Fire and Smoke Testing Laboratory

Huntington Beach, CA, November 16^th, 2017

Last month, over a dozen major wildfires ravaged parts of California. Several hundred thousand acres were scorched, dozens of lives were lost, and thousands of homes and businesses were burnt to the ground.

Properties directly impacted by flames will often have to be completely rebuilt, but many others nearby are still standing. Many of these properties now have environmental issues related to smoke infiltration and residues. Building materials, furnishings and personal belongings easily suffer from the large quantity of smoke generated from these types of wildfires. The smoke is filled with combustion by-products that include soot, ash and char. Smoke can also contain numerous dangerous chemicals that result from the combustion, or partial combustion of manmade materials.

Smoke residues can not only cause unpleasant odors, but have harmful effects to both property values and even human health. Often times, it becomes necessary to document this smoke damage through testing for property insurance purposes.

“With the flames extinguished, property owners and tenants are faced with not only rebuilding their lives, but also protecting their health,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “People need to be aware that rebuilding efforts can release asbestos fibers and lead dust in properties that have lead-based paints and building materials that contain asbestos. At LA Testing, we provide analytical services, sampling supplies and even easy-to-use test kits to identify smoke damage, mold resulting from water damage due to fire suppression efforts, lead and asbestos. These services are important to help ensure damaged homes and buildings are properly repaired and are not a health concern for future building occupants.”

To learn more about testing for smoke and soot residues, odors, mold, lead, asbestos or other indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. To access indoor environmental quality test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.  

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of 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.