Fire damage restoration is the full process of making a home or business safe, clean and livable again after a fire. The flames are usually only part of the damage. Smoke travels through the whole building and leaves soot on walls, ceilings, contents and inside the HVAC system. Soot residue is acidic and can permanently discolor and etch surfaces if it isn't cleaned promptly. And the water used to put out the fire can soak floors, walls and insulation, creating a water damage problem on top of the fire damage.
Our Tulsa fire restoration team handles all of it: emergency board-up and roof tarping, water extraction and drying, soot and smoke cleaning, odor removal, contents cleaning and pack-out, and reconstruction. Having one company manage every phase keeps your claim organized and gets you back home sooner.
We respond 24 hours a day throughout Tulsa and Tulsa County. Once the fire department has released the property, call (918) 395-9320 and we'll start securing it right away.
Reviewed by our Tulsa restoration team ·
Jump to a section
What to Do After a House Fire
The first days after a fire are overwhelming. These steps protect your family, your property and your insurance claim:
- Don't re-enter until the fire department says it's safe. Structural damage and hidden hot spots are real risks.
- Contact your insurance company to start the claim and ask about additional living expense coverage.
- Have the property secured. Open windows, doors and roof areas invite weather, theft and further damage.
- Don't turn on electricity, gas or water until a professional has checked them.
- Don't run the furnace or air conditioner, which can pull soot through the ductwork.
- Don't try to wipe soot off walls or upholstery. Improper cleaning can smear it into surfaces permanently.
- Don't eat food or use medications that were exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
- Take photos of all damage and make a list of damaged belongings for your adjuster.
Types of Fire and Smoke Damage
Not all smoke damage is the same. The type of fire and what burned determine what kind of residue is left behind and how it has to be cleaned.
Dry smoke
Fast, hot fires burning paper and wood leave a powdery, dry residue. It's easier to clean but can work its way into cracks and porous materials.
Wet smoke
Slow, smoldering fires, especially those burning plastics and synthetics, leave a sticky, smeary residue with a strong odor. It's harder to clean and needs specific cleaning agents.
Protein residue
Kitchen fires that burn food leave a nearly invisible film with an intense, lingering odor. It discolors paint and varnish and often requires several rounds of cleaning and deodorization.
Fuel oil soot and furnace puffbacks
A malfunctioning furnace can blow a cloud of oily soot through the ducts and into every room. Puffbacks are more common in winter and often affect the whole house even though there's no visible fire.
Water damage from firefighting
Fire hoses can put a large volume of water into a home. That water soaks floors, ceilings and insulation and has to be extracted and dried with the same methods we use for emergency water damage restoration.
Our Fire Damage Restoration Process
Our process follows the IICRC S700 standard for fire and smoke damage restoration.
1. Emergency board-up and tarping
We board broken windows and doors and tarp damaged roof sections to keep out rain, animals and intruders. Insurers expect the property to be protected from further damage, so this usually happens on the first visit.
2. Assessment and documentation
We document the damage room by room, identify what can be cleaned and what needs replacement, and build a scope for your adjuster.
3. Water removal and drying
Firefighting water is extracted, wet materials are removed where needed, and the structure is dried and monitored to prevent mold growth.
4. Soot removal and cleaning
Loose soot is removed with HEPA vacuums and dry chemical sponges before any wet cleaning, to avoid smearing. Walls, ceilings, cabinets and fixtures are then cleaned with products matched to the type of residue. Heavily charred materials are removed.
5. Odor removal
Smoke odor gets into framing, insulation and HVAC ducts. After cleaning, we use methods such as thermal fogging, hydroxyl generators and, in unoccupied spaces, ozone treatment to neutralize odor at its source. Sealing affected framing before rebuilding helps lock in any remaining odor.
6. Contents cleaning and pack-out
Salvageable furniture, clothing, electronics, dishes and keepsakes can be packed out, inventoried, cleaned off-site and stored until the home is ready. Items that can't be restored are documented for your claim.
7. Reconstruction
We repair or replace drywall, insulation, framing, flooring, cabinets, roofing and paint, returning the home to its pre-loss condition.
Smoke Odor Removal: Why Air Fresheners Don't Work
Smoke particles are extremely small and settle into porous materials: drywall, wood, carpet, upholstery, insulation and the inside of ductwork. Air fresheners and candles cover the smell for a short time, and it returns, especially on warm or humid days when the residue releases more odor.
Lasting odor removal means removing the residue itself, cleaning or replacing the materials holding it, cleaning the HVAC system, and then treating any remaining odor with professional deodorization equipment. For heavy smoke damage, sealing cleaned framing with an odor-blocking primer before new drywall goes up is often the final step.
How Quickly Soot Damages Your Home
Soot is acidic, and the damage continues after the fire is out. Within the first hours, plastics and appliance finishes can yellow, and porous materials can discolor. Over the following days, metals can tarnish or corrode, grout and paint can discolor, and fabrics and wood finishes can stain permanently. Over weeks, the cost of cleaning rises sharply and more items move from "cleanable" to "replace." Starting cleanup quickly saves both belongings and money.
Common Causes of House Fires in Tulsa
Cooking is consistently the leading cause of home fires nationally, and kitchen fires make up a large share of the fire and smoke damage calls we see. In Tulsa, winter heating season also brings fires from space heaters, fireplaces and chimneys, along with furnace puffbacks. Older homes with outdated wiring, dryer lint buildup and lightning during spring storms account for many of the rest.
Fire Damage and Homeowners Insurance
Fire is generally a covered peril under standard homeowners and renters policies. Coverage usually includes the structure, your personal property, and additional living expenses (often called loss of use) if the home isn't livable during repairs. Limits and details vary, so review your policy.
We document the loss thoroughly with photos, scopes and contents inventories in the format adjusters use, and we can communicate with your insurance company throughout the claim. Keep receipts for hotels, meals and other expenses caused by the fire.
Fire Damage Restoration Cost in Tulsa
Fire restoration costs vary more than almost any other loss. A small kitchen fire with localized smoke damage might cost a few thousand dollars, roughly $2,800 and up, to clean and repair. A fire that affects several rooms, the roof or the home's structure can cost tens of thousands. The main factors are the size of the fire, how far smoke traveled, the amount of water damage, the extent of contents cleaning, and how much reconstruction is needed. We provide a detailed written scope after the assessment.