Residential Fire & Smoke Damage Clean-up Services

RESTORATIVE SERVICES

Seeing your home and precious possessions consumed by fire can be one of the most severe losses that a homeowner can experience. After such a devastating loss, reassurance comes from having clear guidance and support in salvaging as much as possible from fire and smoke damage.

At ServiceMaster Restore, our technicians are more than talented professionals; they’re caring people ready to get you back in your home as quickly as possible, while keeping you informed every step of the way. With our comprehensive range of fire-damage services, including soot, smoke and odor removal, ServiceMaster Restore has got you covered.

Common types of fires

Protein Fire Food from the oven or stove has burned, leaving strong, burned-food odors and smoke residue on contents and surfaces.

Complex Fire: Multiple natural and synthetic items inside your home have burned, causing black smoke residue on contents and surfaces and synthetic smoke odors. Here, emergency corrosion mitigation is needed to protect at-risk surfaces.

Natural Fire: Trees, shrubs and bushes have burned, and smoke has penetrated the structure from outside, so smoke residue and odor are present.

Furnace Malfunction: Heating appliances like oil-fired furnaces have malfunctioned and caused smoke to be distributed throughout the property.

 

Fire damage goes beyond burning things

  • Ash and smoke can continue to cause damage and corrosion to materials left behind.

  • Odors from smoke will stay in a room or a home long after the fire and continue to cause problems if they are not removed.

  • In a few minutes, walls and other surfaces can become discolored.

  • In a few hours, finishes on kitchen appliances turn yellow.

  • Smoke causes etching in glass after just a short time, and smoke will tarnish metal quickly.

Not all fire damage is the same. Our thorough fire restoration process includes:

  • Identifying the source to determine the type of fire that occurred

  • Evaluating the areas that are wet as a result of firefighting that may need treatment

  • Remediating water damage (if necessary)

  • Evaluating sensitive materials that may be damaged as a result of smoke & soot particles

  • Removing contents—including the collection of immediate items you may need for the next seven days, such as clothing, prescriptions, toys, school books, business needs, etc.

  • Packing out remaining contents for cleaning & storage

  • Performing structural restoration, including removal of charred contents that may seal in smoke, such as insulation & burned wood

  • Evaluating carpets & floor coverings that may need to be removed

  • Inspecting the framing of the house & subfloors for safety

  • Treating affected surfaces for smoke odors

  • Sealing to prevent odors from leaking back into the house

  • Cleaning, eliminating odors & deodorizing surfaces to pre-loss condition

  • Returning items to the original location & helping to restore your normal life


DOn’t try to do it yourself

The residue left behind after a fire is a biohazard and can cause health problems if it is not taken care of correctly and thoroughly. You do not want to attempt to clean up your home on your own after a fire, or you may cause more damage. Only experts with the right training and tools can ensure that the job is done properly.


Quick tips for when you’re in the middle of a loss

  • If the temperature is above 60 degrees, air out the house to reduce smoke odor.

  • Clean laminate surfaces as well as chrome, porcelain and aluminum fixtures to prevent permanent tarnishing or etching.

  • Change the air filter on your furnace if it uses forced hot air.

  • Tape damp cheesecloth over returns and supply registers to capture loose soot in the air.

  • Discard any open food packages.

  • If the electricity is off, clean out the refrigerator and leave doors propped open.

  • Send clothing with heavy smoke damage to a qualified restoration dry cleaner.


What not to do

  • Do not touch anything with your bare hands. Oil from your hands can permeate upholstery, walls and woodwork, causing additional damage.

  • Do not wash walls. Incorrect cleaning could compound the soot residue.

  • Do not attempt to clean carpets or upholstered furniture.

  • Do not use electrical appliances until having them checked.

  • Do not use ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet.