CPR Fire, Soot & Odor Remediation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Fuel oil soot resulting from a puffback event is particularly difficult to remediate because it:
- Is dry and flakes off easily
- Contains oily, sticky residues that smear during cleaning (Correct answer)
- Only affects exterior surfaces
- Produces no detectable odor
Correct answer: Contains oily, sticky residues that smear during cleaning
Fuel oil soot is oily and sticky, causing it to smear across surfaces if improper cleaning techniques are used.
Question 2: Which direction should cleaning strokes go when dry-sponging soot from a painted wall to minimize smearing?
- Circular motions to lift residue
- Overlapping back-and-forth strokes
- Single-pass strokes in one direction only, using a clean section each time (Correct answer)
- Diagonal strokes from top to bottom
Correct answer: Single-pass strokes in one direction only, using a clean section each time
Single-direction strokes using a clean sponge section each time prevent redepositing soot that has already been lifted.
Question 3: After a fire, the HVAC system should be:
- Run on high to ventilate smoke odors
- Left in its current state until the job is complete
- Inspected, cleaned, and sealed off during remediation to prevent cross-contamination (Correct answer)
- Treated with ozone while running
Correct answer: Inspected, cleaned, and sealed off during remediation to prevent cross-contamination
The HVAC system can spread soot and odors throughout the structure if operated during remediation, so it must be shut down and cleaned.
Question 4: Which statement about ozone treatment in fire remediation is TRUE?
- Ozone permanently bonds with soot particles to remove them
- Ozone is effective at treating odor but cannot remove visible soot residue (Correct answer)
- Ozone is safe to use in occupied buildings at all concentrations
- Ozone treatment eliminates the need for surface cleaning
Correct answer: Ozone is effective at treating odor but cannot remove visible soot residue
Ozone oxidizes odor-causing molecules but does not physically remove soot deposits, so surface cleaning is still required.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of applying a shellac-based primer-sealer after fire remediation cleaning?
- To restore color to smoke-damaged paint
- To encapsulate remaining odor-causing compounds that cannot be removed by cleaning (Correct answer)
- To speed up drying of wet-cleaned surfaces
- To prevent mold growth on water-damaged substrates
Correct answer: To encapsulate remaining odor-causing compounds that cannot be removed by cleaning
Shellac-based sealers encapsulate residual odor compounds in porous materials that cannot be fully cleaned, preventing off-gassing.
Question 6: During a smoke damage assessment, a technician notices the odor is strongest near the air returns. This most likely indicates:
- The fire started near the air returns
- Soot and odor compounds have been distributed through the ductwork (Correct answer)
- The deodorization process is nearly complete
- Protein residue is concentrated around the returns
Correct answer: Soot and odor compounds have been distributed through the ductwork
Air returns pull air from living spaces into the duct system, so strong odors there suggest ductwork has become contaminated.
Question 7: In fire remediation, 'smoke webs' are most commonly found:
- On floor surfaces near the ignition point
- In corners, near ceiling edges, and around electrical fixtures (Correct answer)
- Only on exterior-facing walls
- Beneath carpet padding in affected rooms
Correct answer: In corners, near ceiling edges, and around electrical fixtures
Smoke webs form from soot particles that collect in corners, ceiling edges, and around projections where air currents deposit airborne particles.
CPR Fire, Soot & Odor Remediation 3
Fuel oil soot resulting from a puffback event is particularly difficult to remediate because it: