Smoke and ash cleanup in San Diego

Fire season here

CAL FIRE lists 216 wildfires in San Diego County since 2013, and 88% of them started between May and October. The largest on that list was the Valley Fire in 2020, at 16,390 acres. Smoke from a fire in the back country can sit over the mesas and valleys for days. The county's fire record.

San Diego County wildfires by month they started

Ash: what you can do yourself

For light ash outside and on hard surfaces, the EPA's advice is simple:

• Wear an N95 respirator and gloves, and keep children away from the cleanup.
• Mist hard surfaces with water before sweeping, then wet-mop or damp-wipe.
• Use a HEPA vacuum. A household or shop vacuum blows the fine ash back out.
• Don't use a leaf blower.

The California Department of Public Health adds that ash from burned buildings can contain metals and other toxic material, so heavy ash near a burned structure is a job for a professional.

When it needs a professional

• Soot you can see on walls or window sills inside.
• A smoke smell that comes back after you air the house out.
• Ash inside the HVAC system or on the return-air filter.
• Fabric and upholstery that hold the odor.

Professional cleaning works in an order: remove ash and soot from surfaces with dry sponges and HEPA vacuums, then clean or replace the duct system and filters, then deodorize. Fixr lists thermal fogging at $200 to $550 per floor and ozone treatment at $300 to $600 per floor. Ozone needs the house empty of people and pets while it runs.

Will insurance pay for smoke cleanup?

Often, yes. Smoke damage from a nearby wildfire is commonly a covered loss under a homeowners policy, even when the house didn't burn. The California Department of Insurance's tips for wildfire claimants say to document everything, keep receipts, and ask for a copy of your full policy. Photograph soot on surfaces and the filter before anything is cleaned.

After a declared emergency, price increases over 10 percent on cleanup and repair work are generally illegal in California (Penal Code 396). If a smoke cleanup quote looks inflated, ask for the line items.

House fire smoke

Smoke from a fire inside the house is heavier and often oily, especially from a kitchen fire or burning plastics. That usually comes with water from the fire hoses and burned material to remove. Fire damage restoration.