The Makeup of Smoke

9/19/2018 (Permalink)

There are several components that make up smoke. Learning about these components can lead to a better understanding of just how badly smoke damage can be after a fire. Each part contributes a part to the odor a fire leaves. Particles are the partially or completely burned substances that can penetrate fabrics and surfaces. These can be toxic at times. Vapors are fog-like, misty droplets that can become dangerous if one inhales or absorbs them. The third component is toxic gases. Although these are odorless, carbon monoxide is the most common gas that will result from a fire and is dangerous. Phosgene gas results from household products like plastics, vinyl, and other chemicals are burned. Hydrogen cyanide is a product of the burning and combustion of insulation, clothing, carpet, synthetics and plastics. Due to the complex makeup of smoke and all the different ways it can be produced, it is hard to get the smoky odor out of many household items unless cleaned by a professional service.  

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