Fire Damage Restoration
Smoke, soot, water, odor — fire damage is rarely just the burn. Restoration 1's local experts handle all of it, 24/7. Enter your ZIP code to find your nearest team.
What Is Fire Damage Restoration?
Fire damage restoration is the multi-step process of cleaning, repairing, and rebuilding a property after a fire — including soot removal, smoke odor elimination, water damage cleanup from firefighting, and structural repairs.
Restoration 1 provides complete fire damage restoration through every phase, from initial assessment to final reconstruction.
Common Types of Fire and Smoke Damage
Even small fires can spread damage far beyond what's visible. Restoration 1 handles every type:
- Smoke Damage — penetrates drywall, furniture, and carpets; odors can linger for months
- Soot Residue — fine particles that stain surfaces and corrode metal
- Water Damage — from firefighting efforts, often hidden in walls and floors
- Structural Damage — weakened framing, charred materials, compromised integrity
- Odor Damage — embedded smoke smells requiring specialized deodorization
Our Fire Damage Restoration Process
From the moment you call, here's what to expect:
- We arrive fast — local team responds 24/7, on-site within hours
- We assess and plan — full inspection, written scope, insurance documentation
- We secure your property — board-up, tarping, and hazard mitigation
- We clean up — water extraction, soot removal, odor elimination
- We restore — repairs and reconstruction to pre-loss condition
You get one team and one point of contact through every step.
Why Professional Fire Damage Restoration Is Important
Fire leaves behind more than visible damage. Toxic residues, microscopic soot, hidden moisture, and embedded odors all require specialized equipment and training to address safely. DIY cleanup can spread contaminants deeper and void your insurance claim. Restoration 1's certified technicians handle fire damage the right way — start to finish.
Fire Damage Restoration Services Near You
Restoration 1 is the largest independent restoration company in America — with locally owned teams across the country. That means your fire damage is handled by neighbors invested in your community, backed by a national network of resources, training, and 24/7 response.
Find your local team — enter your ZIP code.
What to Do After a Fire
If you've just experienced a fire, do not re-enter the property until cleared by the fire department, contact your insurance company within 24 hours, document all damage with photos and video before any cleanup, secure the property with emergency board-up and roof tarping, and call a certified fire damage restoration company within the first day. Soot and smoke residue become significantly harder to remove the longer they sit.
How to Prevent Fire Damage In Your Home
The most effective ways to prevent house fires are installing and maintaining smoke alarms, never leaving cooking unattended, inspecting heating systems and dryer vents annually, and storing flammable materials properly. Cooking and heating equipment cause more than half of all residential fires combined — both are easily preventable with routine maintenance and attention.
Answers to the common questions homeowners and business owners ask Restoration 1 most often about fire damage costs, timelines, and insurance.
Fire Damage FAQs
- Smoke-damaged clothes are not safe to wear until professionally cleaned. Smoke particles and soot contain toxic chemicals from burned materials — including carcinogens, formaldehyde, and other harmful compounds — that can cause skin irritation and respiratory symptoms. Standard home washing rarely removes these particles. Professional smoke-damage laundering uses specialized detergents and ozone treatment to safely restore most fabrics. Discard any clothing that retains odor after professional cleaning.
Smoke-damaged clothes are not safe to wear until professionally cleaned. Smoke particles and soot contain toxic chemicals from burned materials — including carcinogens, formaldehyde, and other harmful compounds — that can cause skin irritation and respiratory symptoms. Standard home washing rarely removes these particles. Professional smoke-damage laundering uses specialized detergents and ozone treatment to safely restore most fabrics. Discard any clothing that retains odor after professional cleaning.
- Most fire-damaged homes can be fully restored when the structural framing is intact and remediation begins quickly. Restoration includes structural repairs, smoke and soot removal, water damage cleanup from firefighting, complete deodorization, and reconstruction of damaged areas. Severely damaged homes with compromised framing, foundation issues, or total loss of major systems may require partial or full rebuild instead. A professional damage assessment determines the right path within the first 48 hours.
Most fire-damaged homes can be fully restored when the structural framing is intact and remediation begins quickly. Restoration includes structural repairs, smoke and soot removal, water damage cleanup from firefighting, complete deodorization, and reconstruction of damaged areas. Severely damaged homes with compromised framing, foundation issues, or total loss of major systems may require partial or full rebuild instead. A professional damage assessment determines the right path within the first 48 hours.
- Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover fire damage to your home and personal belongings, including damage from smoke, soot, and water used to extinguish the fire. Coverage typically includes structural repairs, replacement of damaged contents, and additional living expenses if your home is uninhabitable. Intentional fires, fires from illegal activity, and damage to certain valuables above policy limits are usually excluded. Restoration 1 works directly with your insurer to document the claim properly.
Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover fire damage to your home and personal belongings, including damage from smoke, soot, and water used to extinguish the fire. Coverage typically includes structural repairs, replacement of damaged contents, and additional living expenses if your home is uninhabitable. Intentional fires, fires from illegal activity, and damage to certain valuables above policy limits are usually excluded. Restoration 1 works directly with your insurer to document the claim properly.
- Renters insurance typically covers your personal belongings damaged by fire — including furniture, electronics, clothing, and important documents — and most policies also cover additional living expenses if your apartment is uninhabitable while repairs are completed. The building structure itself is the landlord's responsibility under their separate policy. Standard renters policies cover damage from accidental fires, smoke, and soot; intentional acts are excluded.
Renters insurance typically covers your personal belongings damaged by fire — including furniture, electronics, clothing, and important documents — and most policies also cover additional living expenses if your apartment is uninhabitable while repairs are completed. The building structure itself is the landlord's responsibility under their separate policy. Standard renters policies cover damage from accidental fires, smoke, and soot; intentional acts are excluded.
- File a fire damage insurance claim by contacting your insurer immediately, documenting all damage with photos and video before any cleanup, and obtaining a written estimate from a certified restoration company. Provide receipts or proof of value for damaged belongings, and keep records of additional living expenses if you cannot occupy the home. Restoration 1 documents the cause and scope of damage in the format insurers require and can work directly with your adjuster.
File a fire damage insurance claim by contacting your insurer immediately, documenting all damage with photos and video before any cleanup, and obtaining a written estimate from a certified restoration company. Provide receipts or proof of value for damaged belongings, and keep records of additional living expenses if you cannot occupy the home. Restoration 1 documents the cause and scope of damage in the format insurers require and can work directly with your adjuster.
- You can typically return home after a fire once the property has been deemed structurally safe by the fire department, utilities are restored, and major hazards have been mitigated — usually within 1 to 7 days for minor fires. For larger fires involving structural damage, smoke contamination throughout the home, or water damage from firefighting, full restoration before re-occupancy may take weeks to months. Emergency board-up and initial cleanup make the property habitable faster.
You can typically return home after a fire once the property has been deemed structurally safe by the fire department, utilities are restored, and major hazards have been mitigated — usually within 1 to 7 days for minor fires. For larger fires involving structural damage, smoke contamination throughout the home, or water damage from firefighting, full restoration before re-occupancy may take weeks to months. Emergency board-up and initial cleanup make the property habitable faster.
- Fire damage restoration typically costs between $3,000 and $50,000 or more, depending on the extent of structural damage, the size of the affected area, smoke and soot infiltration, and water damage from firefighting. Small kitchen fires limited to one room may cost $3,000 to $10,000; major structural fires can run $25,000 to $100,000 or more. Restoration 1 provides a written, itemized estimate before any work begins and works directly with your insurer.
Fire damage restoration typically costs between $3,000 and $50,000 or more, depending on the extent of structural damage, the size of the affected area, smoke and soot infiltration, and water damage from firefighting. Small kitchen fires limited to one room may cost $3,000 to $10,000; major structural fires can run $25,000 to $100,000 or more. Restoration 1 provides a written, itemized estimate before any work begins and works directly with your insurer.
- Smoke damage is generally covered under homeowners and renters insurance policies, even when no flames touched the property. Coverage typically includes professional cleaning of walls, ceilings, furniture, fabrics, and HVAC systems, along with deodorization. Smoke damage from nearby wildfires, cooking fires, electrical incidents, or neighboring apartments is usually included. Damage from chronic indoor smoking (cigarettes, etc.) is typically excluded as it's considered preventable wear and tear.
Smoke damage is generally covered under homeowners and renters insurance policies, even when no flames touched the property. Coverage typically includes professional cleaning of walls, ceilings, furniture, fabrics, and HVAC systems, along with deodorization. Smoke damage from nearby wildfires, cooking fires, electrical incidents, or neighboring apartments is usually included. Damage from chronic indoor smoking (cigarettes, etc.) is typically excluded as it's considered preventable wear and tear.
- Smoke damage includes any deterioration, discoloration, or contamination caused by smoke particles, soot, or chemical residues from a fire — even when flames did not directly reach the affected items. Common smoke damage includes yellowed walls and ceilings, permanent staining on textiles, corrosion on metal surfaces, soot inside HVAC systems, and lingering odors embedded in porous materials. Smoke damage can extend far beyond the room where the fire occurred.
Smoke damage includes any deterioration, discoloration, or contamination caused by smoke particles, soot, or chemical residues from a fire — even when flames did not directly reach the affected items. Common smoke damage includes yellowed walls and ceilings, permanent staining on textiles, corrosion on metal surfaces, soot inside HVAC systems, and lingering odors embedded in porous materials. Smoke damage can extend far beyond the room where the fire occurred.
- After smoke damage, throw away any food (including canned and packaged items — heat compromises seals), medications and cosmetics, opened personal care products, and burned or charred materials. Salvageable items typically include hard non-porous surfaces, most electronics (after professional cleaning), and clothing or fabrics (after specialized smoke-removal laundering). Porous items like mattresses, upholstered furniture, and ceiling tiles often cannot be fully restored and should be professionally evaluated before discarding.
After smoke damage, throw away any food (including canned and packaged items — heat compromises seals), medications and cosmetics, opened personal care products, and burned or charred materials. Salvageable items typically include hard non-porous surfaces, most electronics (after professional cleaning), and clothing or fabrics (after specialized smoke-removal laundering). Porous items like mattresses, upholstered furniture, and ceiling tiles often cannot be fully restored and should be professionally evaluated before discarding.