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Fire and smoke

Fire and smoke damage restoration

Even a small kitchen fire leaves soot on every surface and a smell that gets into fabrics and drywall, and a larger one adds the water used to fight it. Call to reach an independent contractor that handles fire and smoke cleanup in the valley.

Call (801) 823-6866
Kitchen with black soot streaks on the wall and cabinets above the range after a small fire

What it involves

Soot, odor and water

Fire damage is three problems at once. Soot is oily and acidic and can etch or stain surfaces if it sits. Odor travels through the house on the air and settles in soft materials and wall cavities. And firefighting water soaks everything below the fire.

Wiping soot with a damp cloth usually smears it deeper. Contractors use dry sponges, specific cleaners and, for odor, sealing and air treatment, after the wet materials are dealt with.

First steps

After the fire is out

  • Go back in only when the fire department says it is safe
  • Leave utilities off until they have been checked
  • Don't scrub soot or wash walls yet
  • Keep windows open for air if the weather allows
  • Bag clothes and fabrics loosely; don't wash them yet
  • Photograph every room, including the ones that look fine

The job

How fire cleanup usually progresses

  1. Secure the house

    Board-up and tarping where the fire opened walls, windows or roof.

  2. Water first

    Firefighting water is extracted and drying starts.

  3. Remove the unsalvageable

    Charred materials and contents are removed and documented.

  4. Soot and odor

    Surfaces are cleaned, and odor is treated at the source.

  5. Rebuild

    Repairs follow, with permits for structural or system work.

Salt Lake City

Permits after a fire

Salt Lake City's permit FAQ notes that painting, flooring and other cosmetic work don't need a permit, while structural work and changes to electrical, plumbing or HVAC systems do (permit FAQ). Fire repairs often touch all of these.

For rentals and commercial property the same FAQ says a contractor is required to obtain the permits. Owner-occupants of their primary residence may pull their own. Check any contractor's license with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (license lookup).

Call (801) 823-6866

Smoke-darkened range hood and cabinets in an otherwise intact kitchen

Questions

Fire & Smoke Damage: common questions

Can smoke smell be removed completely?

Usually, once the soot and the materials holding the odor are cleaned or removed. Covering it with fragrance doesn't work; it comes back on warm days.

Do I need a separate company for the water?

Many fire restoration contractors also handle the water from firefighting. Ask on the call.

What about furniture and clothes?

Many items can be cleaned by specialists, especially hard furniture and washable fabrics. Photograph and list everything first, and keep damaged items until your insurer says otherwise.

Related

Other kinds of damage

Salt Lake Valley

Talk the damage through with a local restoration contractor

A single call reaches an independent contractor that handles water, smoke and mold jobs in Salt Lake City and the surrounding cities. You decide whether to book anything.

Water where it shouldn't be?

The call goes to an independent restoration contractor that takes jobs in the Salt Lake Valley. Describe the source, the rooms involved and when it started.

Call (801) 823-6866

Calls may be recorded for quality and billing. How the line is paid: referral disclosure. What is recorded: privacy.

Call (801) 823-6866