Fire and smoke damage restoration
After the fire department leaves, we secure the home, clean soot and smoke residue, and remove the odour at its source, not with perfume.
How we handle it
Even a small kitchen fire leaves soot on every surface and an odour that gets into drywall, cabinets and clothing. Smoke residue is acidic, so cleaning early saves more of what you own. We start by making the home secure, then test surfaces to choose the right cleaning method for each one. Firefighting water gets dried the same way as any water damage.
Call us when
- You have had a kitchen, dryer or electrical fire, even a small one
- Smoke from a fire next door or in your building got into your unit
- Soot is on walls or ceilings, or a puff-back from your furnace left black film
- A smoke odour will not go away after cleaning and airing out
- Windows, doors or the roof need to be boarded up or tarped tonight
Before we arrive: safe first steps
- Wait for the fire department to tell you the home is safe to enter.
- Leave the power, furnace and air conditioning off until they are checked. Running them spreads soot.
- Do not wipe soot off walls with water or household cleaners. It smears and can stain for good.
- Throw away food, drinks and medicine that were exposed to heat, smoke or firefighting water.
- Take photos of every room before anything is moved or cleaned.
Our process, step by step
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Step 1
Secure the home
Board-up of windows and doors and a roof tarp if needed, the same day.
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Step 2
Assess and test
We test soot type on each surface so cleaning removes it instead of driving it in.
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Step 3
Dry the water
Firefighting water is extracted and dried with daily readings.
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Step 4
Clean surfaces
Dry sponges, HEPA vacuums and the right cleaners for walls, ceilings and cabinets.
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Step 5
Remove the odour
Odour is treated at the source with cleaning, sealing and air scrubbers. No masking sprays.
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Step 6
Rebuild
Damaged materials are replaced and painted, or we hand off to your own contractor.
Fire safety, in plain words
- If you see flames, smell smoke or smell gas, leave and call 911 first. Call us after everyone is safe.
- Soot and ash are irritants. Wear a mask, gloves and long sleeves if you have to go in, and keep children and pets out.
- Smoke alarms that went through a fire should be replaced. Test the rest of your alarms once you are back home.
Insurance basics
Fire is one of the most commonly covered losses on a home policy, but coverage, limits and deductibles vary. Report it to your insurer as soon as you can. We can start the make-safe work right away and share our photos and notes with your adjuster when you ask us to.
General information only. We are not your insurer or your adjuster, and we cannot tell you what your policy covers.
How claims usually workWhat it usually costs
Typical ranges in Canadian dollars, before tax. Assessments and written estimates are free.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Board-up and roof tarp visit Same-day make-safe, materials included | $400 to $1,200 |
| Smoke and soot cleaning, one room Walls, ceiling, fixtures, odour treatment | $1,500 to $4,000 |
| Contained kitchen fire Cleaning, odour removal, cabinet assessment | $4,000 to $15,000 |
| Larger fires Scoped with you and your insurer | Quoted after assessment |
Ranges are for homeowners paying directly. Fire jobs are usually insurance claims, priced to the insurer's guidelines once the adjuster has seen the damage. See all costs.
Common questions
Can my clothes and furniture be saved?
Often, yes. Many fabrics and hard items clean well if they are treated within days. Our contents team sorts what can be cleaned from what cannot, and gives you a written list.
Why does the smoke smell keep coming back?
Smoke gets into porous materials like drywall, insulation and wood. Surface cleaning alone often is not enough. We clean, seal where needed, and run air scrubbers until the odour is gone at the source.
Do you board up after hours?
Yes. Board-up and roof tarping are part of our 24/7 emergency service.
Other services
24/7 emergency line
Need help with fire and smoke?
Call the 24/7 line and a person will answer. If the damage has already stopped, the online intake takes about three minutes and we call you back.
