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Test Kits for California Residents Wanting to Determine If Homes and Businesses Are Damaged by Wildfire Smoke

Fire and Smoke Damage Laboratory Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	9/15/2020
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	Test Kits for California Residents Wanting to Determine If Homes and Businesses Are Damaged by Wildfire Smoke
Introduction	LA Testing provides analytical services and test kits to identify wildfire pollution hazards and exposure risks from indoor smoke residues and odors.
Huntington Beach, CA, September 15^th, 2020 Wildfire season in California has been devastating this year. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the state has already witnessed more than 7,700 wildfires that have burned over 3,150,000 acres. There have been over 15 fatalities and more than 5,400 structures either damaged or destroyed by flames. This year’s wildfires have been much worse than last year. In 2019, over 259,000 acres are estimated to have burned and 732 structures were damaged or destroyed. Sadly, countless buildings all across the state have also been impacted by smoke infiltration. When this occurs, damaging odors and residues are often left behind. This takes place because wildfire smoke is filled with combustion by-products, including soot, ash and char. In addition to causing offensive odors indoors, 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. 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 of 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,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “Fortunately, the smoke damage experts at LA Testing provide this resource. LA Testing’s California laboratories are pleased to offer comprehensive smoke damage testing services and easy-to-use test kits.” LA Testing has also 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.