Types of Smoke and Fires

5/4/2021 (Permalink)

House fire in Pryor, Oklahoma

Fire is divided into five classes (A, B, C, D, and K) that are primarily based on the fuel that is burning. This classification system helps to assess hazards and determine the most effective type of extinguishing agent.

CLASS A – Involve common combustibles, such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, trash, and plastics.

CLASS B – Involve flammable liquids, solvents, oil, gasoline, paints, lacquers, and other oil-based products.

CLASS C – Involve energized equipment such as wiring, controls, motors, machinery, or appliances.

CLASS D – Involve combustible metals such as magnesium, lithium, and titanium.

CLASS K - Involve combustible cooking media such as oils and grease commonly found in commercial kitchens.

As well as different types of fires, there are different types of smoke, wet and dry. With the different types of smoke comes different types of soot residue after a fire.

Before restoration can begin, SERVPRO® of Mayes and Wagoner Counties Technicians will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based off the information from the testing.

Here are some examples of the different types of smoke.

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber – Normally low heat, smoldering fire, leaves a pungent odor, sticky to the touch, and smeary throughout the structure. Leaves smoke webs.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood – Typically fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises throughout the structure and therefore smoke rises.

After the fire there may be more than just damage from the fire itself.  Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire – It is virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, it can leave an extreme pungent odor.

If you have any questions, call your SERVPRO® of Mayes and Wagoner Counites, 918-486-1055. 24/7 Emergency Response.  Always FREE Estimates for any job.

SERVPRO® of Mayes and Wagoner Counties specializes in Fire and Water Cleanup and Restoration.

SERVPRO® has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.