When a fire breaks out in your home, the immediate destruction is obvious. But once the flames are gone, the real work begins. Fire leaves behind a wide range of invisible and lingering issues, from soot-covered walls to smoke odors in places you’d never expect. A complete fire and smoke cleanup process isn’t just about removing debris, it’s about treating every room with attention to detail, even the ones the fire didn’t touch.
At Dwyer Restoration, we’ve helped homeowners recover from house fires of all sizes. What surprises most people is how far smoke travels, how many materials absorb odor, and how long damage can linger without a proper strategy. In this guide, we’ll walk through the essential tasks required in each area of a home following a fire so you can better understand the path to full recovery.
Kitchen
Fires often start in the kitchen, making it ground zero for damage. The first step is to remove charred materials and any cabinetry, drywall, or flooring that can’t be saved. We then focus on surface soot removal services using safe, non-abrasive methods.
Next, appliances and surfaces must be cleaned and deodorized. Smoke cleanup services are critical in the kitchen due to porous surfaces that can hold odor. If your HVAC system recirculated smoke, we include HVAC smoke cleaning to remove particles from vents and filters that service the kitchen.
Living Room
The living room may not be where the fire started, but it’s usually affected by smoke. Upholstered furniture, rugs, and curtains trap odor and residue. That’s why we begin with contents restoration services and, when needed, soft goods restoration services to save personal items.
Electronics in the room may also need electronics restoration after fire due to soot contamination. Even devices that seem untouched can suffer corrosion or failure if smoke particles aren’t removed quickly.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms are often overlooked during fire damage restoration, but they’re full of absorbent materials like mattresses, clothing, and bedding. If soot or odor is present, we remove affected items for cleaning and use specialized equipment for in-place odor removal.
Closets and drawers need to be inspected and treated as well. We use vapor fogging to remove deep odors and finish with HEPA air filtration to improve air quality before you return to sleep in those spaces.
Bathrooms
Although bathrooms may seem unaffected, smoke often reaches them through ventilation systems. Mirrors, tile grout, and cabinetry can all trap fine particles. House smoke damage repair in bathrooms includes full cleaning and sealing of surfaces, plus smoke odor removal from any stored linens or personal care items.
If fire suppression systems caused water intrusion, we may also include water damage cleanup, especially near baseboards or under vanities. In many cases, the shower & tub overflow or bathroom sink overflow from firefighting efforts also needs to be addressed.
Garage and Attic
These utility spaces are vulnerable to both smoke damage and water issues after a fire. Attics often hold insulation that absorbs smoke and must be replaced. Garages may house important items like tools, documents, or vehicles that need content cleaning and restoration or document drying and restoration.
We also inspect these areas for structural restoration needs if trusses, rafters, or beams were exposed to high heat or water from suppression. In some cases, we coordinate roof tarping services and window board-up after storm or fire to keep the structure secure during recovery.
HVAC System and Ducts
If your HVAC was running during the fire, smoke likely traveled through the system into every room. Even if the fire was small, the ductwork must be professionally cleaned to avoid circulating contaminants.
That’s why emergency smoke cleanup often includes duct sanitizing and soot and smoke removal from HVAC registers, filters, and handlers. If left untreated, the system can continue spreading odors for months after the event.
Floors, Walls, and Ceilings
Across all rooms, surfaces must be cleaned with products designed for fire recovery. Standard cleaners won’t break down the sticky residue left behind by synthetic materials that burned. We tailor our approach depending on what burned—wood, plastic, food, or electronics—and apply the right chemical agents to prevent further staining or corrosion.
We also handle ceiling water damage repair and floor water damage as part of a full-service cleanup, especially in homes where firefighting water caused flooding.
Contents and Keepsakes
Whether it’s a family photo album, heirloom piece of furniture, or daily-use electronics, fire often damages what matters most. That’s why we offer fire damaged contents cleaning, water damaged contents recovery, and smoke damaged item restoration through our specialized contents team.
Items are packed out, cleaned in a secure facility, and returned to your home once it’s safe and odor-free. Our careful inventory system ensures everything is tracked and treated with respect.
The Importance of Full-Service Cleanup
No two fire jobs are the same. At Dwyer Restoration, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Our fire damage contractors assess each room, identify needs, and design a cleanup plan that covers structure, systems, and personal property.
We even assist with fire restoration near me calls that involve exterior damage, including storm damage restoration and fallen tree removal from roof if the fire was part of a larger storm event.
Final Air Quality Check and Clearance
Before we consider your home safe again, we run air quality tests and provide final deodorization to ensure the indoor environment is clean and breathable. Using negative air machines, HEPA vacuums, and odor sealants, we leave no trace of smoke behind.
If your home was affected by storm-driven wildfires or suffered wind damage roof repair needs during the fire event, we coordinate all repairs and restoration under one roof so you can return home faster.
Your home is more than walls and windows. After a fire, it deserves a recovery that reaches every corner. Let Dwyer Restoration handle your fire and smoke restoration the right way—from the inside out.
