Fire Residue Testing

EAA is an industry leader in Wildfire / Structure Fire Residue testing. Wildfire combustion particles are a complex mixture of cellulose vegetation, burned soil, residual salts, crystalline calcium and silica vegetation particles (phytoliths). Structure fires have a different particle distribution, typically with higher ratios of soot particles and other melted plastics, paint and metals. Quantifying airborne and surface fire combustion contamination is a multi-step process requiring optical Microscopy (Polarized Light & Reflected Light). Automatic Scanning Election Microscopy / X-ray analysis can be utilized to differentiate look-alike interference particles from actual combustion residue. Combustion particles can be separated into three basic combustion categories (soot, char, and ash). There are also other indicator particles–as described above–that can assist in the differentiation of wildfire and structure fire residues from other types of combustion sources.

There are currently no standards for fire residue sampling. However, investigators should use the most recent professional guides such as: 2017 AIHA / Synergist magazine article “The ABCs of Wildfire Residue Contamination Testing”, the 2018 AIHA “Technical Guide for Wildfire Impact Assessments for the OEHS Professional" and the 2022 AIHA / Synergist magazine article "Analysis of Wildfire and Structure Fire Combustion Residues."

For more information on: EAA's Comprehensive Fire Residue Analysis