Fire Damage Restoration in Austin, TX

If you’ve had a house fire in Austin, stay out until the Austin Fire Department says it is safe, then call your insurer. Call (855) 727-0147 and we’ll connect you with an independent restoration company that serves Austin to secure the property and start the cleanup.

What to do in the first 24 hours in Austin

1. Wait for the all-clear. Don’t go back inside until the Austin Fire Department says it is safe (USFA). Call 911 in an emergency. For non-emergency city help, call 3-1-1.
2. Call your insurer and write down the claim number. Photograph and film every room before anything is moved (TDI claim tips).
3. Leave utilities off. If firefighters shut off power, gas or water, don’t turn them back on yourself. Austin Energy takes outage reports at 512-322-9100 (Austin Energy).
4. Smell gas? Leave first. Most Austin homes on natural gas are served by Texas Gas Service. From a safe place, call 911 and its emergency line, 1-800-959-5325 (Texas Gas Service).
5. Secure the property. Have broken windows, doors and roof openings boarded up or tarped, and keep the receipt.
6. Ask for the fire report. Your insurer may want the incident report number. Austin Fire Department incident reports are requested through the City of Austin Public Records Center (Austin Fire Department).
7. Find a place to stay. The American Red Cross helps after home fires at 1-800-733-2767. Ask your insurer about additional living expenses (TDI).
8. Throw out exposed food. Food exposed to flames or fumes should be discarded, even in cans or the fridge (USDA).

Local numbers to keep handy in Austin

Who	Why you might call	Number
Emergency	Fire, injury or gas leak	911
City of Austin	Non-emergency city services	3-1-1
Austin Energy	Power outages	512-322-9100
Austin Water	Water emergencies	512-972-1000
Texas Gas Service	Gas leaks	1-800-959-5325
Building and Trade Contractor Services	Emergency repair permits	512-974-1500
Emergency electrical inspections	Inspections before power is restored	512-974-2030
Austin floodplain office	Floodplain questions	512-974-2843

What fire damage restoration involves

A fire restoration job usually moves through these stages. Several can overlap.

Stage	What happens	Typical duration
Board-up and tarp	Openings are covered to keep out rain and intruders.	Usually the first visit
Inspection and scope	Damage is photographed and a written scope prepared.	First visit, written scope after
Water extraction and drying	Firefighting water is removed and the structure dried with moisture readings logged.	Several days in most homes
Soot cleaning	Residue is removed with methods matched to the residue type and surface.	Days to weeks
Odor removal	The source is cleaned, then deodorized. Some treatments need the house empty.	One or more rounds
Contents pack-out	Belongings are inventoried and moved out for cleaning or storage.	Alongside structural work
Rebuild	Drywall, insulation, flooring, framing or roofing is replaced, with permits where required.	After the insurer approves the scope

What it typically costs

No two fire jobs cost the same. The written estimate depends mainly on:

• How many rooms the fire, smoke and soot reached.
• How much water firefighters used and how long it sat.
• Whether residue is dry soot or greasy kitchen or fuel residue.
• The volume of belongings to pack out, clean or store.
• Structural work such as framing, roofing or wiring, and the permits it needs.

Ask for an itemized estimate before work starts. Your adjuster will compare it with the insurer’s own.

How does insurance work for fire damage restoration in Texas?

Your adjuster decides what your policy covers. The restoration company documents the damage and writes the estimate the adjuster reviews. It can’t negotiate your claim for you.

• Timelines: insurers have 15 business days to acknowledge a claim, then 15 business days to accept or deny it after receiving what they need. They can take 45 more days if they explain why (TDI).
• What to photograph: every affected room, the source of the damage and damaged belongings, before cleanup.
• What the restorer documents: photos, moisture readings or residue notes, a written scope and an itemized estimate.
• Deductible: you pay it. Texas law bars contractors from offering to waive, rebate or absorb it. A contractor also can’t act as your public adjuster (TDI: know the law).
• Living expenses: if covered damage makes the home unlivable, additional living expenses coverage may pay for a hotel and meals (TDI).

Problems with a claim? Call the Texas Department of Insurance help line at 800-252-3439 or file a complaint.

What’s specific to Austin?

• Emergency repair permits. The City of Austin says permits are generally required for repairs after fire and smoke damage, water and plumbing damage, electrical damage and gas line damage. Painting and small drywall repairs are often exempt (City of Austin).
• Electrical inspections. The city runs an emergency electrical inspection line, 512-974-2030, for damage that affects wiring. Austin Energy takes outage reports at 512-322-9100.
• Fire reports. Austin Fire Department incident reports are requested through the City of Austin Public Records Center, under the Texas Public Information Act (Austin Fire Department).
• Several gas utilities. Texas Gas Service serves most Austin gas customers. Atmos Energy, CenterPoint Energy and SiEnergy also serve parts of the city (Railroad Commission of Texas). Check your bill.
• Many renters. About 43% of Austin’s occupied homes are owner-occupied (43.4%, U.S. Census Bureau 2020–2024 estimate). Many households will need their landlord involved (Census QuickFacts).

Frequently asked questions

Related help nearby

• Fire, smoke and water damage help in Austin
• Smoke Damage Restoration in Austin
• Water Damage Restoration in Austin
• Flood Damage Cleanup in Austin
• Mold Remediation in Austin
• Fire Damage Restoration: the full guide
• What to do after a house fire in Texas

Last reviewed: October 2026.