds of miles and enter homes even when windows and doors are closed. This page explains the specific risks.
Read the wildfire smoke guideKitchen Fire: How the HVAC Spreads Smoke Through Your Home
A small kitchen fire can distribute smoke and soot through every room in the house within minutes if the HVAC system was running. This page explains the mechanism, what remains, and why an inspection makes sense even after a minor fire.
Read the kitchen fire guideElectrical & Battery Fires: A Different Kind of Contamination
Electrical fires and lithium-ion battery fires produce chemically distinct smoke — hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, heavy metals, and acidic compounds — that standard smoke remediation protocols are not designed to address. This page explains the difference.
Read the electrical & battery fire guideOur Process: From Free Inspection to Hygienist Clearance
Every step of our process is documented and independently verified. This page walks through all six phases — free inspection, photo documentation, lab testing, results walkthrough, remediation, and hygienist clearance — in plain language.
Read the process guideEPA and Government References
Third-party sources we reference in our work and on this site.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA: Particle Pollution (PM2.5 and PM10)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's primary resource on particulate matter — what it is, health effects, and air quality standards.
View sourceU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA: Health and Environmental Effects of Particulate Matter
EPA's detailed reference on the health and environmental effects of PM2.5 and PM10 — the fine particles most associated with smoke damage exposure.
View sourceU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA: Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
The EPA's guidance on wildfire smoke exposure, health risks, and protective actions for homeowners and communities.
View sourceU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA: Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality
EPA guidance on how wildfire smoke enters homes and affects indoor air quality — including steps homeowners can take to reduce exposure.
View sourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC: Wildfires — Who Is at Risk?
CDC guidance on wildfire smoke health risks, including which populations are most vulnerable to smoke and fine-particle exposure.
View sourceNational Fire Protection Association
NFPA: Home Structure Fires (Statistical Report)
The National Fire Protection Association's statistical report on home structure fires — frequency, causes, and outcomes across the United States.
View sourceScientific Reports (Nature)
Peer-Reviewed Study: Hydrogen Fluoride from Lithium Battery Fires
A peer-reviewed study published in Scientific Reports documenting the release of hydrogen fluoride and other toxic gases during lithium-ion battery fires — the scientific basis for specialized assessment after electrical and battery fire events.
View sourceQuestions Homeowners Ask Us Most
How do I know if my home has smoke damage if I can't see or smell anything?+
The fine particles most associated with health effects from smoke — PM2.5 and smaller — are invisible and often odorless at the concentrations that warrant documentation. The only way to know what's actually present in your home is through surface wipe sampling and air sampling analyzed by an independent laboratory. A visual inspection and a sniff test are not sufficient.
Does homeowner's insurance cover smoke damage from a nearby fire?+
Smoke damage from a neighboring fire is a peril most homeowner policies address — you don't need to have had a fire in your own home. We do not determine coverage or interpret your policy. Your carrier and your own representatives do that. Our role is to document the physical conditions in your home so you have accurate evidence for whatever you decide to do next.
What's the difference between a restoration company and what you do?+
Most restoration companies are in the business of doing work — cleaning, remediation, reconstruction. Their inspection is a precursor to a proposal. Our inspection is independent documentation. We test under a protocol written by a licensed industrial hygienist, use an independent third-party laboratory, and do not consider a job complete until the hygienist issues clearance. We are not a cleaning service.
How long after a fire event should I get an inspection?+
As soon as reasonably possible. Acidic soot residue from electrical fires and some structure fires begins corroding metal surfaces and electronics within hours. Fine particles that have settled in ductwork and on surfaces can be disturbed and re-enter the air with normal household activity. Early documentation also gives you the clearest picture of what occurred — before any cleaning, painting, or other work that might obscure the evidence.
What does a hygienist clearance actually certify?+
A licensed industrial hygienist sets specific measurable criteria that the home must meet after remediation — for example, surface particle counts below a defined threshold, or air sample results within a specified range. Clearance testing is conducted by the independent lab after remediation is complete. If the results meet the hygienist's criteria, clearance is issued. Clearance documentation is part of the file we build for your home and can support insurance file closure.
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