Sunday night, Sonoma County received many Nixle alerts, urging residents to leave as soon as possible, as there was yet again, another fire plowing through wine country. There were many fires along Los Alamos Road and St. Helena Road. With fires being the new normal for Sonoma County, it may be to your surprise that smoke damage destroys more than you think.  Smoke and fire damage effects can be hazardous for one’s lungs as we can’t see all the harmful particles with the human eye. Found on Rainbow International Restorations, “Smoke from any type of fire is composed of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and soot. Depending on what’s burning, many other harmful chemicals also enter the air and are inhaled into your lungs or latch onto walls, furniture, clothing, ductwork, and other areas.”  

After a fire has occurred near your home or business, it’s best to start an insurance claim and leave everything how it was before the fire. As reported on Orange Restoration, “The majority of smoke particles are only about 0.004 microns wide. This means they can work their way into every nook and cranny, from your furniture to the carpet, wallboard, and even the insulation. The difficulty of cleaning up smoke odor and residue increases depending not only on the volume of smoke but also on the kind of smoke that was present during the fire. Smoke from natural materials like wood and paper leaves a black or gray ashy residue that can be easily cleaned up with a vacuum cleaner or dry sponge. Smoke from inorganic materials like plastics and synthetic fabrics leaves a smeary residue that is difficult and dangerous to clean up. To remove all odors and residue, experts recommend having your home professionally deodorized and getting any items you wish to keep professionally cleaned.”

Food spoilage is another effect of smoke damage as cans can expand, and smoke particles can seep through bags and boxed foods. During a fire, the power is usually shut off so all your food into the refrigerator will go to waste as many of your cupboard items. The smoke is so thick that it ruins all cotton or cloth items, such as clothes, bedding, sheets, blankets, cloth couches, curtains, and much more. 

In 2019, most Windsor residents were immediately evacuated due to the Foothill Fire that started in Foothill Park, which borders the Foothill neighborhood. Ashes and embers were everywhere, but, thankfully, first responders were stationed at every house. Fortunately, more homes were saved than not, and the town of  Windsor was saved.  Due to residents not tinkering with the house when moving back in, inspectors then can see the smoke damage with specific tools. This helps ensure that insurance will cover most of the necessary repairs. Whenever there is a fire near your house, immediately call your insurance agency and file a claim, as it will be extremely beneficial for you later. Smoke damage needs to be taken more seriously since it causes health issues, destroys land, soil, paint, clothes, filters, insulation and much more.