A house fire leaves three kinds of damage: what burned, the smoke and soot that spread through the rest of the house, and the water used to put the fire out. The first two days decide how much of the second and third can be saved.
What to do first
- Stay out until the fire department clears the building.
- Don’t wipe soot. It smears and sets.
- Don’t run the HVAC. It pulls soot through the ducts into rooms the fire never reached.
- Secure the house. If the roof or walls are open, emergency tarping and board-up keeps out rain and intruders. Our crew is dispatched within 1 hour for tarping and board-up.
- Call your restoration company, then report the claim.
Why fast response matters
Soot is acidic and etches surfaces. Smoke odor sets into porous materials. Quick action saves contents and cuts the scope.
The water from firefighting is its own problem. In Florida heat, wet drywall, insulation and subfloors need drying, or mold can follow.
What fire and smoke cleanup involves
- Board-up and tarping to secure the structure.
- Water removal and drying from firefighting.
- Soot removal with methods matched to the type of soot and the surface.
- Contents: cleaning what can be saved and documenting what can’t.
- Odor removal that treats hidden sources such as wall cavities and ducts.
- Repairs, once the structure is clean and dry.
How the insurance claim works
Your carrier decides coverage based on your policy and the cause. We document the fire, smoke and water damage from the first visit with photos and logs. We bill your insurance directly, and you are copied on everything we send your adjuster.
Next step
A person answers every call, 24/7. For non-emergency fire and smoke work, we aim to schedule the same day. Read more about fire and smoke damage restoration, or call (904) 862-7522.
