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Fire and smoke damage cleanup in Orlando

The fire is out, and the house still smells of it. Breathe. We clean the soot, dry out the water and remove the odor where it starts.

Open 24/7 for homes and businesses across Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties.

What to do right now

A few calm minutes now saves a lot later. Then hand it to us.

  1. Safety first. Only go back inside when the fire department says it is safe.
  2. Don't turn on the HVAC. Running the air conditioner or furnace pulls soot into the ducts and spreads it to every room.
  3. Don't wipe or wash soot. Soot smears and sets into paint, fabric and grout. It comes off far better when it is cleaned the right way the first time.
  4. Don't use electrical items that got wet or hot. Leave appliances, outlets and electronics alone until they have been checked.
  5. Don't eat exposed food. Throw out food that was near the heat or smoke, including anything in open containers or the pantry.
  6. Take photos. Photograph every room and the things in it, for your records.
  7. Call or text us at 407-807-8528. Any hour. Send a photo and we will talk you through the next steps.

Smoke travels farther than flames

A small fire can touch a whole house. Flames may stay in one room, but smoke moves through hallways, open doors, the attic and the duct system. It leaves a film of soot on walls, ceilings, cabinets and anything inside them. The smell gets into carpet, curtains, upholstery, clothing and the drywall itself.

That is why fire cleanup is more than the burned room. We look at the whole home, find where the smoke reached and clean all of it, so the odor does not come back on the first humid day.

Kitchen fires and electrical fires

Many house fires start in one of two places.

  • Kitchen fires. A pan left on the stove or a grease fire leaves a sticky, greasy residue on cabinets, ceilings and walls. It smells strong and spreads to nearby rooms. It needs a different cleaning approach than dry soot.
  • Electrical fires. Wiring, outlets and appliances often burn plastic and insulation. The smoke is dark, the soot is heavy and the odor is sharp. Have an electrician check the wiring before power goes back on in that area.

Different fires leave different residue, and the wrong cleaning method can make it worse. We figure out what kind of soot we are dealing with before we start.

The water from putting it out

Firefighters may use a lot of water. That water soaks into carpet, drywall, insulation and the slab, and it does not leave when the fire trucks do. In Central Florida, wet materials can start growing mold within 24 to 48 hours.

So fire cleanup is usually water cleanup too. We remove standing water, take out what cannot be dried, and set up drying equipment with daily moisture readings. It is the same careful process we use for water damage restoration, done alongside the soot work.

Getting the smell out for good

Air fresheners and candles cover smoke odor for a day. Then it returns. Real odor removal means cleaning the surfaces that hold the smell and removing materials that cannot be cleaned, like burned drywall or soaked insulation. Then we treat the space so the odor does not come back.

We also clean contents: furniture, hard goods and other belongings that can be saved. Soft items like carpet often finish with a deep carpet cleaning once the rest of the home is done.

Records for you, help any hour

We take photos and notes throughout the job. You get them for your records. We work with all insurance companies and document everything your adjuster needs: photos, moisture readings and a detailed, itemized estimate. We work in homes and businesses across Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties, any day and any hour.

From smoke to clean, step by step

  1. We check safety and document

    We confirm the space is safe to work in, then photograph every room and note what the smoke and heat reached.

  2. We remove the water and dry it

    Water from firefighting comes out first. We dry the structure and take moisture readings until it is back to normal.

  3. We clean the soot

    Soot is cleaned from walls, ceilings, cabinets and the belongings that can be saved, using the right method for the type of residue.

  4. We remove the odor at the source

    Materials that hold the smell are cleaned or removed, then the space is treated so the odor does not return.

  5. Final check

    We walk the home with you, check every room and hand over the photos and notes for your records.

Common questions

Can I clean the soot myself?

It is better not to. Soot smears easily and can set into paint and fabric when it is wiped or washed with the wrong product. A light dusting on one surface may be manageable, but a room or a whole house is a job for us.

Will the smoke smell ever go away?

Yes, when the source is removed. Odor lives in soot, porous materials and sometimes the ducts. Once those are cleaned or replaced and the space is treated, the smell should not come back. Covering it with fresheners only hides it for a while.

Why is there so much water damage after a fire?

Putting out a fire can take a lot of water, and it soaks into floors, walls and insulation. In Florida humidity it will not dry on its own quickly, so we remove it and dry the structure at the same time as the soot cleanup.

Can I stay in my home during fire cleanup?

It depends on how much of the house was affected. After a small kitchen fire, many people stay. After a larger fire, the fire department or your own comfort may decide. We will tell you honestly what we see.

Is it safe to run my air conditioner after a fire?

Not until the ducts and system have been checked. Running it can spread soot through every room. Leave it off and call or text us at 407-807-8528.

Related help

Close by, all over Central Florida

Based in Apopka and serving homes and businesses across Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties. See every area we serve.

2 AM? Still us.

Call or text whenever it happens. We'll pick up, and we'll help.