Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Orlando
After a house fire, the restoration company boards up openings, removes soot and smoke odor, cleans or packs out contents, dries water left by firefighting, and rebuilds. Work starts once the fire department releases the house. In Central Florida, call or text CFDR at 321-420-7274 to be matched with a restoration company that does fire work.
Active loss? Call. Don't fill in a form.
Who do I call after a house fire in Orlando?
Call 911 first and wait for the fire department to release the house before you go back in. Then call your insurer to open a claim, and call a restoration company to board up and start on soot, smoke and water. Call any hour. Owner Ryan Solberg takes the calls; if he is on another call, he calls you back.
After a house fire: who to call, in order → · Florida claim deadlines →
What does a fire restoration company do in the first 24 hours?
Steps 1 to 5 are the first day or so; the rest follows as the house is cleaned and dried. The matched company sets the schedule, so ask for it in writing.
Board-up and securing
After the fire department releases the house, the company boards up windows, doors and roof openings. That limits weather, theft and further damage, and a secured structure helps your claim.
Assessment and documentation
Photos and video of every damaged surface and item before work begins. This is the record behind your claim.
Smoke and soot removal
Dry soot is removed first with HEPA vacuums and dry sponges. Wet cleaning before dry removal can smear soot into surfaces.
Odor control
Cleaning surfaces, then a combination of methods such as thermal fogging, hydroxyl or ozone treatment, duct cleaning and sealing primers, chosen for the fire and how far the smoke traveled.
Water from firefighting
Water used to put out the fire is extracted and the structure is dried with the same moisture readings as any water loss.
Debris removal and structural review
Charred framing, drywall and insulation are removed with documentation. Ask who is checking the structure before rebuilding starts; a building official or engineer decides what is structurally safe.
Contents cleaning or pack-out
Salvageable contents are cleaned on site or packed out to a contents-cleaning facility. Items are inventoried and photographed.
Rebuild
Many restoration companies also rebuild. Ask whether the matched company does, and get the rebuild scope in writing before you sign anything.
Kitchen fire: who cleans up the smoke and soot?
After a small kitchen fire, ventilate the house and photograph everything before cleaning. Don't scrub soot yourself; it can smear and set. Report the claim if the damage goes beyond a quick wipe-down. A fire restoration company cleans soot and odor from cabinets, walls and ductwork.
What can be saved after a fire?
Not everything needs replacing. A good company assesses items one by one and tells you which are worth cleaning and which are cheaper to replace.
Often restorable
- Hard, non-porous items (glass, ceramics, metals)
- Clothing and fabrics, with pack-out cleaning
- Some electronics, depending on heat and soot
- Documents and photographs, through specialized recovery
- Wood furniture with surface soot only
Often replaced
- Upholstered furniture in directly affected rooms
- Mattresses and bedding exposed to smoke
- Food and open containers
- Medications exposed to heat or smoke
- Insulation and drywall in fire zones
How does pack-out work?
Items that need specialized cleaning are packed out to a contents-cleaning facility while the house is restored.
What kinds of damage does a house fire cause?
A fire is rarely one problem. The company scopes each of these separately.
Structural fire damage
Charred or weakened framing, burned subfloor and damaged roof structure. Rebuilding follows permits and inspections.
Smoke and soot on surfaces
Soot coats walls, ceilings and the inside of cabinets, including rooms the fire never reached.
Smoke odor
Smoke travels through the HVAC system and into porous materials, so odor can be present far from the fire.
Water from firefighting
Water used to put out the fire has to be extracted and dried like any other water loss.
Contents and electronics
Appliances, electronics, furniture and clothing are assessed item by item and documented for the contents part of your claim.
Electrical systems
Fire can damage wiring and panels. Have a licensed electrician check the system before power is restored.
How is smoke odor removed from a house?
Air fresheners and surface cleaning alone don't remove it. The company has to reach every place the smoke traveled, including wall cavities and ducts.
A heated fog carries a deodorizing agent into the same cavities the smoke reached, such as wall voids and spaces above ceilings.
Generators produce ozone to break down odor molecules. The house has to be empty during treatment and aired out afterward.
Produce hydroxyl radicals that break down odor molecules over a longer period. Ask the company how it handles occupied rooms.
Smoke moves through ductwork. The duct system is cleaned, and if it absorbed a lot of smoke the air handler and ducts may need replacing.
On framing and structural surfaces where odor soaked in, a sealing primer goes on before new drywall and finishes.
Does homeowners insurance cover fire and smoke damage?
Fire is a standard covered peril in most homeowners policies, but your insurer decides what is covered under your policy's terms. Read the policy for these items:
- Structural repair and rebuild
- Smoke and soot cleaning
- Water damage from firefighting
- Personal property, including contents cleaning and pack-out
- Additional living expenses (ALE) while the home is unlivable: this depends on your policy
- Limits or exclusions, for example for a vacant home
Florida claim deadlines and steps →
What can a restoration contractor do for my fire claim?
Your matched company documents the loss for your claim and writes a line-item Xactimate estimate. Coverage and settlement decisions stay between you and your insurer.
In Florida, only a licensed public adjuster or an attorney may be paid to negotiate a claim for you (s. 626.854). s. 626.854
Ask your matched company how billing works on an insurance job; your deductible is yours.
How much does fire damage restoration cost?
It depends on the size of the fire, how far the smoke spread and how much needs rebuilding, so ask for a written, itemized estimate. Fire damage restoration cost →
Where does CFDR match companies?
CFDR matches homes and businesses within about 90 minutes' drive of downtown Orlando: Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Polk, Brevard, Sumter and Marion counties. That covers Orlando, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Sanford, Winter Park, Apopka, Clermont, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, DeLand, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Leesburg, The Villages and Ocala. Tampa and Brandon are edge areas: Ryan matches them when a network company covers the address. Outside these counties, call about large commercial, multi-unit or whole-home losses.
- Orange County
- Seminole County
- Osceola County
- Lake County
- Volusia County
- Polk County
- Brevard County
- Sumter County
- Marion County
Who is CFDR?
Private Orlando restoration referral service, not FEMA. Call or text 321-420-7274 24/7 and Ryan Solberg matches you with a local restoration company. You pay CFDR nothing, and CFDR does not bill your insurer.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. s. 626.854 (public adjusters) (accessed 2026-10-13)
- IICRC Certified Firm verification (accessed 2026-10-13)
Fire & Smoke Restoration Across Central Florida
Dealing With Fire or Smoke Damage?
Call any hour. Owner Ryan Solberg takes the calls; if he is on another call, he calls you back. You pay CFDR nothing, and CFDR does not bill your insurer.