Skip to main content
Two Total Care Restoration technicians in protective suits and respirators washing down a warehouse floor after a fire
Fire Damage Restoration24/7 Emergency

Fire Damage Restoration
in South Florida: What Happens in the First 72 Hours

24/7 fire and smoke damage restoration across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida. We secure the property, clean smoke and soot, and rebuild what can't be saved.

FL Mold Remediator MRSR2596 · IICRC Certified Firm #219076

Your first 72 hours

  1. Hour 0Life safety first
  2. Hours 0–24Board-up & mitigation
  3. Days 1–3Smoke, soot & contents
  4. Days 2–10Cleaning, odor & drying
  5. RebuildReplace & close out

Understanding Fire Damage

When the fire department leaves a Miami–Dade or Broward home or business, smoke, soot, and firefighting water keep doing damage, and our humid climate speeds it up. Fire damage restoration is the professional sequence that stops that progression: secure the building, map residues, protect contents, clean and deodorize, dry what water touched, then rebuild what cannot be saved.

Soot-covered floor in a fire-damaged home, with boot prints showing the original finish underneath

Even a small kitchen or electrical fire can leave residue far from the flames. Smoke travels through shared air pathways, and acidic residue keeps etching finishes after the fire is out. Different fires leave different residues, so the fire remediation method has to match what burned.

Our fire and smoke damage restoration is built around a safe, documented return to your property, not an overnight promise.

Why Act Fast

Soot can stain and corrode finishes within hours if left untreated. Smoke odor sets deeper the longer it sits, and firefighting water plus South Florida humidity invite secondary moisture damage. Fast, correct mitigation usually saves more of your belongings.

Need soot cleaned before rebuild? Compare soot removal services.

Common Causes of Fire Damage

  • Unattended cooking and grease fires
  • Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and lightning
  • Heating equipment and space heaters near combustibles
  • Dryer lint buildup
  • Candles and smoking materials
  • Appliance malfunctions

Smoke Damage Restoration and Other Fire Problems We Solve

Kitchen Fire

Kitchen fire damage cleanup and restoration

High Priority

Electrical Fire

Electrical fire damage restoration and safety

Emergency

Smoke Odor

Professional smoke odor removal and air purification

First 72 hours

Fire Damage Response Timeline

Here's the typical path from emergency to rebuild. Steps often overlap.

  1. Step 1

    Hour 0 — Life safety first

    Stay out until the fire department clears the structure. Watch for collapse risk, live wires, and gas.

  2. Step 2

    Hours 0–24 — Emergency board-up & mitigation

    We assess the damage, board up and tarp openings, stabilize utilities as responders direct, and start moisture control. An unsecured South Florida fire loss is one storm away from a larger claim.

  3. Step 3

    Days 1–3 — Smoke, soot, HVAC & contents

    We map residues and odor pathways, isolate the HVAC if smoke reached the returns, remove unsalvageable materials, and pack out what can be saved. Don't wipe soot off drywall; it pushes soot deeper. See how pros scope it: top soot cleaning services.

  4. Step 4

    Days 2–10 — Cleaning, odor control & drying

    HEPA vacuuming, cleaning matched to each residue, odor control, and structural drying, with readings and photos documented for your carrier. Don't machine-wash smoky textiles or power on electronics.

  5. Step 5

    Rebuild & close-out

    We replace what can't be saved, including fire-damaged wood, restore finishes, and verify conditions before you move back in, then do a final walkthrough with the adjuster. For the full how-to, see our fire damage restoration guide.

Educational planning tool—not a written quote.

Loading tool…

Fire Damage Restoration FAQs

Quick answers before you call.

Full fire damage cleanup and repair: board-up and tarping, debris removal, soot and smoke cleaning, odor control, contents cleaning, structural drying, and rebuilding what can't be restored.

Our Work in Action

Fire, smoke, and soot restoration work across South Florida.

Commercial warehouse fire damage restoration
Commercial warehouse fire damage restoration
Fire and smoke damage restoration on residential flooring
Fire and smoke damage restoration on residential flooring
Content restoration after fire and smoke damage
Content restoration after fire and smoke damage

Service Areas

24/7 fire damage restoration throughout Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the wider South Florida service area.

Also serving: Hialeah, Kendall, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, Miramar, Palmetto Bay, Delray Beach.

Fire Damage Emergency?

Our fire damage restoration team is available 24/7 across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida to help secure the property, document the loss, and restore what can be saved.