The Complete Fire Damage Restoration Process: Step-by-Step Guide

Wildfires might often feel like a distant reality gripping California and Australia, but here in Canada, they’ve become an increasingly urgent and real threat. As of August, Canada is enduring its second-worst wildfire season on record, with more than $7 million hectares burned, which is an area larger than Nova Scotia and New Brunswick combined or greater than Ireland.

While the scale of these wildfires is measured in hectares and dollars, the true impact is felt much closer to home. For homeowners, the devastation often begins with the immediate loss of property, houses reduced to ash, belongings destroyed, and the neighbourhood left unrecognizable. 

On the other hand, businesses too have carried a heavy burden. In fire-affected regions, many local shops, farms, and service providers have faced prolonged closures due to evacuation and damage to infrastructure.

However, you cannot imagine a day living in a house or continuing with business operations that have experienced fire damage. Hence, the fire damage restoration process is crucial for recovering damaged properties, restoring normalcy, and ultimately saving the investments that individuals and businesses have worked so hard to build.  

Some Important Actions Taken for Fire Damage Recovery:

If you’ve ever been a victim of fire damage, then this step-by-step guide will educate you on what does a fire restoration company do to your property for complete post-fire damage.  

1. Safety First: Evaluate the Situation

The initial process in any recovery from fire damage is the safety of all individuals. Once the fire is out, the premises need to be tested for stability. Don't attempt to enter the premises without clearance from fire department officials or safety experts.

After the safety checks have been conducted, a professional fire damage restoration service team will start evaluating the entire extent of the damage. The process of cleaning up the fire damage typically begins by determining which parts of the property can be safely re-entered, particularly those areas where electrical and plumbing systems may have been affected by the fire.

2. Emergency Board-Up and Tarping Services

After we have ensured your safety, the next step is to protect the property from further damage. In the event of a fire, windows and doors could have been destroyed completely, and there could have been serious damage to the roof. A professional will quickly engage in and restore the fire restoration process and offer emergency board-up and tarping cover-up of all the exposed areas. 

3. Drying and Water Removal

Water damage often accompanies fire damage because firefighters use a significant amount of water during the fire recovery process, which can cause water-saturated carpets, walls, and furniture. Our fire damage cleanup process involves the removal of excess water through industrial-strength pumps and dryers. This process is necessary, and only specialized drying equipment can dry the damaged areas completely. 

4. Fire Damage Cleanup Process: Smoke and Soot Removal

One of the greatest hurdles of fire damage restoration is smoke and soot damage. Even when the fire itself wasn't spread all the way through the building, smoke and soot will travel through air ducts, depositing foul odors and staining surfaces. It is usually the most widespread and trying part of the fire damage restoration process. The use of specialized cleaning agents is needed to strip walls, ceilings, and even furniture of soot and smoke. Our cleaning techniques are performed by professionals covered in a proper uniform, because safety first. 

5. Cleaning and Sanitizing the Soot-Exposed Areas

After removing the soot, a deep cleaning and a sanitizing procedure are to be followed. The fire restoration cleaning process typically depends on the extent of the post-fire damage. Soot and smoke not only ruin the ceilings and walls, but also compromise your health, and get stuck in all possible ventilation in the property. Professional fire restoration contractors do their best to clean every nook and cranny of the house and make sure to use industrial-grade scrubbers and ozone generators to suck all the soot and smoke. 

6. Structural Repair and Restoration

Once the entire property is cleaned, the fire restoration process proceeds to the rebuilding phase. This includes repairing and replacing the structural elements damaged during the fire. The repair and replacement can include fixing the fixtures, plumbing of the entire place, restoring electricity, and roofing. The goal is to restore the property to its original condition, allowing you to resume a normal life after the chaos. 

7. Quality Check and Final Inspection

Upon completion of the restoration, a final inspection is conducted to confirm that all aspects of the residential fire damage restoration process have been addressed. This involves inspection for possible safety issues, confirmation that the property is up to code for local building regulations, and ensuring that all details of the cleaning, sanitizing, and repair are comprehensive.

Your property should now be transformed to its pre-fire state, and the restoration staff will advise you on steps to prevent any future fire incidents, including the installation of smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire-resistant materials.

When Is the Right Time to Call for Professional Help with Fire Damage Restoration?

The right time to call for professional help with fire damage is as soon as it's safe after the fire is out. If your property is damaged by fire, smoke, or water, don’t wait! Act quickly and call fire restoration experts to assess the damage and start fixing before it's too late. Delaying will only make things worse and harder to fix.

Excellent Fire Damage Recovery with Element Pro Restoration 

So, what do we learn from these deadly incidents? Fire is a destructive force, and the damage it causes to human lives, residential, and commercial properties is inevitable, considering the effects of global warming. 

Only a professional on the side can restore the property, look after all the possible damages, and any future damage to the structural features of your buildings and homes.

Contact Element Pro Restoration and save your property from extensive damage.