Condominium Fire Displaces Sacramento Residents and Creates Potential Indoor Environmental Quality Issues for Others

The Sacramento Bee recently published an article about a condominium complex fire in Sacramento that resulted in the damage of multiple residents’ homes after the fire broke out in one of the units. The complex was saved due to the efforts of firefighters, but now a number of families are without a home until extensive repairs can be completed.

Several units reportedly were damaged directly due to flames and other condominiums sustained smoke and water damage. Unfortunately, when a fire occurs in a multi-tenant building, the damage can be widespread. Even a relatively small fire that is extinguished quickly can allow smoke residues to infiltrate numerous other units causing damage. Smoke residues create odors and over time often cause corrosion, etching and discoloration on surfaces.

The water used in fire suppression efforts can also directly damage building materials and belongings in nearby units. The moisture can quickly result in the growth of mold and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues if not thoroughly dried quickly. Even moisture trapped in a wall cavity or below a floor can support mold growth that is out-of-sight, but still causes issues.

“It’s not just smoke residues, water damage and mold that can become a health and safety concern following a fire,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “There can be exposure concerns due to lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials in many multi-tenant buildings that require repair activities following a fire. This is important to know for not just the workers tasked with repairing the units, but also for future building occupants and for neighbors in the complex.”

To help in these situations, LA Testing provides analytical services, sampling supplies and test kits to identify odors, smoke residues, mold, asbestos, lead and other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) concerns. They also offer moisture meters, infrared cameras and other instruments to detect water damage. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about smoke damage that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/1Ei8z-uJTn0.

To learn more about testing a property for smoke and water damage, mold, asbestos, lead or other IAQ and environmental issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794.  For access and more information about IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

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LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

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