Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
Fire, smoke and soot restoration — corrosion mitigation, odor removal and structural cleaning.
After a fire, acidic soot begins corroding metals and etching glass within days. Certified fire restoration addresses soot chemistry, smoke odor and structural cleaning — not just debris removal.
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Fire, smoke and storm damage restoration are usually one job
A fire loss is almost always also a water loss, because the water used to put it out soaks the structure. Storm and flood losses bring their own complication: rising water is a separate peril excluded from standard homeowners policies, which is why the National Flood Insurance Program exists. Firms certified across water, fire and mould can carry an insured loss end to end rather than handing it between trades.
Fire & Smoke: the questions worth asking
What does fire and smoke restoration involve?
Soot and smoke residue removal, corrosion mitigation on metals and electronics, odour treatment, and cleaning or disposal of contents — usually alongside water damage from the firefighting itself, which is why fire losses are commonly both a fire and a water job.
Which certification should a fire restoration firm hold?
FSRT — Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Technician — with OCT (Odor Control Technician) for the smell, and CPT (Contents Processing Technician) where belongings are packed out and cleaned off site.
Does fire damage restoration require a licence?
No state licenses fire restoration specifically. The rebuild phase may require general contractor registration in your state.
Answers reference the IICRC S500 and S520 standards and each state's own licensing statutes. We publish no cost estimates and no ratings — we hold no verified source for either. How we verify →