Fire Damage Restoration: The Ultimate Homeowner’s Recovery Guide (2026 Edition)

Updated for 2026 (Read This First)

I update this guide because fire recovery is one of those moments where bad info spreads fast—and homeowners pay the price.

This 2026 edition includes:

• Updated cost guidance and pricing drivers (based on the latest published national ranges)
• Clearer safety guidance on smoke, soot, and air quality
• Expanded “what to do in the first 24 hours” section
• A tighter insurance workflow so you don’t get pushed around while you’re still in shock

If you’re reading this right after a fire: slow down. Breathe. You don’t have to solve everything today—but the first day matters.

A National Resource for Families Facing Fire Damage (From a Chicago-Based Team)

My name is Sam Simon, COO of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons. Nasutsa Mabwa is our CEO. We’re part of the ServiceMaster legacy—founded in Chicago in 1929—and our local operation has 40+ years of restoration experience across Chicago, the North Shore, Lake County, and DuPage County.

I’m an IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer, and our team responds 24/7. We’ve handled:

• Kitchen fires in condos and high-rises
• Electrical fires in older homes
• Furnace puff-backs that coat an entire house
• Candle and fireplace smoke that spreads through the HVAC
• Fire hose water damage that turns into mold if it’s not dried correctly

This guide is the straight talk I’d give a homeowner on-site—before you sign anything, throw anything away, or let soot sit another day.

If you need help now, start here:
https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/restoration-services/residential/fire

Table of Contents

1. First 24 Hours After a Fire: What to Do (and What NOT to Do)
2. Is It Safe to Stay in a Fire-Damaged Home?
3. What Can Be Saved vs. What Must Be Discarded
4. The Fire Damage Restoration Process (Step-by-Step)
5. Fire Restoration Cost in 2026: Realistic Ranges + What Drives Price
6. Insurance: How Claims Really Flow (So Work Doesn’t Stall)
7. DIY Smoke Cleanup vs. Professional Restoration
8. How Long Does Fire Damage Restoration Take?
9. FAQ: The Most Googled Questions About Fire Cleanup
10. Fire Restoration Services We Provide
11. Why Homeowners Trust ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons
12. Need Help Right Now?

1) First 24 Hours After a Fire: Exactly What to Do

Step 1: Confirm It’s Safe to Re-Enter

Only go back inside when the fire department says it’s safe. Fires can leave:

• Weakened floors and ceilings
• Hidden hotspots
• Electrical hazards
• Contaminated air

Step 2: Secure the Property (Board-Up / Tarp if Needed)

If windows, doors, or roofing are compromised, you need the home secured fast. This isn’t just about theft—openings invite weather, animals, and more damage.

Step 3: Shut Down the HVAC Until It’s Evaluated

Smoke and soot travel through ductwork. Running the system can spread contamination into clean rooms. (A lot of people learn this the hard way.)

Step 4: Document Everything Before You Touch Anything

Take wide photos and close-ups:

• Every room
• Contents and valuables
• Smoke patterns on walls/ceilings
• Water damage from suppression

If you’re exhausted, ask someone you trust to do it. But get it done.

Step 5: Call a Certified Fire Restoration Company

Soot doesn’t “wait politely.” It’s often acidic and can quickly damage surfaces—metals, finishes, plastics, appliances, electronics. The longer it sits, the harder it is to clean, and the more likely it is to be replaced rather than restored.

Start here if you want our team:
https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/restoration-services/residential/fire

Verify IICRC credentials (you should do this for any contractor):
https://iicrc.org/certifiedfirmverification/

2) Is It Safe to Stay in a Fire-Damaged House?

Most of the time: no. Even small fires can create serious indoor air problems.

Soot is particulate pollution. The EPA describes particulate matter as tiny particles in the air—some visible like soot/smoke, others microscopic.
https://www.epa.gov/agriculture/agriculture-and-air-quality

Also important: the EPA strengthened the national standard for soot pollution in 2024, which tells you how seriously these particles are taken from a health standpoint.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-finalizes-stronger-standards-harmful-soot-pollution-significantly-increasing

If you smell smoke, see residue, or have any fire suppression water inside the home, assume you need a professional assessment before you live there again.

3) What Can Be Saved vs. What Must Be Thrown Away

Here’s the rule I use: porous + exposed to smoke usually equals replace, unless it’s professionally processed.

Often Restorable (with professional methods)

• Hardwood, tile, metal, glass (depends on heat distortion)
• Many solid furniture pieces (after proper soot removal)
• Some electronics (but they must be evaluated before powering on)
• Some textiles (depending on the soot type and exposure duration)

Usually Must Be Discarded

• Drywall and insulation directly impacted by smoke/heat (they hold odor and contamination)
• Food (opened or unopened), medicines, cosmetics, baby items
• Cheap plastics and foam items that absorb odor and can off-gas

If you’re unsure, don’t guess. Inventory it and let the restoration plan decide.

4) The Fire Damage Restoration Process (Step-by-Step)

Fire restoration usually moves through these phases:

Phase 1: Inspection + Emergency Stabilization (Day 1)

• Safety assessment
• Board-up/tarp if needed
• Utilities evaluation
• Photos + documentation

Phase 2: Water Mitigation + Drying (Days 1–5)

Many fires involve heavy water use. If drying isn’t done correctly, mold becomes the “second disaster.”

Phase 3: Soot Removal + Cleaning (Days 2–14)

This includes:

• HEPA vacuuming
• Dry sponging
• Specialized cleaning agents matched to the soot type

Phase 4: Odor Neutralization (Days 3–14)

Techniques may include:

• Hydroxyl
• Ozone (only when appropriate and controlled)
• Thermal fogging
• Carbon filtration

Phase 5: Contents Cleaning / Pack-Out / Storage (Timing varies)

• Room-by-room inventory
• Pack out when necessary
• Controlled cleaning for sensitive items

Phase 6: Repairs + Reconstruction (Weeks to months)

• Drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinetry, paint
• Code-compliant rebuild where required

5) Fire Restoration Cost in 2026: Realistic Ranges (and What Drives Them)

You asked for the real numbers, so here they are—as ranges, not promises.

Latest published national ranges (used for 2026 planning)

• HomeAdvisor reports most homeowners spend $3,107–$51,243, with an average around $27,175 (fire and smoke remediation).
  https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/disaster-recovery/repair-fire-and-smoke-damage/
• Angi commonly cites $4–$7 per sq. ft. (with averages around the mid-$5 range depending on scope).
  https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-fire-damage-restoration-cost.htm
  https://www.angi.com/articles/fire-damage-restoration-process.htm

What pushes the cost up fast

• Soot type (protein and synthetic residues are a different animal)
• Smoke migration (HVAC contamination, multiple rooms affected)
• Water damage from suppression (drying equipment + time)
• Pack-out volume (contents cleaning and storage logistics)
• Rebuild requirements (permits, trades, code upgrades)

If you want real pricing, the correct next step is always the same: on-site assessment, photos, and a documented scope.

6) Insurance: Do You Pay First or Does Insurance Pay First?

Here’s the clean truth:

Your contract is with the restoration company. Insurance is, in most cases, a reimbursement system.

What I tell homeowners:

• Open the claim early
• Document everything
• Don’t sign confusing assignments or blank authorizations under pressure
• Expect the process to take longer than you think (approvals slow jobs down more than labor does)

We’ll work with insurers when possible, and we also offer financing options for restoration services when homeowners need to keep the project moving.

7) DIY Smoke Cleanup vs. Professional Restoration

Safe things you can do

• Ventilate (if the home is structurally safe)
• Photograph and inventory
• Keep kids/pets out of contaminated rooms

Don’t do these

• Don’t run a regular vacuum on soot (you’ll spread it)
• Don’t scrub soot with household cleaners (you can smear it or set it)
• Don’t try ozone or fogging machines without training and controls

8) How Long Does Fire Restoration Take?

Realistic timing depends on scope:

• Light smoke cleanup: 3–7 days
• Single-room fire with repairs: 2–6 weeks
• Multi-room fire + pack-out + rebuild: 1–4+ months

Biggest delay in many jobs: insurance approvals and rebuild scheduling, not the cleaning.

9) FAQ: Most Googled Questions About Fire Cleanup

Can I stay in my house after fire damage?
Usually no. Smoke and soot contamination can create indoor air risks even when damage looks “minor.”

What should I throw away after a fire?
Food, medications, cosmetics, baby supplies, and porous items exposed to smoke—unless professionally processed.

Does smoke damage ever fully go away?
Yes, when soot is removed correctly first, and odor treatment is done properly second.

How do I choose a fire restoration company?
Choose a company that can prove certification, document scope, explain steps clearly, and show you how they protect your home during the process.

10) Fire Restoration Services We Provide

• Emergency board-up and tarping
• Smoke and soot removal
• Odor neutralization
• HVAC cleaning coordination
• Water mitigation and structural drying
• Contents cleaning, pack-out, and storage coordination
• Reconstruction support after mitigation

Start here:
https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/restoration-services/residential/fire

11) Why Homeowners Trust ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

• ServiceMaster was founded in Chicago in 1929
• 40+ years of local restoration experience across Chicagoland
• Nasutsa Mabwa, CEO | Sam Simon, COO
• IICRC Master-level expertise and documented restoration process
• Restoration Industry Association (RIA) member
• 2025 Inc. 5000 Honoree

And if you want the homeowner guide I co-authored (it helps people make calmer decisions during disasters):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1952779529

12) Need Help Right Now?

If you’re dealing with a fire loss and you want a clear plan—call a pro, get the home stabilized, and stop the damage from spreading.

Help is here:
https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/restoration-services/residential/fire