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24/7 emergency restoration

Fire damage restoration

After the fire is out, the damage continues. Soot is acidic, smoke odour settles into everything, and the water used to fight the fire soaks the structure. We secure the property, then clean and rebuild.

Call 24/7
  • IICRC Certified Firm
  • $5 million insured
  • One team, emergency to rebuild

Before we arrive

Do this now

  1. 1Do not go back inside until the fire department says it is safe.
  2. 2Do not turn on electricity, gas or the furnace until they have been checked.
  3. 3Avoid wiping soot from walls or upholstery. Dry wiping smears it in.
  4. 4Do not eat food or use medicine that was exposed to heat or smoke.
  5. 5Ask the fire department for the incident number. Your insurer will want it.

If anyone is in danger, or you smell gas or see sparking, leave the building and call 911 first.

Callback about fire damage

Leave a name and number and a person calls you back. For an active emergency, phone us instead.

We use your details only to respond to this request. See our privacy policy.

What a fire leaves behind

People expect the burnt area to be the problem. Usually it is the smallest part of the loss. A fire produces three kinds of damage that overlap: heat and flame damage where it burned, smoke and soot damage everywhere the smoke travelled, and water damage from putting it out.

Smoke moves with air currents and pressure differences. It rises through stairwells, is pulled into the return air and distributed by the ductwork, and passes through wall and floor penetrations around pipes and wiring. Rooms far from the fire can have residue inside closed cupboards and drawers.

Soot is also chemically active. Residue from burnt plastics and synthetics is acidic. Left on surfaces, it discolours plastics and appliances, tarnishes metals and etches glass over a matter of days. The water used by firefighters starts the same clock as any flood. So a fire loss has to be secured, dried and cleaned promptly even though the full rebuild may take months.

What to expect on the first visit

Nothing starts until the fire department has released the building. The first visit is about making the property safe and stable: boarding broken windows and doors, covering holes in the roof, and checking whether any part of the structure needs temporary support. If firefighting water is standing in the building, extraction and drying start straight away.

The damage is then documented room by room, separating what burned, what smoke reached and what got wet. This record drives the insurance claim, so it is done carefully and before cleanup disturbs anything. You will be asked which belongings you need urgently, and essentials such as documents, medication and clothing are retrieved where it is safe to do so.

What we do, in order

  1. 01

    Secure the property

    Openings are boarded and roofs tarped to keep weather and intruders out.

  2. 02

    Deal with the water

    Water from firefighting is extracted and drying begins.

  3. 03

    Assess and document

    We record what is burnt, smoke-damaged, wet and salvageable, room by room.

  4. 04

    Remove debris and unsalvageable materials

    Charred and heavily damaged materials are removed.

  5. 05

    Clean soot and smoke residue

    Surfaces are cleaned with methods matched to the residue type and material.

  6. 06

    Remove odour

    Odour is treated at the source and in the air, including the ductwork where affected.

  7. 07

    Rebuild

    Structural repairs, electrical, insulation, drywall, flooring and finishes.

Types of fire and smoke residue

Dry smoke
From fast, hot fires burning paper and wood. A powdery residue that is the easiest to remove.
Wet smoke
From slow, smouldering fires and burning plastics or rubber. Sticky, smeary and strong-smelling.
Protein residue
From burnt food. Nearly invisible, but it discolours finishes and has a persistent odour.
Fuel oil soot
From a furnace puff-back, which can coat an entire house in a fine black film through the ducts.
Extinguisher residue
Dry chemical powder is corrosive to electronics and metal and needs careful removal.
Firefighting water
Soaks floors, wall cavities and the levels below the fire and must be extracted and dried.

What can be restored after a fire

Structural framingLightly charred members can sometimes be cleaned and sealed. Structurally compromised wood is replaced, with an engineer involved where needed.
Drywall and plasterCleaned and sealed where only smoke-stained. Replaced where burnt, soaked or heavily contaminated.
InsulationUsually replaced where exposed to smoke or water. It holds odour.
Hard furniture and fixturesOften cleanable if treated before the residue does permanent damage.
ElectronicsSoot is conductive and corrosive. Have them assessed before powering on.
Clothing and textilesMany items respond to specialised laundering. Do not wash them in a normal load first.

How long it takes

A contained kitchen fire with smoke damage may be weeks. A structural fire is months, driven by permits, insurer approvals and the extent of the rebuild.

Insurance

Fire is a standard insured peril on home policies. A claim normally involves the building, your contents and additional living expenses if you cannot stay in the home. Keep receipts for anything you spend because of the fire.

This is general information, not advice on your policy. How restoration claims work.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Cleaning soot yourself. Wiping with a damp cloth or household cleaner smears oily residue into paint and fabric and can make it permanent.

  • Turning on the furnace or air conditioning. It pulls soot through the ducts and spreads it to clean rooms.

  • Throwing things out early. Items discarded before they are documented may not be payable under your claim.

  • Leaving the building open. Weather and trespassers add to the loss, and insurers expect reasonable steps to secure the property.

Questions worth asking any contractor

Whoever you hire, including us, should be able to answer these plainly.

  • Is the structure safe to enter, and does an engineer need to look at it?
  • What is the plan for our belongings, and where will they be stored?
  • Which rooms need cleaning only, and which need to be stripped and rebuilt?
  • How will smoke odour in the ductwork and inside wall cavities be dealt with?
  • What is a realistic timeline, and what are the main things that could delay it?

Reducing fire risk afterwards

  • Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas, as Ontario law requires, and test them monthly.
  • Never leave cooking unattended. It is the leading cause of house fires.
  • Have furnaces, chimneys and wood stoves inspected and cleaned regularly.
  • Do not overload outlets or run cords under rugs, and replace damaged cords.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and make sure everyone knows the escape plan.
  • IICRC Certified FirmRegistered with the restoration industry's standards body
  • IICRC-certified techniciansTrained to the published standards for water, fire and mold work
  • Ontario asbestos abatement worker training for Type 3 operationsThe approved training for the highest-risk class of asbestos work
  • Liability insurance$5 million coverage with Intact Insurance
  • WSIB coverageClearance certificate on request
  • 24/7 responseEvery day of the year

Fire Damage Restoration: common questions

Can smoke damage be cleaned, or does everything need replacing?

Much of it can be cleaned. Hard surfaces, many contents and structural materials respond well when the right method is used early. Porous materials that absorbed heavy smoke, and anything charred, usually need replacing.

How long before soot causes permanent damage?

Soot is acidic. It can discolour plastics and finishes within hours and etch metal, glass and stone over days. Early cleaning limits this.

Is it safe to stay in the house after a small fire?

Not until the electrical system has been checked and the smoke residue is dealt with. Fine soot particles and combustion gases linger in the air and in the ducts.

Who decides what gets replaced?

Your insurer makes coverage decisions. We provide the documented scope, and you are entitled to ask questions and to choose your own contractor.

How long does fire restoration take?

A small kitchen fire with smoke damage through the house can be several weeks. Where structure is damaged, expect months. Drying and cleaning move quickly. Insurer approvals, engineering, permits and the rebuild take the time.

Can we live in the house during the work?

Sometimes after a minor fire once the house is cleaned and the electrical and heating systems are confirmed safe. After anything larger, families normally live elsewhere, and home policies often include additional living expenses for that.

What happens to our belongings?

They are inventoried, and restorable items are packed out for cleaning and storage while the building is repaired. Items that cannot be restored are listed for your contents claim.

Is the smoke smell permanent?

No. Odour comes from residue. When residue is removed from surfaces, cavities and ductwork, materials that cannot be cleaned are replaced, and remaining surfaces are sealed, the smell does not return.

Do I need a permit to rebuild after a fire?

Structural repairs, and electrical and plumbing work, generally require permits from your municipality. Like-for-like cosmetic repairs generally do not. Your contractor should confirm with the building department.

Fire Damage Restoration by city

Damage does not wait for business hours. Neither do we.

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