Arizona Property Owners Learn that Smoke Residues Can Cause Extensive Property Damage

As recently as 2014, the National Fire Protection Association reports that there were 494,000 structure fires in the United States that year alone. These fires were reported at a rate of one every 64 seconds and they caused almost $10 billion in property damage.

Structure fires destroy or damage many homes and businesses each year and Arizona is no exception.  These fires may burn a structure down to the ground, but many others are saved with varying degrees of damage. Structure fires can even cause property damage to neighboring buildings not directly touched by flames since these fires typically produce a tremendous amount of smoke that can travel some distance. 

The smoke is made up of a number of combustion by-products that may include ash, soot, char and other materials.  These materials can easily infiltrate nearby buildings leaving behind odors, residues and lowering property values.

“Although homeowners and commercial property insurance often covers smoke damage, but it is frequently left to the property owner to provide proof of all damages,” said Tom Allen from Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters, LLC. “The corrosive effect of smoke residues will begin to cause extensive etching, corrosion and discoloration as time passes. While the presence of visible damage can be obvious at times, some forms of damage can be subtle or even out of sight. This is why the services of a professional public adjuster are so important following a structure fire or smoke infiltration from a neighboring property. Proving the presence of residues, odors and other damage to such devices as electronics may not be readily apparent and could be overlooked without the services of a knowledgeable public adjuster.”   

Property owners who have suffered fire or smoke damage to their home or business can turn to the insurance claims and property damage experts at Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters. They manage, file and resolve their clients’ insurance claims while making sure all damages are recognized, documented, repaired and settled fairly. Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters also recently sponsored an educational video about smoke damage that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/1Ei8z-uJTn0