After a house fire — immediate action steps
- Do not re-enter the structure until the fire department declares it safe — fire-damaged floors and ceilings can collapse without visible warning.
- Call CFDR at 321-420-7274 — emergency board-up and tarping prevent additional weather damage and theft; this is covered under your insurance policy as required mitigation.
- Report the claim to your insurance carrier and get a claim number — ask about ALE (additional living expenses) coverage for immediate hotel and living costs.
- Do not attempt to clean soot yourself — rubbing soot smears it into surfaces and permanently stains them; protein soot (kitchen fires) is nearly invisible and requires professional cleaning of every surface in the affected area.
- Photograph and video all damage before any cleanup begins — room by room, every damaged item, every soot-affected surface.
- Save all damaged items in place for the adjuster's documentation — do not discard furniture, electronics, or personal property until the adjuster has inspected and photographed them.
- Track all out-of-pocket expenses from Day 1 — hotel, food, clothing, storage — your ALE coverage typically begins at the date the home became uninhabitable.
Fire damage restoration in Florida — what happens from Day 1 through final rebuild.
A house fire involves board-up, water extraction from fire suppression, soot cleaning, odor elimination, contents pack-out, and full reconstruction — all coordinated with your insurance carrier. Here's the complete process.
Fire damage restoration — 8 phases from emergency response to completion.
The fire department leaves when the fire is out — not when the structure is secured. A restoration crew boards up breached windows and doors, tarps any roof damage, and installs temporary fencing if needed. This prevents weather from causing additional damage, deters theft and vandalism, and is required by the insurance carrier as a 'mitigation of further damage' duty.
Before any cleanup begins, the crew documents every room — structural damage, contents, and soot deposition patterns. Items are inventoried: salvageable (can be professionally cleaned), non-salvageable (total loss), and undetermined. This documentation is the basis for the insurance claim and is submitted with the Xactimate estimate.
Fire suppression typically uses 100–300 gallons per minute — far more water than a burst pipe. Commercial extraction removes standing water, and industrial dehumidifiers and air movers begin structural drying. In Florida, drying takes 7–10 days for fire-suppression water due to the volume and the saturation of multiple structural assemblies simultaneously.
Charred structural elements are removed. Drywall, insulation, flooring, and cabinets damaged beyond restoration are demolished. The scope of demolition extends beyond the burn zone to include materials with heavy soot contamination or fire suppression water damage.
Soot is cleaned from all remaining surfaces: structural elements, walls, ceilings, HVAC registers, and salvageable contents. Dry soot is HEPA-vacuumed before wet cleaning. Wet soot requires chemical solvents. Protein soot (kitchen fires) requires enzymatic cleaners on every surface in the affected zone.
Smoke odor penetrates porous materials and persists long after visual soot is removed. Professional odor elimination uses: thermal fogging (heated deodorant dispersed through the structure to penetrate the same surfaces smoke penetrated), ozone generators (sealed structure treatment), or hydroxyl generators (safe for occupied spaces). HVAC duct cleaning is performed to prevent the system from redistributing smoke odors.
Salvageable personal property is packed out to a climate-controlled facility for professional cleaning using ultrasonic cleaning, dry cleaning, or specialized deodorization methods. Items are stored until reconstruction is complete. Non-salvageable items are documented for the insurance claim.
Reconstruction begins after clearance is confirmed — structural drying complete, odor treatment complete, and soot cleaning complete. Scope: framing repairs, drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinetry, painting, electrical and plumbing repairs, and final finishes. Florida permits are pulled for structural work. Final walk-through confirms restoration to pre-loss condition.
Fire damage restoration in Florida — your questions answered.
What does fire damage restoration involve?+
Fire damage restoration involves far more than repairing what burned. The full scope: (1) Emergency services — board-up of breached windows and walls, roof tarping, securing the structure to prevent unauthorized entry and further weather damage; (2) Water damage from firefighting — fire suppression typically delivers 100–300 gallons per minute; the water damage from suppression is often as extensive as the fire damage itself and requires extraction and structural drying; (3) Smoke and soot removal — soot deposits on every surface throughout the structure, not just in the burn zone; different soot types (wet, dry, protein) require different cleaning methods; (4) Odor elimination — smoke odors penetrate porous materials and HVAC systems; professional treatment with thermal fogging, ozone, or hydroxyl generators is required; (5) Structural assessment and demolition — charred and fire-compromised structural elements are removed; (6) Contents pack-out and restoration; (7) Reconstruction — from drywall and flooring to full structural rebuilds.
How long does fire damage restoration take in Florida?+
Fire damage restoration timeline in Florida depends on the fire's scope. Minor kitchen fire (contained, no structural damage): 2–4 weeks for cleaning and repairs. Moderate fire (one to two rooms involved with partial structural damage): 6–12 weeks for demolition, drying, and reconstruction. Major fire (multiple rooms or structural compromise): 3–9 months for full reconstruction. The water damage portion of fire restoration (from fire suppression) must complete structural drying (typically 7–10 days in Florida) before reconstruction can begin. Smoke and odor remediation is performed concurrently with drying. Permit issuance and inspections add 1–3 weeks to structural reconstruction.
What is smoke damage and why does it spread beyond the burn area?+
Smoke is a complex mixture of particulate matter, gases, and aerosols that travels throughout a structure via air currents, pressure differentials, and HVAC systems. Even in a contained kitchen fire, smoke can permeate every room if the HVAC system was running during the fire. Different materials produce different soot types: (1) Wet soot — from slow-smoldering fires burning synthetic materials; greasy, smears easily, harder to clean; (2) Dry soot — from fast, hot fires burning natural materials; loose, powdery, easier to vacuum; (3) Protein soot — from kitchen fires (burning food, grease); nearly invisible but produces extreme odors; cannot be vacuumed — requires chemical cleaning of all surfaces. The HVAC system distributes smoke and odor throughout the house; duct cleaning is typically included in the restoration scope.
Does homeowners insurance cover fire damage restoration in Florida?+
Yes — fire damage is one of the most clearly covered perils in all Florida homeowners policies. Coverage A (dwelling) pays for structural repairs and reconstruction; Coverage B covers detached structures; Coverage C covers personal property (contents) damaged by fire, smoke, or firefighting water; Coverage D (ALE) covers additional living expenses while the home is being restored. Key details: (1) If your policy is written on replacement cost value (RCV), you receive the full repair cost without depreciation, typically in a two-step payment; (2) Smoke damage throughout the home — even in unburned rooms — is covered as part of the fire loss; (3) Water damage from fire suppression is covered under the fire claim, not as a separate water claim; (4) Most Florida carriers have no sublimit on fire — unlike mold ($10,000 sublimit in many policies); (5) The fire restoration contractor's Xactimate scope documents the full loss for the insurance claim.
What should I do immediately after a house fire in Florida?+
Immediately after a house fire in Florida: (1) Do not re-enter the structure until the fire department declares it safe — structural fire damage can cause floors and ceilings to collapse without visible warning; (2) Call your insurance company and report the claim — the carrier will send an adjuster and may arrange immediate living expenses; (3) Contact a fire restoration company for emergency board-up and securing of the structure — this is covered under your policy and prevents further damage and theft; (4) Do not attempt to clean soot yourself — dry soot can be smeared into surfaces, permanently staining them; protein soot requires professional cleaning; (5) Document the damage with photos and video before any cleanup begins; (6) Save all damaged items for the adjuster's review — do not discard anything until the adjuster has documented it; (7) Track all ALE (additional living expenses) receipts from Day 1 — hotel, food, clothing, storage.
Fire damage in Central Florida? Ryan coordinates board-up through final rebuild — one call, full scope.
IICRC-certified fire and smoke restoration with Xactimate documentation. Emergency board-up available 24/7. Full contents pack-out and rebuild under one contract.