A house fire is overwhelming. Even after the flames are out, smoke, soot, and the water used to extinguish the fire continue damaging your home by the hour. New Jersey’s humidity accelerates corrosion and odor absorption, so fast, professional action matters. This guide from AllStates Restoration (Englishtown, NJ) explains every stage of fire damage restoration, typical timelines and costs, insurance tips, and how to get back home safely and quickly.

 

First 24 Hours: Safety, Securing, and Documentation

  1. Wait for clearance. Re-enter only after the fire department or marshal says it’s safe.
  2. Call AllStates Restoration 732-956-3900 as we can help walk you through the process with your insurance company.
  3. Secure the property. We arrive quickly to board up broken windows/doors and tarp roof openings to keep out weather and trespassers.
  4. Don’t run HVAC. It can spread soot and odor to clean rooms.

 

Know Your Enemy: Types of Fire & Smoke Damage

Type Source Why It Matters
Structural charring Direct flame Weakens joists/studs; may require engineering review.
Dry soot Fast, high-heat burns (paper/wood) Fine, powdery; smears easily if cleaned wrong.
Wet/greasy soot Low-heat, smoldering plastics/synthetics Sticky film; heavy odor; hard to remove.
Protein residue Kitchen/food fires Almost invisible; pungent; coats every surface.
Water damage Firefighting/sprinklers Mold risk in 24–48 hrs if not dried properly.

 

The Professional Fire Damage Restoration Process

1) Emergency Board-Up & Roof Tarping

We secure openings, stabilize the structure, and protect contents. This prevents weather intrusion and vandalism and starts the insurance clock on mitigation.

2) Inspection, Scope, and Safety Planning

  • Thermal imaging and moisture meters to identify wet zones.
  • Site-specific plan for asbestos/lead.
  • Detailed, line-item estimate in insurance-standard format.

3) Water Extraction & Structural Dry-Out

Before soot cleanup, we address water from firefighting:

  • Truck-mount extractors and submersible pumps.
  • Air movers + LGR dehumidifiers to get wood to ≤~15% MC and return drywall to baseline.
  • Daily moisture logs (often required by adjusters).

4) Soot & Smoke Removal

  • HEPA vacuuming to capture loose particulates.
  • Dry/chem sponges on paint and delicate finishes.
  • Alkaline washing/neutralization on hard surfaces (cabinets, tile, metals).
  • Dry Ice blasting  to gently remove char from framing without introducing moisture.

5) Contents Care (Pack-Out/On-Site)

  • On-site triage for what can be cleaned vs. needs specialized processing.
  • We can help with clothing/linens; ultrasonic cleaning for non-porous items; document freeze-drying when needed.
  • Photo-logged digital inventory for tracking and insurance valuation.

6) Odor Elimination (Not Masking)

  • Thermal fogging to follow smoke pathways into pores/crevices.
  • Hydroxyl generators to break down VOCs while occupied (pet/plant friendly).
  • Ozone in unoccupied spaces for severe scenarios.
  • Targeted seal/prime of structural materials after cleaning to lock in residuals.

7) HVAC Decontamination

  • Negative-pressure duct cleaning, coil/pan sanitation, and register/boot cleaning.
  • Filter upgrades (MERV 8–11) and post-clean verification.

8) Final Walkthrough & Documentation

  • “White-glove” inspection of surfaces.
  • Moisture logs, odor verification, and completion packet (before/after photos).

 

Why New Jersey Homeowners Choose AllStates Restoration

  • Englishtown-based & fast: 24/7 dispatch FAST.
  • IICRC-certified for Fire & Smoke (FSRT), Water (WRT/ASD), and Mold (AMRT).
  • Full-stack solution: Emergency board-up, extraction/dry-out, soot cleanup, odor removal, and full rebuild—one accountable team.
  • Insurance-ready: photos, moisture logs, and adjuster coordination.

 

Conclusion & Call to Action

After a fire, every hour counts. The right plan—and the right partner—turns chaos into a clear path home. From securing your property to eliminating smoke odor and rebuilding beautifully, AllStates Restoration handles it end-to-end with speed, safety, and compassion.

 

Need help now?
📞 Call 732-956-3900 or request a free on-site fire damage evaluation at hireasr.com. We’re here 24/7 to protect your property and restore your peace of mind.