Understanding the difference between wildfires and residential fires is important because they both have different implications when it comes to individual health and the safety of your home. The definition of a fire may also affect your coverage during disasters and insurance claims.
The source of a fire can largely dictate how it will be defined, however there are some nuances:
A wildfire will start in an area that typically has the following conditions: a dry environment, brush or other easily ignited foliage, and wind conditions strong enough to move embers. From there, the slightest spark (such as lightning, faulty or fallen power lines, vehicle chains, etc.) can start a fire which will quickly spread throughout surrounding vegetation.
A residential fire typically originates in a heavily occupied area in terms of homes and commercial structures. Whether the source is accidental or not, a residential fire is usually caused by humans as opposed to nature. It is possible for a residential fire to start due to a natural source such as lightning, but it is statistically uncommon for nature to be the source of a residential fire. Residential fires are contained much faster than wildfires.
If there is fuel for a fire (such as trees and brush or man-made structures), it will continue given those environmental conditions which allow for it to spread. If wildfires begin to deeply impact a residential area, the environmental fallout becomes even worse due to the burning of structures and the contents within those structures.
Wildfires
It’s important to note that wildfires don’t typically fall under any home insurance policy, and in some circumstances that means the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could be the only financial recourse available for those affected.
While wildfires may start in areas with little to no occupancy, it isn’t unusual for the fires to grow and expand toward residential or commercial areas where they will wreak havoc on homes and businesses. Wildfires are statistically becoming more common—partially because of temperatures rising and causing increasing dryness. Wildfires can be caused by both nature (typically in the form of lightning) as well as humans (such as cigarette embers.)
Wildfire smoke is extremely unhealthy to breath. The smoke contains highly toxic elements, despite it deriving from mostly natural matter. Smoke is composed of a complex mix of elements including harmful particles and gases.
The particles and gases in wildfire smoke are extremely harmful to those with health conditions (such as heart or lung issues) and the immunocompromised. With medium- or long-term exposure, even those in good health can develop conditions such as bronchitis along with symptoms such as runny nose and burning eyes.
You can learn more via the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) official documentation on wildfires and indoor air quality.
Residential Fires
Most residential fires should be covered to some degree by your home insurance policy. It’s critical to understand the fine print of your specific coverage and its limitations. You should also be mindful of the differences in caps for structural damage versus personal property (otherwise known as “contents”).
Keeping all smoke detection devices operational indoors is key to be notified of fires as soon as possible. Homeowners and property managers should be conscious of any fire risks on their property. Managing your landscaping may substantially increase the odds of your home surviving large-scale residential fires.
For example, being conscious of the land around your property can help prevent the start of a residential fire—by eliminating as much fuel for fire as possible, you greatly enhance your property’s chances of survival.
Typical approaches for safer landscaping usually include the removal of lower branches, disposing of dead leaves or other dry elements such as pine needles. Pruning taller vegetation and managing overall plant height is also recommended.
Regardless of if it’s a wildfire or residential fire, you should always have a fire safety plan. Always prioritize your health and safety over replaceable items!
How smoke affects a home or structure
Smoke is detrimental to our health and in some situations, it can be life threatening.
When a structure survives fire damage, the next challenge is dealing with smoke damage. While fires typically char or cause heat damage in certain areas, smoke gets into every nook and cranny of your structure and its building materials.
The reason smoke causes a major concern after a fire is because it is heavily carcinogenic. Whenever there is a fire inside of a home or business, you are inhaling the toxic fumes from the following sources:
- Electronics
- Wiring
- Batteries
- Plastics
- Metals
- Chemicals
- Building adhesives
- Fabrics
- Synthetic materials
When fire compromises these sources, you create a dangerous mix of volatile gases that are detrimental to our health. These elements will be entrenched in your HVAC or other cooling/heating systems which circulate air. While it may seem difficult to recover items affected by smoke damage, a contents company can successfully clean a wide range of materials. Many insurance policies include coverage for your personal belongings to be cleaned.
If you have health risks that will be exacerbated by fire or smoke damage, it is recommended to notify your insurance adjuster and restoration company so that they understand the severity of your claim.
Items that are not restorable are considered unsalvageable and will be documented to insurance during a fire or smoke damage claim. A contents cleaning professional can help decide the salvageability of items based on material make up, amount of damage present, among other scientific factors.
Who is at risk with smoke damage and odors?
While smoke damage is unhealthy for everyone, there are some individuals who need to be particularly conscious of avoiding smoke related hazards. The toxic elements in smoke can cause headaches, nausea, and a slew of other side effects.
Those with the following conditions should avoid smoke damage at all costs:
- Individuals with heart or lung disease
- Individuals with diabetes
- Older adults
- Children (including teenagers)
- Pregnant women
How do you know if smoke is affecting you?
The following are common symptoms from being in the presence of smoke:
- Anyone may experience runny nose, coughing, burning eyes, phlegm, and difficulty breathing.
- Those with heart or lung disease can suffer their current symptoms much more drastically in a smoke-filled environment.
- People with heart disease could experience palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
- People with lung disease might not be able to breathe deeply and they may experience substantial coughing or wheezing.
Wildfires are becoming more common
According to the EPA, “The peak of the U.S. wildfire season is occurring earlier. In 1984–2001, burned area peaked in August. More recently, it has peaked in July. An average of 1.7 million acres burned in July of each year from 2002 to 2020.”
With wildfires becoming more common and larger in scope, it seems certain that this trend will continue and as such it will affect residential homeowners and businesses across the country. Being knowledgeable about your insurance policy and coverage has never been more critical, especially in wildfire-prone states such as California, Colorado, and many others.
Wildfire occurrences in heavily inhabited areas will lead to substantial changes in premium pricing, which can greatly shape the affordability of areas. Take Florida for example, where homeowners are seeing higher premiums. This is due to the financial risk hurricanes pose to insurance company profitability, which means getting support for claims is going to become increasingly expensive and complex as time goes on.
More than ever, homeowners are forced to think about environmental risks when purchasing their home and insurance policies. Its important to be aware of all limitations for your policy and reaching out to your agent is highly recommended so that you can develop a deep understanding of your coverage.
Fire damage premiums increase due to residential fires
When fire damage occurs in your residence, its typical to see an average of 27% increase in homeowners’ insurance costs. States like Mississippi and West Virginia, the average cost of insurance increases by 42% after experiencing a fire.
Doing everything you can to save your property from fire damage is not just essential to maintain your home as an asset, but it also helps prevent a massive increase in monthly insurance costs. Even small tasks such as updating smoke alarms and implementing fire extinguishers will help deter a small spark from becoming something devastating.
A substantial number of fires in homes occur in the kitchen. Being completely aware and attentive of your environment is an easy way to stay safe. Do not leave an active stove running without supervision. Be extremely careful if toddlers or children are present in an active cooking area. Keep flammables away from heat sources, such as paper towels and cloths. Try to wear clothing that won’t flow into heat sources. When doing high heat cooking such as frying, be very aware of cooking temperatures and observe your thermometer frequently.
Clean kitchens are also less flammable due to less material being present on surfaces for ignition. If a small fire occurs, DO NOT simply douse it with water. Kitchen fires tend to involve grease or electricity, both of which will be exacerbated by water, because water will spread flammable or already ignited elements throughout the area. When it comes to stopping the fire, you should consider covering the flames with a lid or pan if possible (this cuts the oxygen source). You can also use a generous amount of baking soda to smother the flames.
Ultimately, it’s always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher present in every home or structure. It is recommended to regularly check on the status of an extinguisher by ensuring the gauge on the top is functioning and properly displaying the amount of pressure available for the device. Its also a good idea to watch tutorials and read manufacturer guidelines on proper handling of a fire extinguisher, that way you are using it effectively when needed.
Preparing for residential fire emergencies
The best step you can take for yourself and your family is to have a plan in place for disaster. While its not something we ever want to deal with, being prepared will make a massive difference in the wellbeing of those who are caught in a situation resulting from fire and/or smoke.
There are useful resources online, such as www.ready.gov/home-fires which provides information from the official US government. If you live in an area that is likely to have wildfires occurring, it is highly recommended that you look into FEMA. You can even download their official app here: www.ready.gov/fema-app
What should you do when there is a fire at your home or business?
Keep everyone involved in an emergency as safe as possible. It’s not easy to be calm in these situations, but you can rest assured knowing that professional disaster restoration companies like us understand how you feel during this time.
If you are filing a claim, you should be prepared to work with a company that you trust with the belongings of your home or business. It is critical that the contractor you choose is aware of the scope required to successfully restore fire and smoke damage.
Restoration experts can help clarify which aspects of a structure can be saved or will need to be rebuilt. A contents cleaning expert will help identify salvageable vs. non-salvageable items. In our experience, a wide range of material affected by smoke and soot is completely restorable. We have seen beautiful white wedding dresses fully restored from ash and smoke damage, so if you have lost something valuable then its important to consult with a specialist before losing hope in the restorability of an item.
If you have any questions on filing a fire or smoke damage claim in Colorado, we are here to support you with restoration services and we can refer you to a high-quality contents cleaning company. Pure Restore also works closely with experienced contents cleaners to ensure that every aspect of your home is taken care of during a wildfire or residential fire.
Learn more by calling Pure Restore at 303-955-7072 or visit www.RestorationDenver.com
