When firefighters respond to residential structure fires, the primary mission is to save lives, protect property and the environment. Once the flames are knocked down, and the overhaul phase is complete, firefighters transition into the final phase of the incident…
Soot, char and ash: more toxic than you think
When you think of charred wood, ash or soot, you might think that they are little more than harmless by-products of incomplete combustion. Afterall, haven’t people cooked their food and kept warm by burning wood in their stoves and fireplaces…
Dioxins – the most hazardous substance in structure fire environments
Post-structure fire settings, especially those where plastics, synthetic materials, or household products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have burned, are where extremely hazardous and carcinogenic chemicals are created. One chemical in particular, dioxin, some consider to be the second most…