Fire Damage Restoration

Restoring your home or business after fire damage is our main goal. As a leading fire damage restoration company, we specialize in removing the water after firefighting efforts.

What Is Fire Damage Restoration?

The fire damage restoration process includes mitigating damage, providing smoke damage cleanup and water restoration as quickly as possible after the damage first occurs. Beyond the visible structural damage, contents inside the structure must be evaluated for recovery based on a number of factors including:

  • Replacement Cost vs. Restoration Cost

  • Effect of Smoke and Heat

  • Loss of Use

  • Loss of Value

  • Decreased Life Expectancy

  • Sentimental Value

American Restoration, LLC. fire restoration services can include emergency board-up, demolition, Soot Removal Film application, deodorization to mitigate smoke odors, and complete reconstruction.

How To Prevent House Fires

The damage to property and possessions from a fire can be catastrophic. As fire moves through a building, it destroys all before it, leaving behind smoke damage and an extensive amount of soot to clean up. According to government figures, it takes less than 30 seconds for a small flame to turn into a major fire, and only minutes for black smoke to fill a house.

At American Restoration, LLC. we’ve helped countless people recover their homes after the devastating effects of fire damage, some of which could have been avoided with simple home fire safety and prevention measures. We specialize in helping get things back on track for you and your property in the aftermath of a fire. Here are a few tips to avoid one in the first place.

Home Fire Safety Checklist

  • Do Your Smoke Detectors Work?

    The most important first step to take is to ensure you have working smoke detectors. Check the batteries regularly and make sure that all family members, including children, know what they sound like.

  • Do You Have an Evacuation Plan?

    Each member of your family should know how to evacuate from every room. This should include two evacuation routes, in case one is blocked.

  • Do You Have Fire Extinguishers?

    Having fire extinguishers placed around the home is key to minimize the risk of a fire taking hold. Having at least one on each floor of your home is a good idea.

  • Are You Cautious When Cooking?

    Never leave anything cooking on the stove unattended. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the stove.

  • Do You Restrict Smoking to Outside?

    Always smoke outside the house and put out any cigarettes when finished. Avoid smoking inside the home, especially in bed. Mattresses and bedding are highly flammable.

  • Do You Know How to Prevent Electrical Fires?

    Ensure you’re not using any electrical appliances that have frayed wires and never run cords under furniture. If you notice any electrical problems, such as hot light switches, turn them off and have them professionally replaced.

  • Is Your Property Child-Safe?

    Make sure that all lighters, matches, etc. are kept out of the reach of children. Keep children away from lit candles and stoves and teach them of the dangers of fire.

  • Do You Have Fuel Lying Around?

    You may not think of piles of books, newspapers, blankets etc. as being fuel, but in the event of a fire they can be. Make sure you don’t have any of these lying around.

Getting Back to Business Quickly After a Fire

Any disruption in business hurts your bottom line. Our fire damage restoration specialists can respond quickly and understand a business owner’s unique issues after a fire. When faced with fire damage cleanup and smoke damage removal, our goal is to help you get your business up and running again as soon as possible.

When faced with a large commercial fire, American Restoration, LLC.’s large loss teams can handle any sized fire damage and will work alongside our local experts.

Fire Damage FAQs

What damage can fire cause?

Not all fires result in the same level of damage. The extent of fire damage varies greatly depending on a number of factors, including:

  • The source of the fire.
  • How hot the fire got, and the amount of smoke created.
  • How long the fire raged before intervention or firefighters stopped it.
  • The amount of water or substance needed to extinguish the fire.

The severity of the fire situation greatly impacts the extent of damage. This can range from minor smoke and soot contained to just a portion of the home, to extensive structural damage that must be rebuilt. Once your home or business is deemed safe for entry, our technicians will inspect and assess the level of damage to help determine the plan of action. We will categorize your fire damage upon inspection into one of three categories.

  • Minor Fire Damage – Light to moderate smoke and soot was contained to just a portion of the building. Restoration needs include dry or wet cleaning and deodorization to walls, ceiling, floor and personal property, with little or no repainting. Very few items need replaced.
  • Medium Fire Damage – Moderate smoke and soot requiring more aggressive cleaning and deodorization techniques to remove residue. More areas need repainting. Heat has caused more extensive damage to surfaces and materials which may require more items to need repair or replacement.
  • Major Fire Damage – Severe fire damage to contents, finished surfaces and even structural framing. Smoke has infiltrated the majority of the building, and emergency intervention like board-up of windows and doors, or roof tarping, is required right away. Personal property items will likely need to be moved out of the structure for cleaning off-site. All remaining surfaces will be cleaned and deodorized in preparation for painting and repairs.

Surprisingly, many items subjected to heat, smoke, and soot can be cleaned and restored to their original state. Our team members are specially trained in methods that effectively remove extensive smoke and soot residues. Depending on the severity, we may move some items off-site to ensure a thorough cleaning and restoration in our state-of-the-art facilities. We maintain close relationships with industry experts who specialize in electronics restoration, dry cleaning of delicate fabrics, furniture repair and refinishing, artwork, and document restoration. However, know that some items burned by direct flame may not be salvageable.

Yes! Smoke and soot damage can be stubborn, but our employees are specially trained in the most effective residue removal methods. We also have specialty cleaning tools and products that were developed exclusively for fire restoration. Anytime an item is deemed salvageable, we will work to clean it ourselves or coordinate with a vendor who performs specialty cleaning for that specific item type.

Experiencing a fire to your home or business can be traumatic and stressful, and knowing what to do after a fire can seem overwhelming. First, contact a local disaster relief agency and your insurance company for immediate assistance, especially if you’ve been displaced. Try to locate any necessary documents you’ll need, like a driver’s license and other records, but don’t enter the structure unless the fire department has deemed it safe for you to do so, first.

Depending on the severity of the fire and how your home is configured, it may be possible to stay in your home. If smoke and soot damage is contained to one portion of the building only, this sometimes allows for occupants to remain. However, many times this is not the case, as smoke generally creeps all throughout the structure. Your insurance agent can explain what hotel/off-site provisions your policy allows, which may be more comfortable for you during this process.

The timeline for a fire restoration varies greatly, and depends on the severity of fire, smoke and soot damage. The size of the building and the amount of contents also helps determine the length of time for restoration. Our technicians will complete a full scope of work at the beginning of the project and will provide you with an estimated timeline so you know what to expect.