Charred Wood and ash from a House Fire
There are a number of charred hardwood fragments from the
wood used in furnature or for decoration from this home along
with ash and more recent skin flakes and other common household particles. Many of
the particles in the background are ash. This was from an
environmental tapelift collected in a home after remediation from a house fire.
Transmitted Off Crossed Polarized Light and Reflected Darkfield Illumination
Definition/Function:
Charring or coking of wood tends to retain the structure of the wood. As a result the
genus or even the species of the wood can often be determined
from an examination of the structure still evident. There is a reduction in the size of
the structures of about 20% typically. The fully ashed wood
is colorless and very finely divided.
Significance in the Environment:
Many types of wood are used in a wood structure building. The studs and structural beams
in a wood building are often Douglas fir or Pine. This
wood is often the dominant type of charred wood in the burnt building. The finish woods
are generally hardwoods though Cedar and Pine are also used
as a common paneling in some regions. Baseboard molding and other decorative wood
structures tend to be hardwood.
Characteristic Features:
Associated Particles:
References:
