Once the fire department leaves, a second set of problems starts. Soot settles on every surface, smoke odor works its way into drywall, insulation, fabrics and ductwork, and the water used to put the fire out begins soaking floors and walls. Even a small kitchen fire can affect rooms that never saw a flame.
First steps after a fire
- Don't go back in until officials clear the property.
- Don't wipe soot off walls or upholstery. The wrong method can smear it and set the stain.
- Don't run the HVAC system, since it can spread soot through the house.
- Photograph everything you can safely reach, and keep receipts for hotels, meals and emergency purchases.
- Contact your insurance company to report the loss.
What we handle
- Emergency board-up and roof tarping. Broken windows, doors and roof openings are secured against weather and break-ins.
- Water removal and drying. Water from fire hoses or sprinklers is extracted and the structure is dried so it doesn't turn into a mold problem.
- Soot and smoke cleanup. The cleaning method is matched to the type of residue (dry soot, oily kitchen residue, protein from cooking fires) and the surface it's on.
- Odor removal. Deodorization targets odor where it actually lives (porous materials, framing, HVAC) instead of masking it.
- Contents cleaning and pack-out. Salvageable belongings are inventoried, cleaned and stored while the home is restored.
- Demolition and rebuild. Fire-damaged materials are removed and the structure is repaired.
Fire, smoke or both?
Fire damage is where heat and flames burned or weakened materials. Smoke damage can reach the whole house, including closets, attic and ductwork, and is often the bigger part of the cleanup. A walkthrough identifies both, so nothing is missed and the odor doesn't come back on the first hot day.
Claim-ready documentation
We photograph damaged areas and contents, note what can be cleaned and what can't, and give you an organized record you can share with your insurer and adjuster. You stay in control of your claim. Our job is to document and restore.