Fire and smoke damage restoration starts once the fire department says your home is safe to enter, and it moves in stages: assessment, securing the property, water removal and drying, soot and smoke cleaning, odor removal, care of your belongings, and repairs. How long it takes depends on the size of the fire, how far the smoke traveled, and how much water was used to put it out. Water Damage Inc. provides fire damage restoration for homes across Denver.

What Happens in the First 24 to 48 Hours

The first 24 to 48 hours after a house fire are about clearance, calls, and documentation, not cleanup. Most homeowners move through these four steps in order.

1. Wait for fire department clearance. Do not go back inside until the fire department says the structure is safe to enter.
2. Call your insurance company. Report the fire, get a claim number, and ask what your policy covers for temporary housing.
3. Photograph the damage. Once you are cleared to enter, take photos and video of every affected room before anything is moved.
4. Call a restoration company. Water Damage Inc. answers 24/7 at (720) 743-5781 for emergency fire and smoke damage cleanup.
   
   Calling early matters because soot and smoke odor are easier to treat before they settle.

If you are still deciding whether the house can be saved, read Can a House With Fire Damage Be Repaired?

What You Do and What Your Restoration Company Does

You handle safety, your insurer, and your paperwork. Your restoration company handles the physical work on the house and your belongings.

What you do

• Stay out until the fire department clears the house
• Report the fire to your insurer
• Arrange temporary housing if the home is not livable, and keep every receipt
• Photograph the damage and start a list of damaged belongings
• Request the fire department’s incident report if your insurer needs it
• Choose the restoration company you want to work with
• Leave soot and damaged materials alone

What Water Damage Inc. does

• Assess and inspect the fire, smoke, and water damage
• Board up openings and tarp the roof to protect the house
• Remove water used to put out the fire and dry the affected areas
• Remove smoke and soot from walls, ceilings and floors
• Clean, sanitize, and deodorize restorable items and structures
• Sort which belongings can be saved, using a digital photo inventory
• Help document the damage and communicate with your insurer
• Complete repairs and reconstruction

How Fire and Smoke Damage Differ

Fire damage is what the flames burned. Smoke damage is what the smoke left behind, often in rooms the fire never reached. A house fire usually leaves four kinds of damage.

• Char. Materials the flames burned directly, such as framing, drywall, cabinets, and flooring. Charred building materials often have to be removed and replaced.
• Soot. The visible residue on walls, ceilings, and belongings. Soot is acidic, so the longer it sits, the more it can corrode metal, appliances, and electronics and etch surfaces.
• Smoke odor. The damage you cannot see. Smoke works into porous materials like drywall, fabric, and insulation, and it can get into air ducts and spread every time the heat or air conditioning runs.
• Water damage. Water from firefighting soaks into floors and walls. If it is not dried quickly, it can lead to mold, and mold testing and inspection can confirm whether it has started.

Smoke moves with heated air through doorways and the heating and cooling system. That is why a bedroom far from a kitchen fire can still smell like smoke.

The Restoration Process Step by Step

Our fire restoration process has six steps, and each one prepares the house for the next.

1. Assessment and inspection. We inspect the fire, smoke, and water damage and set the order of work for your home.
2. Board-up and roof tarp. We cover broken windows, doors, and roof openings to secure the house and prevent further damage.
3. Water removal and drying. We extract the water used to put out the fire, then dry the affected areas with dehumidification equipment.
4. Smoke and soot removal. We remove smoke residue and soot from walls, ceilings, and floors with specialized equipment.
5. Cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing. We clean and sanitize restorable items and structures, then treat the remaining smoke odor.
6. Repairs and reconstruction. We complete the repairs, from replacing damaged materials to reconstruction where it is needed.

Learn more about our residential fire damage restoration.

Cleaning Soot and Removing Smoke Odor

Soot and smoke odor need professional cleaning because household methods tend to spread soot and cover odor rather than remove it.

Do not wipe soot by hand. Wiping can smear it across a surface and push it deeper into porous materials, which makes it harder to remove.

Smoke odor is harder to treat because it sits inside materials and ducts. Air fresheners and candles only mask it. We use equipment such as hydroxyl generators, ozone machines, ultrasonic processors, and water de-ionizers to clean affected surfaces and belongings and remove lingering smoke odor.

Timing matters. The longer soot and smoke sit, the more they can damage surfaces and settle into materials, so calling sooner gives you a better chance of saving belongings and clearing the odor.

What Happens to Your Belongings

Your belongings are sorted item by item into what can be saved and what cannot. Our team evaluates each item before any cleaning starts.

We use a digital photo inventory to record the condition of your belongings. That inventory helps us assess the damage to each item and plan how to remove its smoke odor.

Some items you may assume are ruined, including sentimental pieces, can be cleaned with specialized cleaners. Others, such as heavily charred or water-soaked materials, may not be worth saving. Not every item can be restored.

How Long Restoration Takes

How long restoration takes depends on the size of the fire, so no single timeline fits every home. Cleanup, smoke and soot removal, and drying come first. Full repairs come in the later stages and usually take longer.

Five factors set the timeline:

• How much of the house the fire and smoke reached
• How much water was used to put out the fire and how long drying takes
• Which materials can be cleaned and which have to be replaced
• Whether the repairs need building permits and inspections, which can add time to rebuilding
• How quickly your insurer approves the scope of work

The assessment is the point where the timeline for your own home becomes clearer.

Working With Your Insurance Company

Working with your insurance company starts with documentation, so keep a record of everything from the first day. A homeowners policy usually includes coverage for the structure, your personal property, and additional living expenses while you are out of the house, each with its own limits and deductible. Ask your insurer exactly what applies to your claim.

• Keep photos, video, and a list of damaged belongings
• Save receipts for hotels, meals, and other costs while you are displaced
• Note every call with your insurer, including the date and who you spoke with

In Colorado, your insurer cannot require you to use a specific repair business and must tell you that you can choose your own.

Water Damage Inc. works directly with insurance companies. We help document the damage and communicate with your insurer. If your claim is denied or the work falls outside your policy, we offer financing options.

Fire Risks That Show Up in Denver Homes

Three fire risks show up often in Denver homes, and each one affects what restoration involves.

• Dry climate. Low humidity keeps wood and other materials dry, so a fire can spread quickly once it starts.
• Older wiring. Some homes in Denver’s older and historic neighborhoods still have aging electrical systems, which can be a fire risk.
• Wildfire smoke. Smoke from wildfires can reach homes in the metro area even when no flames come close, leaving odor and residue that may need professional cleaning.

We provide fire damage restoration services across Denver and the surrounding metro area.

Call Water Damage Inc. After a Fire

Call Water Damage Inc. at (720) 743-5781 as soon as the fire department clears your home. We provide 24/7 emergency fire and smoke cleanup, and our founders bring over 50 years of combined mitigation, restoration, and construction experience. We are a locally and family-owned IICRC Certified Firm, serving Denver since 2018. You can also contact us online for a free estimate.

Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration FAQ

How soon can I go back into my home after a fire?

Only after the fire department says it is safe to enter. Even then, rooms with heavy smoke, soot or water damage may not be livable until cleanup is done.

Can smoke damage be removed completely?

In many cases it can, but it depends on how long the smoke sat and what it reached. Prompt cleaning and deodorizing give the best chance, and some heavily affected porous materials may need to be replaced instead.

Can I clean soot myself?

It is better not to. Wiping soot can smear it and push it deeper into surfaces, so leave it for a trained crew.

What can be saved and what has to be thrown away?

It depends on the item. Hard, nonporous items are often cleanable, while heavily charred or water-soaked porous materials may not be. We evaluate each item and record its condition in a digital photo inventory.

How long does fire damage restoration take?

It depends on the size of the fire, the water damage, the materials affected, and any permits. Cleanup and drying come first, and repairs take longer.

Does homeowners insurance pay for fire restoration?

Usually, within your policy’s limits and deductible. Homeowners policies commonly cover the structure, personal property, and additional living expenses, so check what applies to your claim. If a claim is denied, we offer financing.

Do I have to use my insurance company’s contractor?

No. Colorado law says your insurer cannot require you to use a specific repair business and must tell you that you can choose any repair business. Your insurer may still offer a list of companies to consider.

Start Your Fire Recovery With a Free Estimate

Fire recovery is easier to plan once you know what the work involves and who handles each part. Call Water Damage Inc. at (720) 743-5781 or request your free estimate to get started.