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Types of Fire Smoke and Residues
Types of Fire Smoke and Residues
4.9 RATING

Types of Fire Smoke and Residues

According to the National Fire Protection Association, a fire department responded to a fire, on average, every 24 seconds in the United States. More specifically,…

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June 03, 2026
Types of Fire Smoke and Residues

According to the National Fire Protection Association, a fire department responded to a fire, on average, every 24 seconds in the United States. More specifically, a home fire occurred roughly every minute and a half. It is estimated that these damages cost over $43 billion dollars in property losses. Luckily, professional property restoration companies like Tidal Wave Response are on standby to act and limit those losses.

For the sake of educating our community on fire damage, we have put together this article on the types of fire smoke and residues so that you can understand and proactively respond to them. If you have any specific questions or if you would like to consult with a professional, then call Tidal Wave Response today.

Three Types of Smoke and Residue

The following types of smoke and residue are divided based on the product burned, but they can all damage your property further if left as is. There are three primary types of smoke and residu

Reviews

Cassandra Abdus-Salaam

Alpharetta, GA

Hi. I don’t know where to start. John and Tidal wave his company were and still are a blessing from my Lord. One morning in January of this year I went down stairs and stepped in a puddle of water it was flooded. I also passed out. This was the second one in less than a year. I stood there for a minute and just cried. All I could think of was my insurance company may not take care of it a second time even if it was for a different leak. The last claim they paid out $23,000 for…

John Ayer

Atlanta, GA

John Mayer, Principal of Tidal Wave Response, and his project management team, lead by Colin Galubinski, has completed the restoration of my home in record time. The work included, but was not limited to the following: 1) Professional water leak detection 2) Professional plumbing that removed the concrete slab and backfill material, found and repaired the PEX cold water pipe 3) Backfilled and placed concrete to finish grade 4) Packed the furniture to storage. Restored the furniture without incident nor damage. 5) Dehumidified and removed the damaged carpet and hardwoods. 6) Cleaned the concrete surface and installed the new hardwoods.…

Spenser Hewett

Brookhaven, GA

I have worked in sales and also have experience in launching my own business. It is rare that you find a company that genuinely has your best interest in mind. Not only was John helpful outside of his business’ expertise, but he sent Chris to do a *free* evaluation of our water damage. John and Chris were both genuine and personable. They cared about what our situation was and they weren’t looking to get any sort of “fee” for their time. These are the kind of people you trust to handle big, catastrophic water damage to. I have previously had…

James B

Chamblee, GA

While others might categorize John as a fast talker, but on the other hand. I saw a man that's passionate about his business and willing to help others elevate their present situation. In early December 2022, our laundry room floor and wall got water damaged due to leakage from the hotline pipe, and other rooms got impacted due to water spreading. So, I reached out to John and he assured me they'll do everything within their power to get our house done before Christmas day. Boy was he right! John and the tidalwave response team were professional, helpful and got…

Anne Berman

Cumming, GA

We did not plan to renovate our terrace level but when the hot water heater leaked and flooded the entire area, Tidal Wave was recommended to us by the plumber who installed the new hot water heater. John, the owner was at our house the same evening and mitigation started early the next morning. The crew professionally removed wet drywall, flooring, and baseboard. Fans and dehumidifiers ran for several days and then the fun began. With Colin's help we were able to choose updated flooring, repaint a color of our choice, and new trim was installed. Everything was completed professionally.…

Hunter smith

Decatur, GA

Wow incredible company! I had a water damage that destroyed my entire main level. John and his team are very quick and efficient. When I was looking on google, tidal wave response was the only water restoration company with a 5 star review. Highly recommended using tidal wave response!!

Meme Dupree

Doraville, GA

I had a flood in my downstairs living room. It was devastating. John with Tidal wave was very professional. He had his team show up immediately to get the job done. Great work Tidal Wave. I'm definitely going to refer you to others.

pam kunc

Duluth, GA

Thank Goodness !!! Johnny on the spot! We had a pipe ruptured in the ceiling and we were looking for a 5 Star Rated Water Restoration company . Johnny came out with a Thermal Camera and found the pipe spraying behind the wall. I wish I would have called him sooner . My wood floors were so damaged by the water, they all will need to be replaced. We highly recommended Johnny with Tidal Wave. Very knowledgeable and even helped us start a claim with our insurance ..

Randy Fann

Dunwoody, GA

Had a shaky start with this particular project but I must say the owner took charge and corrected all the remaining issues. I will say that this particular job was the absolute worst I have taken on in 45 yrs. My hat is off to Mike and his crew and Allan was superb in making sure everything was done correctly. Thank you for your follow-up on this project guys. And Allan thank you especially for your thoroughness in making sure it was completed correctly.

Kadeja Edwards

Johns Creek, GA

Unfortunately, my water heater was old, cracked, and leaking water onto the supported area in my garage. I needed to replace the water heater with a new one, but the plumber told me that in order to meet the city code, I would have to handle the water damage first. I called out tidal wave (who I’ve worked with before), and they came out the very next day to cut out the affected area and treat for mold. This is my second issue with water in my house and tidal wave has taken care of both issues. They are fast,…

es:

  1. Natural: Burning of natural products like paper and wood produces dry, greyish-black powdery residue that is fortunately easier to clean up than the other two types of smoke and residue. A simple bristle-brushed vacuum followed by dry-chem sponge cleaning should take care of removing these residues.
  2. Synthetic: Our society produces and consumes a ton of synthetic, oil-based materials such as plastics and fabrics. When these synthetic materials such as furniture, carpets, and electronics burn, they produce a thick black smoke with smeary, greasy residue. It is best to avoid rubbing this type of residue. Instead, grab a vacuum and follow it with chem-dry sponge cleaning.
  3. Protein: Surely you notice the smoke that is produced by cooked beans and meats. This smoke will leave yellowish brown residue on your walls, ceilings, and appliances. It is awfully greasy and will be a pain to clean up. You should make a quick trip to your local hardware store and ask for chemical cleaners designed for this greasy residue.

Restoring Smoke Damage

Smoke and resid

Reasons to Choose Tidal Wave

We Bill Your Insurance Directly

We Bill Your Insurance Directly

We Accept All Insurance Claims

We Accept All Insurance Claims

Licensed & Certified Technicians

Licensed & Certified Technicians

30 Minutes Response Time

30 Minutes Response Time

Locally & Family Owned

Locally & Family Owned

24/7 Emergency Service

24/7 Emergency Service

Never an Overtime Charge

Never an Overtime Charge
ue continuously chew away at your property, so it is important to act quick if you want to restore your property. Tidal Wave Response has three primary methods of dealing with smoke damage after a fire: cleaning, resurfacing, and replacing. The method to use depends on the residue’s intensity, type, and time passed. Simple natural smoke type damages can be cleaned by yourself. If the residue is worse and has permeated your property, then we try to resurface them and return them to their original state. When the damage is extreme, we will have to replace the items. The professionals at Tidal Wave Response work with your property insurance provider so that they pay their fair share.

Act Quick, Call the Professionals!

Naturally, the sooner you contact a professional, the less damage your property will suffer. If you are not confident in how to clean, resurface, or replace your property, then call Tidal Wave Response as soon as possible to have a specialist at your door within the hour. We are always ready to take your call.

Our Services

From emergency water extraction to full property recovery, Tidal Wave Response provides the fast, expert care you need. Browse our complete suite of 24/7 restoration services below to see how we can help today.

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