Urban Fire Residue Screen
A fire in a city or town can have disastrous consequences not just for the property owner but also for everyone living nearby.
A huge number of contaminants can be produced and spread by urban blazes, potentially putting at risk residents many streets away.
Although the UK has never experienced a large-scale urban inferno like the one that swept through Los Angeles in 2025 and destroyed entire neighbourhoods, smaller fires affecting homes and businesses spring up daily.
The lessons learned in California are shining a light on potential soil contamination risks for areas surrounding these blazes. These include asbestos, heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury and, naturally, various hydrocarbons. Many of these are part of standard soil contamination tests. However, we now know that there are other elements that are much less frequently checked but just as likely to be present. And in some cases, these can pose even more of a health hazard.
These include lithium (from batteries), thallium (electronics) and TCE (paint strippers, adhesives).
How far can toxic elements from a house fire spread?
The extent of the contamination depends on a number of factors. The first of these pertains to the contents of the property that burned down. Our testing suite takes in the most-common elements based on the findings of investigators in Los Angeles helping residents deal with the aftermath of the fires that swept through the city in 2025.
Another factor to consider is the size of the blaze. Was it a small residential dwelling or a large multi-family block of flats? Or even a commercial premise? Was it completely destroyed by the fire or was it a relatively small blaze quickly contained by firefighters?
Finally, what were the weather conditions on the day of the fire? Was there a breeze and, if so, which way was it blowing?
These factors will determine the type of contamination risk faced by the neighbourhood and how far the potantial contamination may have spread.
Soil testing for toxic chemicals: Quick how-to guide
In the aftermath of the L.A. fires, a group called CONSORTIUM was formed to “help fire-affected families understand and address environmental risks”.
According to its soil guide, published to help Los Angelenos understand the risks they face, residents should be aware of a variety of potentially hazardous materials that may have been spread as a result of the fire:
“When a home catches fire, materials like car batteries, lead paint, major machinery, and appliances burn with it and can create a noxious cloud of dangerous substances. As ash, smoke, and debris from the fire settle, these chemicals can spread across the property and into the soil.
“Depending on the contaminant and the amount of exposure, they may increase the risk of respiratory disease, neurological effects, reproductive effects, or certain cancers. Your risk depends on factors like what contaminants or hazards are present, how much you are exposed to, and how often.”
Which elements can contaminate soil near home or business fires?
This is an extensive list. The Safe Soil UK Urban Fire Residue Screen aims to include the most prominent ones and covers the following:
Antimony (Sb) - Metal used in flame retardants, ceramics and batteries
Arsenic (As) - Highly toxic element found in older glass, treated wood and pesticides
Barium (Ba) - Soft metal used in paint, electrical components and bricks
Beryllium (Be) - Lightweight metal used in alloys for aerospace and electronic components
Cadmium (Cd) - Metal found in rechargeable batteries, pigments and even plastics
Chromium (Cr) - Metal used in stainless steel, metal plating and dyes
Cobalt (Co) - Hard metal used in industrial magnets, superalloys and blue pigments
Copper (Cu) - Very common metal used in electrical wiring, plumbing pipes and even coins
Lead (Pb) - Extremely toxic heavy metal found in old paint, batteries and variety of metal debris
Mercury (Hg) - Liquid metal used in older thermometers, switches, lightbulbs and tooth fillings
Molybdenum (Mo) - Mineral used to make strong steel alloys and lubricants
Nickel (Ni) - Shiny metal used in stainless steel, batteries as well as coins
Selenium (Se) - Nonmetal used in electronics, photocopiers and glass-making processes
Silver (Ag) - Precious metal used in electronics, solar panels and some medical tools
Thallium (Tl) - Heavy and toxic metal formerly used in rat poisons and electronics
Vanadium (V) - Hard element used to strengthen steel and in making of industrial tools
Zinc (Zn) - Metal used to coat iron to prevent it from rusting; also found in brass and rubber
Lithium (Li) - Soft metal used in batteries, lightweight alloys and medicines
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6) - Chemical compound used in anti-corrosion coatings, electroplating and pigments
PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) - Chemicals produced by the incomplete burning of organic materials (wood, coal, petrol, gas, oil, tobacco et cetera)
Asbestos - Highly toxic group of silicate minerals used for their ability to handle extreme temperatures in products as varied as building insulation, brake pads and roof tiles
TCE (Trichloroethene) - Liquid chemical used for metal degreasing, spot removers, paint strippers, adhesives and refrigerants
Please note that in some cases, PFAS (also known as forever chemicals) can also be found in the soils of areas surrounding urban fires. These elements are not included here but can be ordered separately if there’s reason to believe that they are present (if, for example, commercial and/or industrial premises were destroyed by fire) here: