Dealing with Mold After Fire Damage
A home fire is a major catastrophe, but the aftermath of a fire can be just as damaging. Consider the fire extinguishment process, which can introduce water and chemicals into the home. Dampness leads to mold. Here’s how homeowners can deal with mold after fire damage.
How does water enter a fire damaged home?
Fires hoses are designed to discharge massive amounts of water into a burning property to extinguish the fire.
Fires hoses are powerful forms of equipment, having the ability to forcefully discharge massive amounts of water into a fire engulfed property. Two fire hoses measuring three inches can release approximately 36 gallons of water per 100 feet when they are charged.
Fire officials use these hoses to pump water over the flames and squash them, and this introduces excess moisture into the property. A constant supply of water is sufficient nourishment for mold spores. As a result, a mold infestation can be the unwanted outcome of fire extinguishment.
Even a small, contained fire can encourage mold growth inside the property. A homeowner who smothers a minor kitchen fire with a fire extinguisher will introduce wet foam and chemical extinguishers. Since they both contain water, mold is a likely outcome.
Another cause of mold growth inside a fire damaged property is exposure to the elements. Raging fires can easily cause the roof to collapse or holes to develop. Rainwater or snowmelt dumps large amounts of moisture into these cavities and causes a mold infestation inside the home.
What does mold need to survive?
Moisture is just one form of nourishment mold spores require to survive inside a building. Other nutrients spores feed off of include organic matter, such as wood and drywall. Organic materials like these are commonly found inside residential homes and are a great source of food for mold.
Darkness is the third nutrient mold spores need to live. A fire damaged home is likely to have fallen wood beams that create darkened nooks. It’s in these hidden areas where water from fire hoses pools that mold spores can develop and grow into massive colonies.
How do homeowners tackle mold after fire and water damage?
A consistent water supply is the number one food source for mold. So, after a fire has been extinguished, the most effective way to prevent mold is to begin drying, cleaning, and disinfecting the property as soon as it is safely possible. Homeowners can go about the process in a few different ways.
One way to dry the property and prevent or clean mold growth is using a DIY approach. Set up multiple high-volume fans and structural drying dehumidifiers throughout the affected spaces. The drying should begin within 48 hours of the water damage for best results.
Point the fans directly toward the water damaged areas. Drying equipment should be run continuously for 24 hours a day in order to be effective. Drying water damaged areas can take as little as two days or require an extended period over the course of several weeks.
Treat the water damaged areas with a chemical biocide, like bleach, which will kill mold. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises against using bleach to eliminate mold, since a certain level of mold spores will remain after the application.
Vinegar, however, can be successfully used to clean existing mold spores from household surfaces damaged by moisture. White distilled vinegar works best. This solution is most commonly available with a 5 percent acidity level and can be used without diluting it with water.
The issues with homeowners tackling the mold problem as DIY project include timeliness and thoroughness. The homeowner must work quickly to dry and disinfect the fire damaged property before the mold spores have a chance to grow. Mold develops within 24 to 48 hours after water damage.
The fire damaged property may no longer be structurally stable, making it a dire safety risk for the homeowner to enter and quickly begin cleanup efforts. The second problem with a DIY approach is that the homeowner may overlook areas and fail to stop the mold growth.
Overlooking even a small area of mold growth can produce unwanted results quickly. Mold is notorious for rapidly spreading wherever nourishment is plentiful. A homeowner will not resolve the mold problem if areas in the home are left damp, uncleaned, or not fully disinfected.
Rather than try a DIY approach, homeowners faced with mold after fire damage can turn to fire damage restoration professionals. Experienced fire damage cleanup specialists are trained and equipped to quickly and thoroughly eliminate all mold growth from fire damaged properties.
Mold spores are unlikely to escape the observant eye of fire damage restoration technicians. These experts know where to look for hidden water damage and the corresponding mold growth. Remember that mold can grow in hidden places, like behind walls, under carpets, and beneath wallpaper.
When fire damage and subsequent mold growth make their ugly appearance, contact mold cleanup pros. Professional crews provide efficient mold remediation services, eliminating all existing mold and preventing mold spores from reoccurring.
Restoration services are invaluable whenever water damage of any form strikes. Crews have quickly remediated mold after appliances malfunctioned, water pipes burst, or natural disasters occurred. An important part of the process is to fix the water problem to stop the mold from returning.
Technicians provide comprehensive services. They test and evaluate the property for mold, contain the mold to prevent airborne spores from contaminating other areas, remove mold with effective cleaners, and restore or repair mold-damaged items.
No property is safe for occupants when a mold problem exists. When you work with professionals to tackle a mold infestation, you’ll feel confident in knowing your home or business will be returned to a habitable and hygienic condition.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
