Marshall Fire Air Quality Information

All outside air intake into buildings were closed before the smoke plume arrived and remained turned off until evacuation orders were lifted and the buildings were readied for staff and students on Wed, January 5, 2022. This proactive action greatly reduced the potential intrusion of combustion byproducts into the buildings through the HVAC systems. The initial visual inspection of the interior of the buildings confirmed no accumulations of settled combustion byproducts intrusion through the HVAC system. Small amounts of settled fire byproducts were found some at door jams, leaky window sills, or skylights. 

Although there was little combustion byproduct visible inside the buildings, out of an abundance of caution BVSD hired two professional fire/disaster remediation firms to thoroughly clean the 8 affected schools. 

BVSD has relied on the professional expertise of our remediation contractor and industrial hygienist to thoroughly and sufficiently clean the affected buildings. ATI and ServPro entered buildings as soon as BVSD was given access and performed the necessary specialty cleaning to return the buildings to their pre-event condition and enable us to open schools. 

According to the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder (CIRES), the post-fire smell is from VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Some (but not all) are bound to particles and can be trapped by a HEPA filter. The HEPA filter will remove 99.97% of particles and VOCs that are bound to particles. The restoration professionals have been operating the air filtration devices (AFD) and school staff are operating classroom air purifiers that both utilize HEPA filters. Hydroxyl generators were used to address odors in the buildings.

There was no observed combustion byproduct accumulations above the ceilings or on ceiling tile.

All outside air introduced to the buildings moves through air ducts. Air handlers were shut-off shortly after the fire ignited to prevent outside air entering the buildings. There was no observed combustion byproduct accumulations above the ceilings or on ceiling tile.

Because the air intake systems were shut down, there was very little combustion byproduct inside the buildings. Out of an abundance of caution, BVSD hired two restoration professional fire/disaster remediation firms to thoroughly clean the eight affected schools. We are relying on the professional expertise of these companies regarding the cleanliness of the buildings. All horizontal surfaces, such as desks, chairs, shelves, floors etc. were wet wiped. Industrial air filtration devices were used to move large volumes of air through the space, stirring up particles and filtering them out of the air as they move through the device. Items in the classrooms that could not be wiped down, such as learning materials, school supplies, etc. were cleaned in this manner. Please see the background information provided above that details specific cleaning that occurred.

Because the air intake systems were shut down, there was very little settled combustion byproducts inside buildings. Out of an abundance of caution, BVSD hired two restoration professional fire/disaster remediation firms to thoroughly clean the eight affected schools. Large crews were onsite as soon as BVSD had access to buildings. They were at each school for 12 hrs/day for multiple days to ensure the schools were ready for students on 1/5/22.

Playground equipment was power washed.

BCPH is working to set up outdoor air monitors in the burn areas and will be our source of information concerning outdoor air quality.