Apartment and Multifamily Fire Restoration, Nationwide

How damage spreads between units

• Smoke moves through gaps in walls, plumbing chases, shared attics and ductwork
• Firefighting water runs down into units below
• Soot and odor settle in hallways, stairwells and lobbies
• Rowhouses and townhomes can pass smoke across shared walls and roof lines

Who is involved

Owners, property managers, tenants, condo or homeowner associations and insurers each have a role. Roles depend on the lease, bylaws and policies, so confirm who orders the work and who pays before it starts.

Restoration approach

1. Secure the building and common areas, including board up and fencing.
2. Assess every unit, hallway and shaft for smoke and water, not only the fire unit.
3. Dry affected units and common areas.
4. Clean soot and treat odor unit by unit, with containment between them.
5. Pack out belongings where needed and keep an inventory per tenant.
6. Repair structure, firestopping and finishes with required inspections.

Tenant communication

Clear notices on access, belongings and expected timelines reduce confusion. Tenants should photograph their belongings and notify their renters insurer. See our guide for renters and landlords.

Firewalls and shared roof lines

Fire resistant walls and assemblies must be repaired to the original rating where required. Local building officials may need to inspect before units are reoccupied.

Duplexes, townhomes and shared structures

Duplex fire damage remediation and multi family residential fire repair must cover both sides of a shared wall. Townhome fire block restoration deals with fire blocks and draft stops, which are built to slow fire and smoke inside walls and attics. Zero lot line fire damage repair adds access and permit issues because buildings sit on or near the property line.

Smoke migration, ash and common areas

Multi unit smoke migration cleanup checks every unit, shaft and attic that shares air paths. Adjacent property ash washing cleans neighboring roofs, windows and siding that received ash. A shared roof line fire mitigation plan protects the roof deck across units, and common area soot cleanup covers hallways, stairwells and lobbies. Fire wall structural reinforcement restores rated walls to the required rating, often with inspection by the building official.

24/7 help and where we serve

This service is part of our nationwide network of local fire damage restoration services. The phone line, (833) 917-4160, is answered 24/7, and the operator connects you with an independent company that covers your ZIP code. Browse all locations or choose a state.

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Frequently asked questions

Sources and standards

• NFPA: National Fire Protection Association
• IICRC: ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

Reviewed November 2026 under our editorial policy. General information, not legal, insurance or engineering advice.