Know Your Smoke 101

Fire damages are complex due to the unique nature of different types of smoke. Some things you may not know about smoke:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.


• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, using holes around pipes to go from floor to floor.


• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Once at a fire scene, a SERVPRO Professional tests the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred.

Types of Smoke:

• Wet Smoke Residues result from smoldering fires with low heat. Residues are sticky and smeary with a pungent odor. Smoke webs can be difficult to clean.


• Dry Smoke Residues result from fast burning fires at high temperatures. Residues are normally dry, powdery, small, nonsmeary smoke particles.


• Protein Residues are virtually invisible residues that discolor paints and varnishes. They have an extreme pungent odor.


• Fuel Oil Soot occur when furnaces puff back, distributing fuel oil soot.


• Other Types of Residue include tear gas, fingerprint powder, and fire extinguisher residues, all requiring cleanup.