Smoke After a Fire: What the NYS Department of Health Says About Health and Testing

The state’s first point is a plain one: all smoke is hazardous to breathe.

The Department of Health says smoke is a mix of particles and chemicals produced by incomplete burning of carbon-containing materials. The same pollutants are commonly found in air from vehicles, power plants, restaurants and wood stoves, but smoke from fires is often more concentrated and poses more of an immediate, short-term concern to someone breathing it (NYS Department of Health).

• Symptoms. People might experience symptoms from smoke, heat, fire and odors even when visible smoke is not present (NYS Department of Health).
• Follow first responders. In some cases evacuation boundaries are announced, and in others people may be advised to shelter in place, meaning to remain at home with doors and windows closed (NYS Department of Health).
• Reduce exposure. During a fire, the doors and windows of nearby homes and buildings should stay closed to keep smoke out, and air conditioners should be turned off (NYS Department of Health).
• Health care provider. Health departments advise people who think they may be experiencing symptoms from smoke exposure to contact their primary health care provider (NYS Department of Health).

For returning to a building and the risks in fire-damaged areas, FEMA lists particulates, exposed asbestos, lead-containing building materials and chemical residues, and advises gloves, goggles, long sleeves and pants, sturdy shoes and an N95 mask or face covering (FEMA). See also what to do first after a house fire.

People often ask about testing the air, water or soil, or the soot and ash. The Department of Health says that in most cases the chemicals released by any fire are very similar, and that testing for them is not necessary. It says results from environmental tests are rarely needed to tell people how to avoid smoke, to direct cleanup, or to decide whether a building may be reoccupied (NYS Department of Health).

It also says environmental testing of chemicals in smoke is not likely to help determine medical treatment for people with symptoms from breathing smoke (NYS Department of Health).

The Department says there are some unusual situations where testing might be warranted, such as real-time air sampling by firefighters to guide urgent decisions, or sampling after fires that release large amounts of specific chemicals. When testing is needed it is usually for specific fire-related chemicals under a comprehensive sampling plan, and samples must be analyzed by a laboratory certified by the Department’s Environmental Laboratory Approval Program. It says collecting just a few grab samples without a plan often gives uncertain results that do not help decision-making (NYS Department of Health).

H&H Environmental has operated since 2005 and provides fire and smoke services: smoke cleanup, water damage cleanup from fire losses, fire damage services, soot cleanup, contents cleaning, and contents storage. See fire and smoke services. H&H also provides indoor air quality services: testing, sampling, inspection, laboratory analysis, consultation, and air-purification-related services. See indoor air quality services. This guide does not say when any of those would be appropriate after a particular fire. Call and tell us what happened.

We work directly with your insurance carrier and provide documentation and direct billing for covered losses. Whether a loss is covered depends on your policy and the cause of the damage.

If mold is a concern after the water, see mold services: on a New York mold project, H&H performs either the mold assessment or the mold remediation — never both on the same project.

H&H is based in Saugerties, in Ulster County, and focuses on eight New York counties. Call and tell us where the property is, and we will confirm availability.