What types of fire residues can be found after a fire?

Not all fires produce the same kind of residue — it depends on what burned. A simple wood fire leaves a dry, powdery ash, while a fire involving plastics, paints, or synthetic materials creates oily, sticky soot loaded with chemicals.

Generally, we see three main residue types:

1. Dry soot residues – From high-temperature fires; easier to clean.

2. Wet or greasy residues – From low-heat, oxygen-poor fires; tend to smear and cling.

3. Protein residues – From burning food or organic matter; invisible but pungent and corrosive.

Each type behaves differently on surfaces and requires tailored cleaning or remediation. Understanding residue composition helps identify whether airborne toxins like PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) or corrosive chlorides might be present.