Wildfires can leave behind obvious damage such as charred structures, smoke-stained walls, and destroyed belongings. But one of the most dangerous threats is often invisible: lead contamination. During a wildfire, toxic particles like lead can be released into the air and settle inside your home, especially if the structure was built before 1978 or if nearby homes or buildings contained lead-based paint or materials.
How Lead Enters the Home During a Wildfire
As fires burn through older buildings, furniture, and even soil, lead particles become airborne. These microscopic contaminants can
- Travel through windows and vents
- Settle into carpet, furniture, and fabrics
- Coat walls, floors, and countertops
- Hide in your HVAC system
Even if your home appears mostly untouched, it could still be contaminated. Unfortunately, you can’t see or smell lead, and exposure is especially harmful to children, pregnant women, and pets.
The Health Risks of Lead Exposure
Lead is a neurotoxin that can have serious health consequences, especially with prolonged or high-level exposure. Potential risks include
- Developmental delays and learning difficulties in children
- High blood pressure and kidney problems in adults
- Miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women
- Nervous system damage and cognitive decline
This is why it’s critical to test for lead as part of your fire damage cleanup and restoration process, even if the home seems structurally sound.
What to Do If Lead Is Detected
If lead is found during testing, it’s not safe to continue living in or cleaning the home without proper precautions.
Remove the Contents. All furniture, textiles, and personal belongings need to be removed from the home. Each item is assessed for contamination and either cleaned with specialized equipment or safely discarded if it cannot be restored.
Professional Cleaning and Decontamination. Once the home is cleared, our trained restoration team uses industry-approved methods to clean every surface and ensure that all lead residue is removed. This includes deep cleaning floors, ceilings, air ducts, and other hidden areas.
Final Testing. After cleaning, follow-up testing ensures that your home is safe to re-enter and live in. We never take shortcuts when it comes to your health and safety.
Watch the Process on Our Facebook Page
We recently published a video on our Facebook page showing a real-life example of how lead is detected and removed from a wildfire-damaged home. If you’ve been affected by a fire or are assisting someone who has, we highly recommend watching it to understand how important this step is in protecting your household.
Your health is our top priority. If your home has been impacted by a wildfire, don’t take chances with hidden toxins. Contact us to schedule a professional inspection and lead testing. We’re here to help you restore your home safely and completely.