Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
Once the fire is out, soot starts corroding metal, electronics, and finished surfaces within hours. We secure the structure same-day, mitigate the suppression water, and run soot and odor remediation to IICRC S700 — then rebuild what was lost under one project.
How a fire restoration actually runs
- Same-day board-up & tarping. Plywood over windows and openings, roof tarps over fire-department access points or burn-through, structural shoring if needed. The goal is to secure the property before the first overnight.
- Water mitigation from suppression. Fire departments leave behind hundreds to thousands of gallons of water. Extraction, demolition of unsalvageable saturated materials, and structural drying start in parallel with soot work.
- Content pack-out and inventory. Salvageable contents are inventoried, photographed, packed out to a clean environment, and cleaned off-site. Non-salvageable contents are documented for the claim.
- Soot and surface remediation. Dry, wet, protein, and fuel-oil soot each require a different method (see FAQ). Surfaces are HEPA-vacuumed, chemically cleaned to the right pH, and sealed where framing absorbed the burn signature.
- Odor neutralization. HEPA air scrubbing with carbon, hydroxyl or ozone treatment of affected air space, thermal fogging for porous goods, and sealing primers on framing. Odor is neutralized, not masked.
- HVAC decontamination. Smoke pulls through the air handler and coats every duct surface. Without HVAC cleaning, odor returns the first time the system runs.
- Reconstruction. Drywall, flooring, trim, cabinetry, paint, and any framing or structural rebuild — all on one schedule with one project manager and one final invoice to the carrier.
Do not re-enter or start cleaning yourself.
Soot is acidic and corrosive. Wiping it with a household cleaner can spread oils into untouched areas and ruin salvageable contents permanently. Wait for board-up, let the structure be released by the fire department, and call us first — we keep your salvage rate high and your claim clean.
Fire is out? Call before the first overnight.
Same-day board-up, water mitigation, and content protection across the Chicago suburbs. Insurance documentation and Xactimate scope from the first visit.
Call Now for Emergency Help(224) 454-4376Insurance claim coordination from day one. We are not a "preferred vendor" — you choose us.
Fire & Smoke FAQs
What does fire damage restoration actually include?
Three phases. Phase 1 (hours 0–48): board-up, tarping, water mitigation from the suppression effort, and content pack-out. Phase 2 (days 2–14): soot and smoke remediation, odor neutralization, HVAC decontamination, and surface cleaning per IICRC S700. Phase 3 (weeks 2–8+): full reconstruction — drywall, paint, flooring, trim, cabinetry, and any structural rebuild. We coordinate all three phases under one project and one carrier claim.
How do you actually eliminate smoke odor?
Smoke odor is not "cleaned off" — it has to be neutralized at the molecular level and the source materials handled. We use HEPA air scrubbers with carbon stages, hydroxyl or ozone treatment for affected air space, thermal fogging for porous materials, and sealing primers (like KILZ Restoration) on framing once cleaned. If insulation, drywall, or carpet pad absorbed smoke past a salvageable threshold, those materials are removed rather than masked — masking always fails 6–12 months later.
What are the different types of soot, and why does it matter?
Soot type drives cleaning method. Dry soot (fast-burning paper, wood) responds to dry sponges and HEPA vacuuming. Wet soot (smoldering plastic, synthetics) is sticky and smears — it needs solvent cleaners. Protein soot (kitchen grease fires) is nearly invisible but coats everything and produces the strongest odor — it requires alkaline degreasers and full surface stripping. Fuel-oil soot (puffback from furnaces) is the most aggressive. Wrong method on the wrong soot ruins surfaces and locks in odor.
Will my insurance cover fire damage?
Standard homeowners policies cover fire damage including the structure, contents, additional living expenses (ALE) if you can't occupy the home, and the cost of suppression-related water damage. We document everything from the first visit, write the scope in Xactimate format your adjuster uses, and handle supplements through final invoice. You choose your contractor — carriers cannot require you to use a "preferred vendor."
How fast can you respond to a fire emergency?
For an active fire, call 911 first. Once the fire is out and the structure is released by the fire department, we can be on-site the same day for board-up, water mitigation, and content protection across the Chicago suburbs. The earlier we start, the more contents are salvageable — soot becomes acidic and corrodes electronics, metal, and finished wood within 24–72 hours.
Get Your Free Assessment
Tell us about your situation. Our team will contact you within one hour to discuss restoration options and next steps.