Signs you need help now
- Black or oily soot film coating walls, ceilings, cabinetry, and interior furnishings
- Intense, penetrating smoke odor permeating framing lumber, ductwork, and personal belongings
- Extensive standing water pooled across basements, floors, and crawl cavities from firefighting hoses
- Charred framing lumber, blistered drywall surfaces, and water-soaked ceiling insulation
- Yellowing or corrosion developing rapidly on metal fixtures, appliances, and electronic surfaces
Do this while you call
- Do not re-enter the structure until local fire department officials have formally declared the property structurally safe.
- Avoid wiping soot from painted walls, ceilings, or upholstered furniture; standard wiping drives acidic soot particles deep into porous surfaces.
- Save all receipts for emergency lodging, clothing, meals, and temporary living costs for insurance loss-of-use reimbursement.
- Notify your property insurance carrier immediately to open a formal loss claim and request an emergency adjuster inspection.
If anyone is in danger, there is fire, or you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 first.
What an independent provider typically does
- Emergency extraction units remove pooled firefighting water from floors, basement slabs, and subterranean voids.
- HEPA vacuums and specialized chemical dry cleaning sponges remove loose soot without smearing oily residue into walls.
- Commercial dehumidifiers and high-volume air movers dry waterlogged structural lumber and surviving building components.
- Thermal fogging, hydroxyl generators, or ozone treatments break down trapped volatile organic compounds to neutralize smoke odor.
- Unsalvageable charred materials and contaminated insulation are safely stripped away to allow full structural decontamination.
Exact steps depend on the provider and your situation. Confirm availability, service scope and pricing with them directly.
What is not included
This service provides emergency mitigation for fire, soot, smoke residue, and firefighting water aftermath. It does not include structural carpentry rebuilding, roof framing replacement, electrical rewiring, board-up security services, or general architectural reconstruction.
Commerce City notes
Following a residential fire in Commerce City, properties face combined hazards from thermal smoke damage and heavy firefighting water saturation. Emergency fire response from local Adams County fire districts necessarily introduces large volumes of water into second-story rooms, attics, and basement levels.
In suburban neighborhoods like Reunion, Buffalo Mesa, and Belle Creek, synthetic construction materials and modern furnishings produce oily, highly acidic soot that begins etching chrome, brass, glass, and tile within twenty-four hours.
In historic areas like Derby and Rose Hill, wood lath and plaster or older framing hold moisture deeply, requiring aggressive structural drying alongside soot cleanup. Independent local restoration providers document every phase of fire and water aftermath to ensure full compliance with insurer claim guidelines.
Not sure what your policy covers? Read our water damage insurance guide, and check coverage areas on the service areas page.
Questions about fire damage restoration
Why is wiping soot with household cleaners dangerous?
Soot contains acidic compounds and fine carbon particles. Using water or household cleaners smears the oily residue across surfaces, staining paint permanently and locking odors into drywall.
Is firefighting water treated differently from a domestic plumbing leak?
Yes. Firefighting water mixes with ash, soot, toxic chemical residues, and building debris as it flows through the structure, requiring thorough extraction and antimicrobial sanitation alongside drying.
How is stubborn smoke odor removed from structural lumber?
Restoration providers use thermal foggers, hydroxyl generators, or ozone machines to penetrate porous framing lumber and chemically neutralize volatile smoke molecules at the molecular level.
Who establishes the restoration scope following a fire?
The independent restoration provider inspects the property in conjunction with your insurance company adjuster to establish approved scope and pricing before major work begins.
Public sources and guidance
- American Red Cross: Checking Your Home After a Fire (opens in a new tab) - safe re-entry and documentation
- USFA / FEMA: After the Fire, Returning to Normal (opens in a new tab) - recovery and claims documentation
- Colorado Division of Insurance: What Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover (opens in a new tab) - flood exclusions and coverage limits