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Fire Damage Restoration in Richardson, TX
A house fire leaves three kinds of damage: what burned, the smoke and soot that spread through the house, and the water used to put it out. Once the fire department clears the building, call (972) 947-2040 to secure the property and start cleanup.
First steps
The first 24 hours after a fire
- Don’t enter until the fire department says it’s safe.
- Call your insurance company and start the claim.
- Secure the property: board up broken windows and doors and tarp any roof openings.
- Don’t turn on the HVAC system, and don’t use electrical items exposed to heat or water until they’re checked.
- Photograph everything before cleanup.
- If you need a place to stay, contact your insurer about additional living expenses; the American Red Cross also helps families after home fires.
Three kinds of damage
What fire damage restoration covers
- Water from firefighting. Extraction and structural drying, the same as any water loss, so mold doesn’t follow.
- Smoke and soot. Cleaning walls, ceilings, contents and ductwork, and treating odor.
- Burned and charred materials. Removal of what can’t be saved, then rebuilding.
- Contents. Sorting what can be cleaned from what must be replaced, with an inventory for your insurer.
The process
How fire restoration usually works
- Inspection and a written scope of work.
- Board-up, tarping and securing the property.
- Water extraction and drying.
- Soot and smoke cleanup of surfaces and contents.
- Odor treatment, with HEPA air scrubbing as needed.
- Repairs and rebuilding.
For the water side of the job, see water removal and structural drying.
Save or replace
What can be saved after smoke and soot damage
Not everything a fire touches is a loss. What can be saved depends on the material, how close it was to the flames and how long smoke and water sat on it. As a general guide:
| Item | Usually | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Glass, metal and sealed countertops | Usually cleanable | Soot sits on the surface and can be washed off with the right cleaners. |
| Solid wood furniture and cabinets | Often cleanable | Soot and smoke film can usually be cleaned, sometimes followed by refinishing. |
| Clothing, curtains and bedding | Often cleanable | Specialty cleaning removes much of the soot and odor, but heavily burned items are a loss. |
| Carpet and pad soaked by firefighting water | Often replaced | Pad holds water and smoke odor and is hard to dry and deodorize. |
| Drywall and insulation near the fire | Usually removed | Heat, soot and water get into the core and the odor stays. |
| Food, medicine and cosmetics | Throw away | Federal food safety guidance says to discard food exposed to fire, heat, smoke or firefighting water. |
Photograph everything before it is cleaned or thrown out, and keep a list for your insurer. A restoration provider can test and sort contents so you don’t throw away things that could have been saved.
Smoke odor
Why smoke smell lingers, and how it is removed
Smoke particles are tiny and travel far from the fire. They settle into carpet, upholstery, drywall, attic insulation and the air ducts, so a house can smell of smoke in rooms the fire never reached.
- Remove the source first. Soot-covered and burned materials that keep releasing odor come out before any deodorizing.
- Clean every surface. Walls, ceilings, cabinets and contents are cleaned to remove the soot film that holds the smell.
- Clean the HVAC system. Ducts and the air handler can spread soot and odor through the whole house each time the system runs. Change the filter and ask about duct cleaning.
- Deodorize what is left. Providers may use air scrubbers, thermal fogging or hydroxyl units. If ozone is used, nobody, including pets, should be in the house: the EPA warns that ozone can harm the lungs.
Covering the smell with air fresheners or paint without cleaning first usually fails, and the odor returns on hot, humid Texas days.
Insurance
Working with your insurer after a fire
Fire is one of the core perils covered by Texas homeowner policies. Keep receipts for emergency repairs, hotel stays and meals, make a room-by-room list of damaged items, and get every decision in writing. Our insurance claim guide covers the Texas deadlines your insurer has to meet.
We serve every Richardson ZIP code: 75080, 75081 and 75082, on both the Dallas County and Collin County sides of the city.
FAQ
Fire damage FAQs
What should I do after a house fire?
Make sure the fire department has cleared the building before going in. Then contact your insurer, secure the property against weather and break-ins, and arrange restoration. If you can’t stay in the home, the American Red Cross helps families displaced by home fires.
Why is there water damage after a fire?
Firefighters use a lot of water, and it soaks drywall, insulation, flooring and belongings. That water needs the same fast extraction and drying as a burst pipe, on top of the smoke and soot cleanup.
Can I clean smoke and soot myself?
Light surface soot on hard surfaces can sometimes be cleaned, but soot smears easily and some residues are acidic and stain over time. Smoke odor gets into insulation, ductwork and porous materials. For anything beyond a small, contained fire, professional cleaning gives better results.
Should I run the AC or heat after a fire?
Not until the HVAC system has been checked. Running it can pull soot through the ducts and spread it to rooms the fire never reached.
What does fire restoration in Richardson include?
Fire restoration usually covers three jobs: removing the water left by firefighting, cleaning smoke and soot from walls, ceilings and belongings, and deodorizing so the smell doesn’t come back. Rebuilding burned framing, drywall and cabinets is often a separate estimate, so ask who handles it before work starts.
How long does fire damage restoration take?
It depends on the size of the fire. Cleaning up after a small kitchen fire can take days to a couple of weeks. A larger fire that needs walls, floors or the roof rebuilt can take months, much of it spent on insurance approval and reconstruction. Ask the provider for a written scope and schedule.
Is it safe to stay in the house after a small fire?
Ask the fire department first, and don’t stay if they say the building isn’t safe. Even after a small fire, soot is a fine particle that can irritate the lungs, so children, older adults and anyone with asthma or heart or lung conditions should stay elsewhere until cleanup is done.
Dealing with fire damage?
Call once the fire department clears the house. Securing it and drying it out early limits the damage.