Not all Smoke is Created Equal.

6/15/2022 (Permalink)

Image of a campfire with smoke in Northern California.

Summer nights in Redding, California are often filled with camping trips, star gazing, cliff jumping, and campfires. The great outdoors calls people. It beckons them to conquer the unknown and live off the land like our ancestors, even if it is just for the weekend. Campfires create memories where recited stories frighten the kids and make them jump at every creak in the distance. Campfires bring people together. Campfires stick with you your clothes, kids, blankets, and hair; the smoke knows no boundaries. It can also find its way into your lungs. 

The question begs, is campfire smoke harmful to you to breathe?

According to vox.com, "The entire process of a fire is about tearing a log into as many pieces as possible. The tearing releases chemical bonds, expending energy as heat and light." Releasing chemicals from a campfire may include Benzene and Formaldehyde. Fumes from gasoline, crude oil, and cigarette smoke all include benzene. High exposure to this chemical could cause damage to the immune system. 

But wait! Don't cancel your campfire fun just yet. 

Here are a few tips to keep yourself healthy around the fire! 

• Only Burn Wood

Untreated dry wood is the best to burn. It will produce the least amount of smoke, therefore creating less exposure. Keep plastics, paper, adhesives, railroad ties, and even wood from a construction site out of the fire. All of them contain harmful and toxic chemicals when burned. 

• Keep your fire small. 

Small fires not only produce less smoke but also have the smallest impact on the environment. Only keep your fire burning when you are using it. 

• Sit away and downwind of the fire. 

All of us have been there before; You are cozying up next to the campfire when suddenly, a waft of smoke engulfs you. The tip to remember is if the wind shifts, so should you.

Musical chairs anyone? 

• Keep exposure to smoke and fire down to a minimum. 

The most common side effects of smoke are burning eyes, a runny nose, cough, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Limiting your exposure to smoke can protect your health, especially if you have underlying conditions. 

It's important to remember not all exposure comes from campfires but from secondhand smoke, house fires, wildfires, etc.

Did you know smoke from a house fire can be some of the most harmful to breathe? The fuel for home fires contains synthetic materials, plastics, and metals, creating very toxic smoke and ash to breathe if enclosed in a confined space. This is why it's important to follow these health safety tips, when cleaning up ash, to help reduce how much pollution you are breathing in. 

Don't want to chance it? Call the professionals! 

SERVPRO of North Shasta, Trinity, and Greater Tehama Counties can help remove the toxins and purify the air in your home.

We have Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician certified in

• Odor Control
• Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning
• Water Damage
• Fire & Smoke Damage

There are many things in life to cause worry. Your health due to exposure to ash and smoke shouldn't be one of them.  

Don't chance exposure to harmful chemicals when your local SERVPRO is here! 

Call 530-222-0200