Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
We respond fast — 24/7, including nights and weekends
A fire doesn't stop damaging your home when the flames go out. Soot, smoke odor, and the water used to fight the fire keep spreading until someone secures the property and starts the cleanup. We respond fast, board up what's open, and rebuild what's damaged.
Live answer 24/7. Crews dispatched same day across the Triad, Charlotte metro and southern Virginia.
Just had a fire? Do this first.
- 1Don't re-enter until the fire department clears the structure as safe.
- 2Don't touch soot-covered surfaces — pressing soot in makes it much harder to remove later.
- 3Don't run the HVAC system — it will spread soot and odor through every room it serves.
- 4Contact your insurance company to start the claim and get a claim number.
- 5Photograph visible damage from a safe distance before anything is moved or cleaned.
- 6Call 336-892-8181 — we respond 24/7 and can dispatch a crew same day to secure the property.
If the fire department has red-tagged the structure or shut off utilities, wait for our team or a licensed inspector before re-entering, even briefly.
Live answer 24/7 — call or text, whichever is faster for you.
What fire and smoke restoration covers
- Emergency board-up of doors, windows, and roof openings to secure the property
- Roof tarping if the fire or firefighting effort compromised the roof
- Water extraction and drying from firefighting efforts, coordinated with the fire cleanup
- Soot and smoke residue cleaning on walls, ceilings, and structural surfaces
- Content cleaning, pack-out, and storage for salvageable belongings
- HVAC and ductwork cleaning to remove recirculating soot and odor
- Odor neutralization using thermal fogging, ozone, or hydroxyl treatment as appropriate
- Full rebuild of demolished areas — drywall, insulation, flooring, trim, and paint
Fire damage response process
Timeline varies enormously with fire severity — a contained kitchen fire with heavy smoke damage might be a two- to four-week project, while a structural fire with major loss can run several months through rebuild.
- 1Emergency response: secure the structure, board up openings, tarp the roof if needed.
- 2Assessment: document fire, smoke, soot, and water damage room by room for the claim.
- 3Water extraction and drying if firefighting water is present.
- 4Content pack-out, cleaning, and storage of salvageable items.
- 5Soot removal, HVAC cleaning, and odor treatment throughout affected areas.
- 6Demolition of unsalvageable materials, then full rebuild and final walkthrough.
Why homeowners call us after a fire
Fast, real emergency response
Restoration and rebuild under one roof
Honest salvage assessment
Working with your insurance
Fire is one of the most reliably covered perils on a standard homeowners policy, typically including structural repair, contents, and additional living expenses while the home is unlivable. The claim size and complexity mean documentation matters — we photograph and log damage room by room, track what's salvageable versus a total loss, and can work directly with your adjuster so nothing gets missed or underscoped.
- Room-by-room photo and damage documentation built for adjuster review
- Direct coordination with your insurance adjuster throughout the claim
- Clear breakdown of salvageable versus non-salvageable contents and materials
- Additional living expense documentation if you need temporary housing
- One team from emergency board-up through final rebuild, reducing claim complexity
Straight answers to the questions we hear most
STRYDE Home handles post-fire board-up, soot and odor removal, contents cleaning and full rebuild, coordinating documentation with your insurance carrier.
When should I call after a fire?
As soon as the fire department releases the property. Soot is acidic and starts etching metal, appliances and finishes within days, and smoke odor sets deeper the longer it sits. Early board-up also protects the home from weather and theft.
How long does fire restoration take?
Cleaning and deodorization for a contained fire typically takes one to two weeks. Structural rebuild depends on the scope and the insurance approval timeline, and we give you a schedule once the scope is agreed.
What does it cost?
Fire losses are almost always insurance claims, so pricing follows the agreed scope with your carrier and most homeowners pay their deductible. We document conditions thoroughly so the estimate reflects the true damage.
Do you service my area?
Yes, most likely. STRYDE Home works across the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Kernersville, Lexington, Asheboro, Reidsville), the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Apex), the Charlotte metro (Concord, Monroe, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Salisbury, Indian Trail) and southern Virginia including Danville, Martinsville and Lynchburg. If your town is close to one of those, call and ask — we will tell you honestly either way.
What should I do before we arrive?
Do not wipe soot off walls or fabrics — dry soot smears and sets permanently. Do not run the HVAC, which spreads smoke residue through the house. Photograph everything, and take medications, documents and valuables with you.
Read more before you decide
Ready to talk it through? Contact STRYDE Home for a free estimate, or see the areas we serve.
FAQs about this service
How fast can you respond after a fire?
We take calls 24/7 and dispatch a crew same day, often within a few hours, to secure the property and begin assessment. The first priority is boarding up openings, tarping any roof damage, and stopping soot and odor from spreading further through the house — then the detailed scope and cleaning begins.
Can smoke and soot damage be cleaned, or does everything need to be replaced?
It depends on the material and how hot and how long the fire burned. Hard surfaces, many textiles, and structural framing can usually be cleaned and deodorized with the right techniques — HEPA vacuuming, chemical sponges, thermal fogging, ozone or hydroxyl treatment. Materials with deep charring, melted synthetics, or porous items that absorbed heavy smoke (some upholstery, insulation, certain drywall) often need to be removed and replaced. We assess item by item rather than assuming a full loss.
Why does my house still smell like smoke even after cleaning surfaces?
Smoke odor isn't just on surfaces — it's absorbed into drywall, insulation, subflooring, and HVAC ductwork, and it travels through the whole house during a fire. Wiping visible soot off walls won't remove odor trapped in porous materials or recirculating through your ductwork. Real odor removal requires source cleaning, HVAC and duct cleaning, and often thermal fogging or ozone/hydroxyl treatment to neutralize odor at the molecular level, not just mask it.
Will my homeowners insurance cover fire and smoke restoration?
Fire damage is one of the most consistently covered perils in a standard homeowners policy, including smoke and soot damage to contents and structure and often temporary living expenses while your home is unlivable. We document damage thoroughly with photos and moisture/soot readings and can work directly with your adjuster to keep the claim moving.
Other restoration services
Water Mitigation
Mold Remediation
All Restoration Services
Just had a fire? We're already on our way.
Call 336-892-8181 now for 24/7 emergency response and same-day dispatch to secure your property.