Fire Damage Restoration

After a house fire, wait until the fire department says it is safe to go back in, then call your insurer. Call (855) 727-0147 and we’ll connect you with an independent restoration company that serves your area to secure the property and plan the cleanup.

What does fire damage restoration cover?

Fire damage is rarely just the burned room. Smoke and soot travel through the house, and firefighters leave water behind. Walls, ceilings or the roof may have been opened to reach the fire.

Restoration brings all of that back under control. It usually combines securing the building, drying, soot and smoke cleaning, odor removal, contents cleaning and, finally, rebuilding.

Why does speed matter after a fire?

• Water from firefighting can lead to mold. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says water-damaged areas should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth (EPA).
• Soot is oily and stains. It is easier to remove before it sets into surfaces and fabrics (UF/IFAS Disaster Handbook).
• An open building invites more damage. The U.S. Fire Administration suggests telling the police the home is empty and boarding up windows and doors if needed (USFA, After the Fire).

What happens, step by step?

Every job is different, but most fire restoration projects move through these stages. Several often run at the same time.

Stage	What happens	Typical timing
Secure the property	Boarding up openings and tarping the roof to keep out weather and intruders.	As soon as possible, often the first visit
Inspect and scope	The company walks the property, photographs damage and writes a scope of work.	First visit; the written scope may follow
Remove water and dry	Pumping out water left by firefighting, then drying with fans and dehumidifiers while checking moisture levels.	Until materials reach dry readings; usually several days
Clean soot and smoke	Removing residue from walls, ceilings, floors and surfaces. The method depends on the type of residue and the surface.	Days to weeks, depending on size
Remove odor	Cleaning the source, then deodorizing. Some methods need the home to be empty.	Often several treatments
Pack out and clean contents	Inventorying belongings, moving them out for cleaning or storage, and listing items that can’t be saved.	Runs alongside structural work
Rebuild	Replacing drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinets or framing. Larger repairs may need a city permit.	After the insurer agrees to the scope

What can usually be saved, and what can’t?

• Food: throw out food exposed to flames or fumes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that fumes can get into cans and plastic packaging, and into fridges and freezers (USDA).
• Hard surfaces such as metal, glass and sealed wood often clean up well.
• Soft and porous items such as mattresses, upholstery and insulation hold smoke odor and may need replacing. Porous items that get moldy may have to be thrown away (EPA).
• Documents and money: USFA lists the papers most people need to replace and explains that partly burned money can sometimes be exchanged (USFA).

Ask the restoration company to document anything it says can’t be restored. Your adjuster will want that list.

What is safe to do yourself, and what isn’t?

Safe to do

• Take photos and video of every room before anything is moved.
• Keep receipts for hotels, meals, clothing and supplies.
• Remove valuables and medicines once the fire department says it is safe.
• Call your insurer and write down your claim number.

Leave to the fire department, your utility or a professional

• Going back inside before the fire department says it is safe (USFA).
• Turning gas, electricity or water back on yourself. USFA says not to.
• If you smell gas, leave right away. From a safe place, call 911 and Atmos Energy’s emergency line at 866-322-8667 (Atmos Energy).
• Scrubbing soot with water. It smears, and water-based cleaners can damage plaster walls (UF/IFAS).
• Running an ozone machine. Ozone can damage the lungs, so it should only be used in an empty building with no people, pets or plants inside (EPA).

What drives the cost of fire damage restoration?

Restoration companies price each job from a written scope. These are the things that move the number most:

• How many rooms the fire, smoke and soot reached.
• How much water was used to put the fire out, and how long it sat.
• The type of soot. Greasy kitchen residue takes more work than dry, powdery soot.
• How many belongings need packing out, cleaning or storage.
• Structural repairs, such as framing, roofing or wiring, and the permits they need.
• Building materials. Plaster, hardwood and custom cabinets cost more to restore or match.

Ask for an itemized estimate. Your adjuster compares it with the insurance company’s own estimate.

How does homeowners insurance handle fire damage in Texas?

Your policy and your adjuster decide what is covered. The restoration company’s job is to document the damage and write an estimate the adjuster can review.

• Report the claim early. Texas insurers have 15 business days to acknowledge a claim, then 15 business days to accept or deny it once they have what they need. They can extend that by 45 days if they explain why (Texas Department of Insurance).
• Photograph and film everything before it is moved or cleaned, and keep every receipt (TDI claim tips).
• Stop the damage from getting worse, for example with a tarp or a temporary repair. TDI lists this as a step for policyholders.
• Your deductible is yours to pay. Texas law bars contractors from offering to waive, rebate or absorb it (TDI: know the law).
• A contractor can’t act as your public adjuster. A company that does the repair work can’t negotiate your claim for you or advertise that it will.
• If you can’t live at home after covered damage, additional living expenses coverage may pay for a hotel, meals and laundry. Keep the receipts (TDI on living expenses).

Stuck on a claim? Call the Texas Department of Insurance consumer help line at 800-252-3439 or file a complaint online.

Frequently asked questions

Find help in your area

• Fire Damage Restoration in Bryan, TX
• Fire Damage Restoration in College Station, TX

Elsewhere in Texas? See all the areas we cover.