Dangerous Health Risks That Fire Damage Can Cause

Fire Damage October 2019
Dangerous Health Risks That Fire Damage Can Cause

If your home or business has unfortunately suffered from fire damage, you need to quickly call a fire damage repair company like True Builders. We perform fire damage repair services for homes and businesses located in and around Winter Haven, Plant City, and Lakeland, FL. Our expert team mitigates damages and helps restore the condition of your property.

While the structural damages that a fire can inflict are obvious, a fire also presents less obvious risks. Check out some of the detrimental ways that fire and the resulting smoke and soot can damage the health of you, your family, and your visitors.

Soot and Smoke Odor Can Linger and Cause Respiratory Issues Like Bronchitis and Asthma

The initial black fumes from a fire will trigger coughing and general difficulty with breathing. However, long after these black fumes have faded away, soot and smoke odor will linger behind. These substances can lead to respiratory issues like:

  • Asthma
  • Bronchitis
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath

While these breathing issues can affect anyone, they will particularly afflict young children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions.

Soot and Smoke Can Settle in Porous Materials Around Your Property and Cause Skin and Eye Irritation

Soot and smoke often stay behind after a fire because they settle into porous materials around your property. Some porous materials that often retain large amounts of smoke include:

  • Carpet
  • Furniture
  • Wooden surfaces like tables and desks
  • Walls

If you come into regular contact with any of these surfaces contaminated with smoke damage, you may develop issues with your skin’s health. These problems can range from skin irritation to general dryness.

One of the most common culprits of fire-damage-related skin irritation is putting on clothes that were present during the fire. Even after thoroughly washing these clothes, they may contain remnants of soot and smoke that can cause heightened skin discomfort.

Eye irritation is another health consequence of fire damage that can develop if your property isn’t properly cleaned of soot and smoke residue.

Fire Damage Can Cause Long-Term Health Risks Including Strokes and Heart Attacks

During a fire, items that contain various amounts of chemicals do not burn cleanly. These items include:

  • Any materials containing asbestos
  • Foam
  • Wool
  • Fabrics
  • Wood products
  • Plastics
  • Carpets

When these items burn, they release toxic substances like furans, sulfur dioxide, and dioxins. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can lead to health issues like:

  • Certain types of cancers
  • Strokes
  • Heart attacks
  • Developmental disorders in infants

To avoid harming yourself, residents, and guests, you need to seek fire damage repair services as soon as possible.

Call Our Team Today to Remediate the Fire Damage on Your Property

If your property has suffered damages due to a fire, don’t delay seeking professional help. While it’s important to repair physical damage, you also must have smoke damage addressed.

Forgoing or putting off fire damage repair services can leave you, your family, and your visitors vulnerable to developing a variety of health issues. Call our team today at (863) 647-1800 for professional fire damage repair services in and around Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Plant City, FL.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers Central Florida homeowners ask us most often.

Do you respond to fire and storm emergencies 24/7?
Yes. When disaster strikes we respond 24/7 for emergency board-up, tarping, and water removal, then handle the full cleanup and reconstruction with the same team. Call (863) 647-1800 any time.
What happens when I call?
A real Central Florida team member takes your call, gathers the details, and gets an estimator or emergency crew moving. For remodels we schedule a consultation and walk-through; for damage we dispatch mitigation first and plan the rebuild with you from there.
How does pricing work?
You get an up-front quote before work starts, and you approve it first. No surprise line items: changes are priced and approved before we proceed.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Lakeland, Plant City, Tampa, Brandon, Valrico, Winter Haven, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Davenport, and the surrounding communities across Polk, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties in Central Florida.
Do you work with insurance on fire and storm claims?
Yes. We document the damage thoroughly, provide the estimates and reports your adjuster needs, and coordinate with your insurance company throughout the repair and rebuild.
Can I finance my remodel or repairs?
Yes. You can apply for project financing through our third-party lending partner, subject to credit approval. Terms vary by lender, by the amount requested, and by your creditworthiness. We walk you through the process before anything is submitted, and for smaller jobs we also accept all major credit cards.
Does True Builders handle both remodeling and repairs?
Yes. True Builders is a full-service general contractor that handles remodeling (kitchens, bathrooms, additions) and reconstruction after fire, smoke, and storm damage, all with one accountable team.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. True Builders is a licensed Florida general contractor (#CBC1258346) and fully insured, serving Central Florida since 2009.

Find Us in Central Florida

Three offices across Central Florida: Lakeland, our Plant City headquarters, and Auburndale. We remodel and restore homes throughout Polk, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties.

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