Smoke Damage Cleanup

The aftermath of a fire in your home or business can be devastating and can leave a home or business owner with a feeling of being out of control and unsure of next steps.    Disaster cleanup companies like Certified Water, Smoke and Fire provide expertise, comfort, and a sense of order in these situations.  Here are the steps we recommend:

1. Notify your insurance carrier or agent to get information about securing your home, filing a claim and finding a reputable fire restoration company.
2. Call a local fire cleanup company and speak to an experienced professional who can provide guidance and an action plan specific to your situation.
3. If it is safe to do so, take pictures for documentation of affected areas and contents.

Cleaning services performed by a certified professional fire damage cleanup team will involve the following steps:

1. Communicate with you, your insurance company and your adjuster, as applicable, throughout the process.
2. Assess extent and severity of smoke damage and soot throughout the affected areas.
3. Take photos and room measurements for documentation.
4. Set equipment to facilitate air exchange and deodorization.
5. Remove non-salvageable building materials and contents.
6. Set drying equipment to dry any areas that may have been saturated with water.
7. Thoroughly clean all affected structural surfaces as approved by your adjuster.
8. Clean affected contents on site or pack contents out and clean at storage facility.
9. Store and return contents if applicable.
10. Provide final documentation to your insurance company on your behalf.

Smoke damage cleanup time depends on several factors such as the amount and duration of smoke, the type of fire, materials exposed and size of structure.  Generally, the soot removal process can take from 4 to 10 days.   If repairs are necessary following fire damage cleanup, additional time would be needed.  Also keep in mind that your insurance carrier may need time to investigate and determine the cause of loss prior to the start of restoration services.

You can check websites or call directly to confirm industry certifications (like IICRC FSRT), Better Business Bureau rating and length of time in business.

Certified fire cleaning professionals are trained in determining the proper cleaning products for specific situations based on the chemical makeup of the smoke resulting from the fire.  Using the wrong household cleaning products can actually spread the soot, causing it to seep into materials making things worse.  Fire restoration companies also have special commercial equipment for exchanging air and deodorizing the affected areas which is a critical component to removing any lingering odors.

This is dependent on the facts pertaining to your specific situation including the size of the area affected, the severity of the smoke and fire damage and possibly the health and ages of the current occupants.  The decision of remaining in your home or staying off site during fire cleaning should be discussed with your insurance representative.