Fire Damage Restoration That Starts
After the Fire Truck Leaves.

It depends on how far the smoke traveled. If the fire was truly contained — you caught it immediately, the range hood vented some of it, and the damage is limited to one surface — you might be able to handle it. But if smoke spread beyond the kitchen, it left soot on surfaces throughout your house. That soot is acidic and oily. Wiping it with a regular cleaner often smears it into a permanent stain. If you're smelling smoke in rooms that didn't have fire, call me. I'll tell you honestly whether you need professional help or whether you can manage it yourself.

Completely normal. Smoke travels through HVAC ducts, under doors, through gaps in walls, and into every room with air exchange. In about two-thirds of residential fires, smoke damage extends beyond the fire's room of origin. Your nose isn't lying to you — if you smell smoke in the bedroom, there's soot in the bedroom.

It's both. Soot particles are around 2.5 microns — small enough to penetrate deep into your lungs. The residue often contains heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and other hazardous substances depending on what burned. Plastics, electronics, and synthetic materials produce particularly toxic soot. This isn't something to scrub with a paper towel. Wear an N95 mask if you're in the house, and don't let kids or pets in until it's been cleaned.

It varies based on the severity and how far the smoke spread. A one-room fire with moderate smoke spread: typically 2-3 weeks for full cleanup, odor treatment, and any needed repairs. A more extensive fire affecting multiple rooms or the structure itself can take 4-8 weeks or longer. I'll give you a realistic timeline after the initial assessment and update you every day on progress.

Fire is a standard covered peril on virtually every homeowner's policy. That means it covers not just rebuilding, but also soot cleanup, smoke odor removal, water extraction from firefighting, content cleaning (your personal belongings), and demolition of unsalvageable materials. Most policies also include "loss of use" coverage for living expenses while you're displaced — hotel, meals, laundry. Call your insurance company immediately and file a claim, then call me.

Start now — but document first. Take photos and video of every room before you touch anything. Then start mitigating: open windows for ventilation, avoid running the HVAC (it'll spread soot), and blot standing water. Your insurance policy actually REQUIRES you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Waiting days while soot corrodes your metals and water breeds mold can hurt your claim more than cleaning up will. Document the damage, then start mitigation. The adjuster will work from photos and my written scope.

Soot particles are porous and moisture-sensitive. In dry conditions, the odor fades because the particles release fewer volatile compounds. When humidity rises — Oklahoma gets plenty of that — moisture reactivates those embedded particles and the smell comes back. This is why surface cleaning without deep odor treatment doesn't work long-term. The particles are still there. They're just quiet until the weather changes.

Many items can be saved with professional cleaning. Hard surfaces, metals, glass, and many fabrics can be restored. Soft, porous items that were directly exposed to heavy soot are harder — stuffed furniture, mattresses, and some upholstery may need to be replaced. Electronics need special attention because soot can cause shorts and overheating. I'll go through your belongings with you and give you an honest assessment of what's restorable and what isn't. I won't tell you something can be saved if it can't, and I won't tell you to throw something away if it has a shot.

Completely different processes. Fire damage is structural — charred wood, melted materials, compromised framing. That requires demolition and rebuild. Smoke damage is chemical — it's about removing corrosive soot from every surface, treating embedded odors, and decontaminating the air. Many homes need both, but the smoke cleanup is often more extensive and more time-consuming because smoke goes everywhere the fire didn't. I handle both, but they're treated as separate phases of the restoration.

In most cases, yes. It's called "loss of use" or "Additional Living Expense" (ALE) coverage, and it's standard on homeowner's policies. It covers reasonable expenses above your normal cost of living — hotel, restaurant meals, laundry services, and similar costs you wouldn't have if you were home. Keep every receipt. There's usually a cap (often a percentage of your dwelling coverage), so check your policy or ask your agent for the specific limit.