Fire damage restoration in Halifax, VA after the trucks have gone

The first days after a fire

Once the fire department releases the property, the priority is to protect what remains. Broken windows and doors are boarded, and openings in the roof are covered with tarps so weather cannot add to the loss. Our crew confirms with you that utilities have been evaluated by the proper companies before anyone works inside. We then walk the building with you and document every affected room with photographs, which your insurer will ask for.

Many Halifax, VA homeowners are surprised by how much water is left behind. Hose streams can put thousands of gallons into a structure. That water soaks insulation, subfloors and drywall that the flames never reached, and it has to be extracted and dried just like any other loss. Our Emergency Water Removal crews often start on the same day as board up.

Why soot has to be handled quickly

Soot is a mix of fine carbon particles and chemical residues from whatever burned. Modern homes contain plastics, foams and synthetic fabrics, so residues are often oily and acidic. Left in place, acidic soot can discolor plastics and grout within hours and begin to etch metal and glass over the following days. Fast cleaning improves the chances that fixtures, countertops and finishes can be saved instead of replaced.

Different fires leave different residues. A fast, hot fire tends to produce dry, powdery soot. A slow, smoldering fire leaves a sticky, smeared film. A kitchen fire involving food can leave a nearly invisible protein residue with a strong odor. Each needs a different cleaning method, so our technicians test surfaces before choosing one.

Cleaning, odor control and contents

Dry soot is removed first with HEPA vacuums and dry chemical sponges, because applying water too early can push it deeper into porous surfaces. Wet cleaning follows with products matched to the residue. Odor is addressed by removing the source material, cleaning surfaces, sealing charred framing that stays in place, and using equipment such as hydroxyl generators or thermal fogging where appropriate. Ozone generators are only used in unoccupied spaces, since ozone is a lung irritant.

Contents such as clothing, dishes, electronics and documents can be packed out, cleaned off site and inventoried. Items that cannot be restored are listed for your claim.

Rebuilding to finished rooms

Charred structural members are assessed and replaced where needed, with permits pulled for structural and electrical work as your local building department requires. Our crew then installs insulation, board and finishes. The industry reference for this work is the IICRC S700 standard for fire and smoke damage restoration, which guides our assessment and cleaning practices. Lingering odor and residue in rooms that did not burn are covered on our Smoke Damage Restoration page.