24/7 board-up and fire cleanup
Fire Damage Restoration Memphis, TN
A fire leaves smoke, soot, odor and water behind. We secure the house, pump out the water, clean the smoke and soot, and treat the odor so your contractor can rebuild.
- Serving Memphis since 1989
- IICRC certified technicians
- Homes and businesses
What we do
How We Handle Fire and Smoke Damage
A fire is usually out in minutes, but the damage keeps going. Smoke settles into every room, soot coats the surfaces and the water from the hoses soaks the floors. Our fire and smoke damage restoration covers all of it, the same way our Memphis restoration team handles every job: fast and measured.
- Boarding up broken windows and doors to secure the house
- Pumping out the water used to put the fire out
- Removing burned debris and materials that cannot be saved
- Cleaning soot and smoke from walls, ceilings and surfaces
- Treating the smoke odor at its source
- Drying walls and floors until moisture readings are back to normal
Rebuilding is not part of our work. When the cleanup is finished, your own repair contractor takes it from there.
Our fire services
Our Fire and Smoke Damage Services
A fire leaves several kinds of damage at once. Each one needs its own kind of cleanup, and most jobs need all four.
Fire Damage Cleanup
Burned materials and debris have to come out before anything else can be cleaned.
- Board-up of broken windows and doors
- Removing charred drywall, flooring and insulation
- Hauling out burned debris
Smoke Damage Restoration
Smoke travels well past the fire and leaves yellow and gray stains, even in rooms the flames never reached.
- Cleaning smoke-stained walls and ceilings
- Rooms the fire never touched
- Cleaning matched to the type of residue
Soot Removal
Fine black residue settles on walls, cabinets and vents. Wiping it the wrong way smears it deeper.
- Soot on walls, ceilings and cabinets
- Dry soot and oily soot
- Residue from kitchen fires
Smoke Odor Removal
Smoke odor soaks into drywall, wood and fabric. Covering it up does not work. It has to be removed at the source.
- Finding the materials that hold the smell
- Treating the materials, not just the air
- Checking the smell is gone before we leave
Plus the water from putting the fire out. Fire hoses put a lot of water into a house, and it needs the same fast drying as any other leak. See drying out the firefighting water.
Types of residue
Why No Two Fires Clean Up the Same Way
What burned decides what the smoke leaves behind. Knowing which one you have tells us how to clean it, and it is one reason two fire jobs can cost very different amounts.
- Easier to clean
Dry Smoke From Fast, Hot Fires
Paper and wood burn hot and fast and leave a dry, powdery residue. It is the easiest kind to clean, but it slips into cracks and vents.
- Smears easily
Oily Smoke From Plastics and Rubber
Slow, smoldering fires that burn plastics leave a sticky black film. It smears when touched and takes stronger cleaning.
- Strongest smell
Protein Residue From Kitchen Fires
A pan left on the stove can leave an almost invisible yellow film with a very strong smell. Cooking causes about half of all reported home fires, according to the NFPA.
First steps
What to Do After a House Fire
The hours after a fire are about safety and keeping things from getting worse. These six steps cover both.
- 01
Wait for the all-clear
Do not go back inside until the fire department says the building is safe.
- 02
Leave the power and HVAC off
Running the heat or AC can blow soot through the whole house. Have an electrician check the system first.
- 03
Do not wipe the soot
Rubbing soot pushes it deeper into paint and fabric. Leave it for the cleanup crew.
- 04
Throw out exposed food and medicine
Anything that heat, smoke or soot reached in the kitchen or bathroom should go.
- 05
Call your insurance company
Report the fire and start a list of what was damaged.
- 06
Call us for board-up
We secure broken windows, doors and openings any time, day or night.
If you see smoke again or smell gas, get everyone out and call 911.
How it works
Our Fire Damage Restoration Process
- Step 1 of 5
Safety Check and Board-Up
We check the structure, then board up broken windows, doors and openings to keep out weather and intruders.
- Step 2 of 5
Removing Water and Debris
We start pumping out the water the firefighters left, then take out burned debris and ruined materials.
- Step 3 of 5
Cleaning Smoke and Soot
Walls, ceilings, cabinets and other surfaces are cleaned based on the type of residue the fire left.
- Step 4 of 5
Removing the Odor
Once the residue is gone, we treat the smell where it lives, in the materials, not just the air.
- Step 5 of 5
Handing Off to Your Contractor
With the house clean, dry and the odor treated, your contractor can start rebuilding.
Insurance
Fire Insurance and Your Claim
Fire Is Usually Covered
Unlike a flood, fire damage is normally covered by a standard homeowners policy. Your deductible and limits still apply, so read your policy or ask your agent.
List What Was Damaged
Insurers ask for a list of damaged belongings. Start it early, room by room, with photos. Keep receipts for anything you buy while you are out of the house.
How Billing Works With Us
When your covered loss has a claim number, we send our invoice to your insurance company instead of to you.
This is general information. Your policy and your agent have the final word on coverage.
Cost
How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration Cost in Memphis?
No two fires cost the same, and your free quote is the real number. These national ranges give you an idea.
Typical Cost Ranges
- Smoke damage cleaning
- $200 to $1,200
- Depends on how far the smoke spread
- Soot removal
- $400 to $1,700
- Oily soot and large jobs cost more
- Odor treatment
- $200 to $600
- Per treatment
- Whole-house fire, with rebuilding
- $20,000 to $27,000
- National average range
National estimates from LawnStarter (2026), HomeAdvisor and Angi cost data, not our prices. Our work covers board-up, cleanup, odor and drying. The rebuild figure is there for context: rebuilding is done and priced by your contractor.
What Changes the Price of a Fire Job
- How many rooms the smoke and soot reached
- The type of residue (oily and kitchen residue take more work)
- How much water the firefighters used
- What has to be torn out and thrown away
- Board-up, if windows or doors were broken
- How strong the smoke smell is
37+Years in Memphis
24/7 · Board-up
Why choose us
Why Memphis Owners Choose Us for Fire Damage Restoration
After a fire, you need a fire restoration company that can secure the house tonight and then clean it properly.
Board-Up Any Hour
Our line is open 24/7, and a crew can secure broken windows and doors the same night.
Fire and Water Handled Together
We dry out the firefighting water while the smoke cleanup goes on, so one problem does not wait on the other.
Cleaning Matched to the Residue
Dry soot, oily soot and kitchen residue each need a different approach. We work out which one you have first.
In Memphis Since 1989
Decades of fire and water jobs in homes and businesses across Shelby and Tipton County.
Service area
Fire Damage Restoration Areas We Serve
Our crews cover 29 ZIP codes across Memphis, from Downtown to Hickory Hill and the Bartlett side. Not sure if you are in our area? Give us a call and we will tell you right away.
- Hickory Hill
- Bartlett
- Whitehaven
- Raleigh
- East Memphis
- Southeast Memphis
- University District
- Frayser
- Midtown
- North Memphis
- South Memphis
- Downtown
FAQ
Fire Damage Restoration FAQs
Have a question that is not listed here? Call us and talk to a real person on our Memphis team.
How long does fire damage restoration take?
A small kitchen fire can often be cleaned up in a few days. A fire that reached several rooms, with water from the hoses, can take a couple of weeks before the house is ready for repairs.
Can I stay in my home after a small fire?
Sometimes, if the fire was small, the power is safe and the smoke did not spread far. Smoke and soot can irritate the lungs, so people with asthma, young children and older adults are better off staying elsewhere until the cleanup is done.
Is it safe to wipe up soot myself?
We do not recommend it. Soot smears easily, pushes deeper into paint and fabric, and can irritate your skin and lungs. Leave it for a crew with the right cleaning products and protection.
Do you handle fires at businesses?
Yes. Offices, shops and rental units get the same fire and smoke cleanup as homes, anywhere in the Memphis area, including Shelby and Tipton County.
Can you start before my adjuster comes?
Yes, for work that protects the property, like board-up and removing water. Take photos first, report the claim and let your insurer know the work has started.
Related services
More Ways We Can Help
Get Your Home Secured and Cleaned Up
Call ServiceMaster by Riverside 24/7. We will board up what is open, get the water out and start on the smoke and soot.
Call now: (901) 459-6610