DIY Fire Cleanup or Professional Help?
When a small fire can be cleaned up yourself and when smoke, soot and water damage call for a professional restoration company.
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Tell the operator your city, what happened and whether the fire department has cleared the building. You will be connected with a local provider that covers your area.
(833) 917-4160Fire damage? Call now, 24/7
- Give your city and ZIP code
- Say what happened and whether the fire is out
- Ask the company about its license and insurance
Quick answer
Very small, contained incidents with little soot may be handled carefully by an owner. Anything involving widespread soot, strong odor, water from firefighting, damaged structure, ducts or a smoke alarm that sounded throughout the house calls for a professional.
When DIY may be reasonable
- A tiny contained fire, such as a burned pot, with no visible soot beyond a small area
- Light dry soot on a few hard surfaces
- No smoke odor in other rooms
- No structural, electrical or water damage
Even then, wear an N95 respirator and gloves and use a HEPA vacuum rather than a regular one, which can blow fine particles back into the air.
When to call a professional
- Soot or odor in more than one room
- Wet or greasy residue and any protein film
- Smoke that traveled through the HVAC system
- Water used to fight the fire
- Burned structure, wiring or plumbing
- Insurance claims where documentation and scope matter
- Older homes where asbestos or lead based paint may be disturbed
Common mistakes
- Wiping soot with a wet sponge, which smears it into porous surfaces
- Running fans or the HVAC and spreading soot
- Using household cleaners on materials that react with them
- Throwing away items before your insurer has seen them
- Using ozone devices in an occupied home
Think about health
Fine smoke particles can irritate lungs and eyes, and some residue contains harmful chemicals. People with asthma, heart disease or pregnancy should avoid cleanup. If you are unsure, a company can assess the building and tell you which parts you can safely handle.
Sources and further reading
- IICRC: ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
- U.S. EPA: Indoor air quality
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