What Does a Fire Restoration Company Do?

A fire in your home or property can be scary. The heat, smoke, and water from firefighters can hurt your house. After a fire, many people ask, “What does a fire restoration company do?” These companies help make your home safe again. They use expert tools and training to fix fire damage and other problems.

In this guide, you will learn what a fire restoration company does step by step.

What Happens After a Fire

When a firefighter puts out a fire, your home may still have problems. There can be water damage, smoke damage, and soot all over. Moisture from the water can lead to mold. Sometimes there are leaks in the plumbing or damage to the roof, floor, ceiling, or basement.

A fire damage restoration team comes in to check for structural damage, hazards, and hidden risks.

Step 1: Emergency Service

A fire restoration company offers emergency service. They come fast, day or night, to keep your property safe. They know how much stress you feel after a disaster like a wildfire or storm.

Step 2: Inspection and Planning

The restoration team does an inspection of your house. They look at the fire damage, smoke, soot, debris, and water damage fire. They check the attic, basement, duct, drywall, furniture, carpet, upholstery, and even your clothing and textile items.

They use special equipment like HEPA filters and vacuum machines to test indoor air quality. They make a plan for the fire restoration process.

Step 3: Water Removal

Many people forget that a fire department uses a lot of water to stop flames. That water can cause damage. The restoration professionals use pumps and water extraction machines to remove extra water. This step helps prevent water damage and stops mold and sewage problems.

Step 4: Drying

After the water is gone, the restoration company uses fans and drying machines. This helps with moisture that can stay inside walls, floor, or carpet. They also look for asbestos, plumbing leaks, or broken electricity lines.

Step 5: Cleaning Soot and Smoke

Soot and smoke are sticky. They smell bad and can hurt your health. Smoke damage restoration is an important job. The team uses ozone, vacuum, and filtration machines to clean smoke damage. They wash furniture, floor, clothing, and even attic spaces.

They also clean duct systems so the odor does not spread through the air.

Step 6: Removing Odor

Bad smells from fire, soot, and smoke can stay for months. The restoration contractors use special tools like ozone machines, HEPA filters, and antimicrobial sprays. This makes your home smell fresh and safe again.

Step 7: Fixing Damage

After cleanup, the company starts fixing the house. This part is called fire damage repair or renovation. It can include:

Drywall repair
Fixing roof and ceiling damage
Replacing carpet and floor
Fixing plumbing or electricity problems
Construction or demolition when needed
Making sure your stove and other appliances are safe

Sometimes they also work on furniture, textile, and clothing so you can use them again.

Step 8: Checking for Hazards

A restoration contractor looks for hazard problems like:

Mold
Asbestos
Weak concrete
Broken plumbing pipes
Bad indoor air quality
Contamination from sewage

This makes sure your home is safe for your family.

Step 9: Help with Insurance

Many people have questions about their insurance policy after a fire. Fire restoration companies help you talk to your insurance provider. They can show proof of damage and write reports. This can help you get money to fix your property.

Extra Services

A good restoration company does more than just fix damage. They may also help with:

Storm damage restoration after a flood, storm, or natural disaster
Water damage restoration
Disaster restoration after a wildfire
Mold remediation
Odor control
Fixing upholstery and furniture

Some people know companies like Servpro for these jobs.

Who Works at a Fire Restoration Company?

A restoration company has many experts. These restoration professionals know about:

Fire safety rules from the National Fire Protection Association
How to use antimicrobial sprays and cleaning tools
How to keep indoor air quality safe
Construction, demolition, and renovation
How to lower risk after a disaster

Why Hire a Fire Restoration Company?

If you try to fix a house after a fire by yourself, it can be dangerous. Fire restoration companies have the right equipment. They know how to handle smoke, soot, heat, and moisture safely.

They also protect your reputation by making your home look good again. Hiring restoration contractors also saves time and stress.

What Does the Fire Restoration Process Look Like?

Here is a short list of the fire restoration process:

Emergency service
Inspection
Water extraction
Drying
Cleaning soot and smoke
Odor removal
Repairs and construction
Insurance help
Final inspection

Common Places with Damage After a Fire

Fire restoration companies look at these places:

Attic
Basement
Roof
Drywall
Ceiling
Floor
Carpet
Plumbing
Electricity
Duct system
Concrete and foundation

Fire Safety Tips

To stay safe, follow these fire safety tips:

Keep your stove clean
Do not leave a candle or stove on
Check electricity and plumbing often
Know your insurance policy
Have a plan for natural disasters like wildfires, floods, or storms

How to Pick the Best Restoration Company

When choosing restoration contractors, look for:

Professional skills and training
Good reputation
24/7 emergency services
Knowledge about fire damage restoration and water damage restoration
Experience with insurance companies

FAQs

What does a fire restoration company do?

A fire restoration company cleans, dries, and fixes your home after a fire. They remove smoke, soot, odor, and help with repairs.

How long does fire restoration take?

The time depends on the damage. Some jobs take a few days, while others take weeks for construction and renovation.

Will insurance cover fire restoration?

Most insurance policies cover fire damage restoration. Your restoration company can help with inspection and reports.

Can a fire restoration company fix water damage too?

Yes. Many restoration companies also do water damage restoration, storm damage restoration, and mold cleanup.

Why is smoke cleanup important?

Smoke damage restoration keeps your health safe. It removes soot, odor, and dangerous particles from the air. Contact us today for more information or call emergency in your area.

Eric Allison

Eric Allison is a seasoned professional in property restoration, serving as the primary contact and founder of Preferred Restoration Services, LLC, based in Tustin, California. With a career spanning over two decades, Eric has developed extensive expertise in addressing fire, water, and mold damage, ensuring properties are restored to their pre-loss condition.

Fire Damage

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 62 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Yelp  
   
   Michelle D. 
 April 23, 2025
 
 
 Verified A straight up honest broker who knows his stuff.  Excellent communication and very helpful problem solving our mold issue
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Jessica M. 
 April 1, 2025
 
 
 Verified Giving Eric a 5-star review, and we haven't even started any work yet. He came to gave us his professional opinion and quote to address a mold issue in our house. He is clearly very knowledgeable. His opinion was wildly different than the previous estimate we received, from an agency that wanted to charge us about 4 times as much. He did a much more thorough assessment, and explained his reasoning for why he felt that our issue wasn't as extreme as the previous agency. He even gave us some suggestions as to how we could address our issue on our own, if need be. He doesn't appear "out to get you"... there are a lot of companies that work off the "mold is gold" motto, but he doesn't seem to be one of them. If we end up going with him for the job, we'll update the review... but, I was just so happy and relieved with his approach, estimate, knowledge, and his overall professionalism. Glad there are still people like this out there!
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Ben T. 
 March 10, 2025
 
 
 Verified Eric and his team were prompt and professional. From diagnosis through cleanup they were very thorough.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Julia H. 
 March 7, 2025
 
 
 Verified Above and beyond expectations. Eric and his team were not only helpful, kind, and relatable to our issues, they were extremely professional and reliable. Always answered our calls. Showed up on time with great attitudes. Respected our home. Most importantly, got the job done in a fast and timely manner. Can't recommend enough.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Lorraine R. 
 March 2, 2025
 
 
 Verified We had a leak under the kitchen sink and called another company first. We were told there is mold and they would have to tent the area to remove it and that we'd also need a whole new cabinet. Of course, it was pretty expensive and they said we couldn't use the kitchen for a couple weeks. Feeling it's always wise to get more than one estimate, I called Preferred Restoration as they had excellent reviews. Eric replied promptly and came out to look things over. He felt the mold wasn't bad enough to require a tent and also felt a whole new cabinet was not required. Needless to say, we accepted his estimate immediately and the work was done in a professional manner. (They don't do the carpentry work, but can make a recommendation.) I highly recommend Preferred Restoration. I believe it's an honest company with skilled professionals.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   William P. 
 January 31, 2025
 
 
 Verified Eric the owner was great to work and keep me informed the entire time that the moisture was being removed from my home. Highly recommend Eric and his team for any job!
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Elizabeth R. 
 January 3, 2025
 
 
 Verified Right from the start I knew I was going to be in good hands with this company. The response time was super quick and getting Eric to come out to my home to assess the situation was quicker than expected. Eric was very knowledgeable and answered all my questions thoroughly. He took his time to listen to all my concerns to carefully address the issues in my home. He made a stressful situation feel less stressful and manageable. I definitely recommend this company and will contact Eric if needed in the future. Thanks again Eric!
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Binh N. 
 December 5, 2024
 
 
 Verified We discovered a mold issue in one of our bedrooms and reached out to Preferred Restoration Services for guidance. Eric was extremely helpful in helping us navigate what needed to be done since we had no experience with this type of issue. He shepherded us through the process and helped us understand every step that needed to be performed. He referred us to a couple of contractors which we used for plumbing and testing and they were also excellent. This was helpful so that we didn't have to figure out who else we needed to work with and vet them as well. Everyone from Preferred Restoration Services was very professional, communication was excellent, and customer service was outstanding. We had a lot of questions and they were all answered very quickly. I highly recommend Preferred Restoration Services for any damage restoration needs.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Tyler H. 
 November 23, 2024
 
 
 Verified Preferred Restoration is the best service in town! If you want quality, fair pricing & guidance, call Preferred Restoration!  Ask for Eric, he is very helpful and quick.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Phil L. 
 November 1, 2024
 
 
 Verified We had an issue with a sewer line that leaked and potentially needed some soil remediation under the house.  I gave Eric a call and made an appointment for the next day for him to come out and assess the situation.  Throughout the process his communication was great and he was on time (even gave me a call to let me know he was on his way).  He went above an beyond to even check inside the house for potential water damage/mold.  We did not have to move forward with any remediation. I appreciate Eric's communication, thoroughness, and HONESTY.  We will keep his contact if we need any work in the future.  I highly recommend Eric and Preferred Restoration!