Collection of wildfire residue
At Pasteur Laboratory, we recommend using clear tape (not frosted) to collect the wildfire residue (ash, char, and soot) samples rather than wipe or micro-vacuuming. When using tape lift, the integrity of the particles remains intact.
This method involves applying a clear tape directly to the surface of visible suspected areas containing ash, char and soot particle. A piece of transparent tape (1.5 inch long) is used. One end is folded over to provide a handle and press the sticky surface using a light pressure against the suspected area. The tape is then placed on a clear plastic bag or mounts on a glass slide.
After collecting, sample is labeled with sample number and other information (date of collection, project name and number, location of the sample, etc.) on the chain of custody (CoC) form and sent to the laboratory for identification. The sample is analyzed for ash, char and soot particle in the laboratory using a polarized light microscope (PLM) with reflected light source.