Garage Fire Soil Question - Ask Extension
Hi there,
About 2.5 years ago, our garage completely burnt down with both our cars inside. Our garage is detached and behind our house. On the other ...
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Garage Fire Soil Question #925213
Asked February 28, 2026, 6:24 PM EST
Hi there,
About 2.5 years ago, our garage completely burnt down with both our cars inside. Our garage is detached and behind our house. On the other side of the garage was an additional section of yard that we used as a veggie garden. Since the fire, we have not used that section of at yard for anything. I was wondering how to go about testing the soil to make sure that no harmful chemicals leached into our soil. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Sarah
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Wow sorry for this loss. This is an excellent question, as I would think some contaminates might linger in the soil after a fire. Many of the agriculture extension offices that test for nutrients do not necessarily have the laboratory abilities to test for heavy metals and contaminates. I did find a list of some laboratories' that were recommended by another state. Each lab. has a contact email address. If you reach out to them, they might be able to give you direction and information for testing.
The other alternative could be to change your method from in ground gardening to using elevated beds with a clean soil fill. It might seem costly in the beginning, but it would give you years of gardening with peace of mind.
Thanks for contacting Ask extension I hope this answer helps.
Testing for contaminants in soil, water and plants - Managing Soil Health
The other alternative could be to change your method from in ground gardening to using elevated beds with a clean soil fill. It might seem costly in the beginning, but it would give you years of gardening with peace of mind.
Thanks for contacting Ask extension I hope this answer helps.
Testing for contaminants in soil, water and plants - Managing Soil Health
