Wildfire Laboratory Testing Services

Huntington Beach, CA, July 8^th, 2020

Wildfire season has arrived and according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the state experienced its deadliest and most destructive wildfires as recently as 2017 and 2018. For 2019, over 259,000 acres are estimated to have burned in 7,860 wildfires in just California. There were three fatalities and 732 structures were damaged or destroyed.

Many more buildings, often miles from actual wildfires, were impacted by smoke infiltration that left behind damaging odors and residues. Wildfire smoke is filled with combustion by-products that include soot, ash and char that can infiltrate homes, businesses and schools. In addition to causing indoor odors, smoke leaves behind residues that can damage electronics and cause corrosion, etching and discoloration on surfaces.

“CAL FIRE states that fire season in California and across the West starts earlier and ends later each year,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “In fact, the agency reports that the length of fire season is estimated to have increased by 75 days across the Sierras and seems to correspond with an increase in the extent of forest fires across the state. This puts more people are at risk of losing their home or business to a wildfire or at least being impacted by smoke and residues.”

While many insurance policies cover smoke damage, it is often left to the property owner or facility manager to provide proof of its presence. In California and across the West Coast, the smoke damage experts at LA Testing provide this resource. Their laboratories offer comprehensive testing services, all of the sampling supplies necessary, easy-to-use test kits and air monitoring instruments. They have even produced an educational video about smoke damage from wildfires that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/Owo8lIoVTuk.

To learn more about testing for smoke residues, odors or other indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental issues, please visit www.SmokeDamageTestingLab.com or www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.  To access Fire & Smoke Damage 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-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), 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, San Diego and Ontario.