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California’s Wildfire Preparedness Week and Airborne Pollutants that Cause Health Concerns and Damage Property

Fire and Smoke Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	4/26/2023
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	California’s Wildfire Preparedness Week and Airborne Pollutants that Cause Health Concerns and Damage Property
Introduction	LA Testing provides air testing services, sampling supplies, test kits, air monitoring instruments and personal protective equipment to identify and mitigate exposure to respiratory hazards and detect property damage from wildfire smoke.
Huntington Beach, California, April 26, 2023 The first week of May is recognized as Wildfire Preparedness Week in California. It is a time when the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and partner agencies share proactive ways that people, communities and businesses can protect themselves and their property from the threat of wildfires. Last year’s Wildfire Preparedness Week proclamation from Governor Newsom stated: All of us have an essential role in protecting ourselves, loved ones and communities from wildfire. I urge all Californians to take lifesaving steps to stay prepared, including making their homes more fire-resistant, creating defensible space, and developing a wildfire action plan well ahead of time. “The last several years have brought historic wildfire seasons to California and several neighboring states,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Millions of acres have burned in recent years and countless homes and buildings have been destroyed or damaged. This includes structures that may be miles away from the actual flames. This is due to the fact that wildfire smoke can easily infiltrate a home or building downwind of the fire. The smoke is filled with combustion by-products that include soot, ash and char that can have damaging effects to both properties and human health. Another important consideration people should be aware of is the fact that when it comes to smoke damage, it is often left to the property owner to provide proof of damage to their insurance provider.” With multiple laboratories in California, LA Testing is a leading provider of smoke damage and odor testing services. They offer surface and air testing services that can be used to prove the presence of smoke residues and odors. These same tests can also be instrumental after a property is remediated to ensure it has been brought back to pre-fire conditions. Several years ago, LA Testing even produced an educational video about wildfire smoke damage that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/c0ksscTorHI To learn more about testing for smoke damage or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) services and supplies, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. To access easy-to-use Fire & Smoke Damage Test Kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality testing of radon, asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.