As fast-moving wildfires continue burning across parts of Georgia and the South, an area that is perhaps less prepared for large-scale wildfire events than other regions, fire safety has never been a more relevant topic. Beyond the flames, fire-safety experts say the most difficult phase often begins after the fire is extinguished.
Jenn Kaaoush, Superior Town Councilmember in Superior, Colorado, and co-founder of Superior Rising, knows that reality firsthand. Her initial experience came during the Marshall Fire in 2021, where her home narrowly avoided destruction but was left with significant smoke damage.
“My home was not lost, but it sustained significant smoke damage,” Kaaoush told Southern Living. “The fire was stopped directly in front of my house, while many of the homes around me were destroyed. I spent nearly six months living in a hotel while my home was gutted due to toxic smoke contamination. During that time, I had to fight with my insurance company to get proper testing and remediation, which is a much more complicated process than most people realize.”…