After any catastrophe, there are always companies willing to do work around your home or office. Cleaning up after the Marshall fire is no exception. It’s often good to look specifically for local contractors, as they have an invested interest in the area.
Paragon Environmental has been involved with some of the owners in these two areas of Colorado. We’ve sat down with clients and personally visited the area. This is what we’ve learned.
Damage Is Not Always Visible. There are some homes and commercial buildings that, on first inspection, seem perfectly fine. While hundreds of homes and businesses nearby have been destroyed, these structures are intact and relatively damage-free. On closer inspection, there are some areas that may need repair as a result of the high winds that came through the area that day.
- Byproducts of the fire – such as ash, soot and char – can be seen around the windows and garage. The Marshall Fire took place at a time when winds exceeded 100 mph – driving the soot, ash, char and other toxins from the fire against the home. As the winds persisted, these materials were driven inside the home through any means possible – usually through the vents along the side of the roof.
- In some cases, the high winds forced toxins into the attic area of homes, resulting in odors throughout the home. These odors are particularly noticeable when the weather heats up. Please be aware of this factor as our seasons change.
- Finally, the winds also caused damage to roofing and siding materials throughout the area.
The Presence Of Asbestos. All of the above occurrences can reveal the presence of asbestos in your home or business. Even to this day in the United States, asbestos is still in place in older buildings – including older homes constructed prior to the 1980s. Homeowners should look for loose, crumbling, or disturbed Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) in their homes. This could be present in attic insulation, textured ceilings and sheetrock. This article provides some basic facts about asbestos in homes.
A Word Of Warning. If your property was not destroyed, but rather you experienced smoke and ash in your attic because of the high winds that day, beware of contractors who claim quick turnaround and problem solved with the use of a hydroxyl machine (designed to kill bad smells and purify the air) and HEPA vacuum. The use of these machines will remove smells, but only temporarily. Now that our weather is cold and with mostly dry air, smells disappear with surface cleaning. The problem is, we will begin to warm up – especially in July and August. In these cases, proper mitigation to rid your home of smells and toxins is required.
Testing For Asbestos. If your home or business suffered damage to tiles, roofing, insulation or siding, it is probably a good idea to have the area tested for possible asbestos exposure. Keep in mind, that asbestos in not dangerous if left undisturbed. Asbestos becomes a health hazard when it is disturbed or if it is deteriorating due to age or damage. When disturbed, the tiny fibers become airborne and can be inhaled. The fibers lodge in the lungs and along the respiratory tract where they are trapped. Over time, especially in cases of long-term exposure, delicate tissues develop scarring and cellular damage. There is no way to reverse the damage, and in most cases, symptoms do not appear for many years. Learn more.
If Asbestos Is Discovered. If it turns out you have an asbestos problem, you will want a professional, experienced and responsive company to quickly get your home or office up and running again – with as little interruption as possible. Paragon Environmental technicians are fully trained. Owned an operated by a degreed environmental engineer, Paragon Environmental understands and appreciates OSHA, EPA and CDPHE guidelines involving asbestos removal. We understand the risk of asbestos to family and co-workers. We will work tirelessly to get the job done correctly, efficiently and as seamlessly as possible. We keep you informed, and we are accountable for our work.
We can help. Our customers are of utmost value to us. Your needs become our top priority. We know how disruptive uncertainty can be. When asbestos is found in homes or businesses, work stops. Asbestos abatement takes priority, and it has to be done correctly. But it can be done with minimum interruption if you call a professional abatement company. If you suspect asbestos in your home give Paragon Environmental a call. Prompt service by our asbestos contractors is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Give us a call at 303-529-1257 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Note: This is important information for anyone whose home or work facility is structurally sound but was adversely affected by the Marshall Fire.
