Hose water runs into wall cavities and down to the basement. We extract the standing water, set up dehumidifiers and air movers, and take moisture readings every day until the floors and framing test dry.
More about Water Damage Restoration
Available 24/7 · Indianapolis and nearby areas
Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration in Indianapolis, IN
A furnace problem, a space heater, or a stovetop fire can leave smoke in every room. Our crew handles fire and smoke damage restoration in Indianapolis, IN, from soot cleanup to repairs. Call any time, day or night.
Call (463) 255-239045minutes
IICRC Certified Firm#70120685
We work with all major insurance carriers
Fire damage help
Fire and smoke damage in Indianapolis
Soot is acidic. Left on a surface, it keeps staining paint, yellowing grout, tarnishing metal, and over time etching glass. Surfaces that clean up well in the first few days can stain for good if the soot sits.
Smoke also goes where the fire never did. It settles in closets, drawers, and finished basements, and the furnace blower can push it into rooms at the far end of the house. Balloon framing in older Indianapolis homes leaves open wall cavities, so smoke climbs from floor to floor.
Hose water adds its own damage. It runs into wall cavities and down into the basement, soaking drywall, subfloor, and carpet pad. Materials that dry out quickly tend to avoid mold, so we begin drying right away.
Homeowners, property managers, and business owners across Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, and Boone counties call us after fires all year round.
Call Now (463) 255-2390Fire damage restoration at a glance
What’s included
Board-up, water removal, soot cleaning, odor treatment, and repairs.
Typical timeline
Several days for light smoke in a few rooms. Weeks, sometimes longer, when kitchens, walls, or floors have to be rebuilt.
How cost is set
How far smoke and soot traveled, what can be cleaned versus replaced, how much water needs drying, and the rebuild.
First visit
Call (463) 255-2390A free inspection and estimate before any work starts.
The first 24 hours
What to do after a fire in Indianapolis
The Indianapolis Fire Department, or the department that responded, decides when it’s safe to go back in. After that, these steps protect your family, your belongings, and your claim.
Not sure what’s safe to touch? Call and walk through it with our crew.
Call (463) 255-2390What to do
Wait for the fire department
Fire can weaken floors and ceilings in ways you can’t see. Stay out until the fire department says it’s safe.
Photograph every room
Take photos and video of every room, closet, and the garage before anything is moved or thrown out.
Call your insurer the same day
Open a claim and write down the claim number and your adjuster’s name. Ask the Indianapolis Fire Department for the incident report too.
Keep every receipt
Hotel stays, meals, and supplies may be covered by your policy’s loss-of-use coverage.
Lock up the house
Lock the doors that still lock, and take medications, papers, and valuables with you if the fire department says it’s safe.
What not to do
Don’t wipe the soot
Water and household cleaners smear soot into paint and fabric and can set the stain for good.
Don’t run the furnace
It can pull soot from one room and blow it through the whole house. Leave it off until the ducts are checked.
Don’t eat food that was near the fire
The USDA says to throw out food exposed to heat, smoke, or firefighting chemicals, including food in the fridge, since the door seal isn’t airtight.
Don’t switch on electronics or appliances
Heat, water, and soot can damage them inside. Have them checked first.
Don’t turn the gas or power back on yourself
Leave that to AES Indiana, Citizens Energy Group or a licensed electrician.
Common fire damage
Types of fire and smoke damage we clean up in Indianapolis
Long Indiana winters keep furnaces and space heaters running for months, and every kind of fire leaves its own residue. The residue decides how we clean it.
Kitchen Fires
Cooking fires leave a faint yellow film that’s easy to overlook but smells strong. It settles on cabinets, ceilings, and inside drawers well beyond the stove, so it gets degreased, not just wiped.
Heating Equipment Fires
Furnaces and fireplaces run for months in central Indiana, and space heaters fill the gaps.
Electrical Fires
Aging wiring, overloaded circuits, and damaged cords can start fires in wall cavities.
Dryer Fires
Lint that collects in dryer vents can ignite, often in a basement laundry room.
Smoke From a Neighbor’s Unit
Indianapolis apartments, condos, and duplexes let smoke from next door seep through walls and hallways.
Water From Firefighting
Hoses leave soaked drywall, wet carpet, and water pooling in the basement. Damp materials have to dry out during cleanup, or mold can take hold later.
How we clean
How we get smoke and soot out of your home
A smoke smell comes from residue, not the air. It clings to walls, cabinets, insulation, carpet pad, and ductwork, so air fresheners and sprays only mask it for a while.
We test every surface first. A small test spot tells us which method lifts the soot without smearing it or harming the finish.
Dry cleaning goes before wet. We start with HEPA vacuums and dry soot sponges, then move to wet cleaning. Reversing the order drives soot deeper into paint and grout.
We treat odor at its source. Once the residue is off, we deodorize the framing, subfloor, and ducts that absorbed smoke. We remove materials like insulation that are too saturated to save. Some treatments require the house to be empty of people, pets, and plants, so we plan them around your schedule.
What the residue tells us
Dry soot
Usually fromHot, fast-burning fires (wood, paper)
How it behavesPowdery and loose; usually lifts with vacuums and dry sponges.
Oily residue
Usually fromPlastics and synthetics burning slowly
How it behavesGreasy and smears at a touch; needs degreasing cleaners.
Protein residue
Usually fromBurned food
How it behavesNearly invisible, with a strong odor; turns paint yellow.
Puffback soot
Usually fromA furnace that didn’t ignite cleanly
How it behavesFine, oily soot pushed out through every register.
What can be saved
What can be cleaned and what gets replaced
Everyone wants to know what they can keep. It depends on the material, how close it was to the fire, and how quickly cleaning begins. These are the usual outcomes. Your inspection gives you the answer for your home.
Glass, tile, metal, and stone
Usually cleanedSoot wipes off these surfaces in the first few days. Wait longer, and its acid starts to etch glass and pit metal.
Painted walls and ceilings
Usually cleanedMost come clean. Heavy soot can leave a shadow that needs a stain-blocking primer and a fresh coat.
Drywall
Depends on heat and timingLight smoke staining can be cleaned and sealed in place. Panels that charred or swelled with water come out.
Wood cabinets and furniture
Depends on heat and timingSealed finishes usually clean. Blistered or scorched wood may need refinishing or replacement.
Clothing, curtains, and bedding
Depends on heat and timingMany washable items recover with professional cleaning. Burned or melted pieces don’t.
Upholstered furniture and rugs
Depends on heat and timingSofas and rugs with light smoke can often be cleaned. When heavy smoke or hose water soaks the padding, replacement is usually the better call.
Electronics and appliances
Depends on heat and timingSoot corrodes circuit boards, so have them checked before use, even if they look fine.
Photos and documents
Depends on heat and timingKeep photos and papers dry and flat until a specialist sees them. More can often be recovered than you’d guess.
Charred framing
Depends on heat and timingLightly charred studs may be cleaned and sealed. Wood the fire weakened gets replaced.
Insulation, mattresses, and carpet pad
Usually replacedInsulation, mattresses, and carpet pad hold smoke and water deep inside. They’re replaced, not cleaned.
Food and medicine
Usually replacedDiscard food exposed to heat or smoke, including canned goods that got hot. Ask a pharmacist about medicine that was nearby.
Packing out your belongings
If rooms need heavy cleaning or a rebuild, we can pack out your belongings as a separate service. Ask about it during your free inspection.
Anything that can’t be saved is listed separately with photos, so your adjuster can see the reason. That keeps the claim moving and avoids disputes later.
Help beyond the fire
Other restoration services we offer in Indianapolis
Every job starts with a free inspection and estimate. Fire damage rarely comes alone, so the same team handles what comes with it.
When firefighting water sits in a finished basement or behind walls, mold can follow. We find the moisture source, contain the area, remove the mold, and dry the space out.
More about Mold Remediation
Hail, wind, and ice storms can open a roof to the weather. We dry the structure, remove damaged materials, and repair the ceilings and walls inside.
More about Storm Damage
An Indianapolis restaurant, shop, or office can stay closed for days after one fire. We extract, dry, and clean on a plan built around reopening, and we document each step for your carrier.
More about Commercial Restoration
When you’re ready to rebuild, the same crew puts it back together, from drywall to cabinets to the final coat of paint, so there’s no second contractor to hire.
More about ReconstructionDealing with one of these?
Call (463) 255-2390Call and talk to our crew about what happened. The call is free, and so is the inspection.
Our process
What happens after you call
- 1
You call, we send a crew
Call (463) 255-2390 any time, day or night, including weekends and holidays. Tell us what happened and whether the fire department has cleared the house. We’ll send a crew right away.
- 2
We secure the property
We board up broken windows and doors and tarp openings in the roof, so rain and intruders stay out while the work is planned.
- 3
We arrive and inspect
The 24 Hour Flood Pros team traces how far the soot and smoke went, room by room, including closets, the attic, and the ducts. We use moisture meters to find hose water inside walls and under floors. We photograph all the damage for your insurance. The inspection is free.
- 4
We remove water and seal off clean rooms
We pump out standing water and set up drying equipment. Rooms the smoke didn’t reach get closed off with plastic, so soot doesn’t follow us through the house.
- 5
We remove what can’t be saved
Materials that can’t be saved, like charred drywall and soaked insulation, come out. If you need belongings packed out, we can do that as a separate service.
- 6
We clean and deodorize
Soot comes off with dry methods first, then wet cleaning matched to each surface. With the residue gone, we treat the smell in the materials and ducts that soaked it up.
- 7
We make the repairs
When you’re ready, the 24 Hour Flood Pros team fixes the damage. We replace drywall, install cabinets, and finish with fresh paint. Our goal is to make your home look the way it did before.
- 8
Final check with you
Before we sign off a room, we check surfaces in strong light and wipe-test them for leftover residue. Then we walk through with you, with the furnace running for a smell check, and send the final records to your insurance company to close out the claim.
Furnace puffback?
Call (463) 255-2390If a furnace misfire left soot around your registers, the whole duct system may be coated. Switch the furnace off and phone us. The inspection is free.
Insurance and claims
Help with your fire damage insurance claim
We work with all major insurance carriers, including State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, American Family, Travelers, and Nationwide. Documentation starts on the first visit, and your adjuster can call us directly with questions.
Your policy decides what’s covered, not us. Our job is keeping the paperwork clear enough that your claim doesn’t stall. We bill your insurance directly for damage your policy covers.
Many homeowners policies also include loss-of-use coverage, sometimes called additional living expenses, for a hotel or rental while the house is repaired. Ask your adjuster what yours includes before you book anything.
If a claim stalls, you can file a complaint with the Indiana Department of Insurance, (317) 232-2395 or (800) 622-4461.
What your adjuster will ask for
- The date and time of the fire, and what started it, if known
- The fire incident report from the department that responded
- Photos and video of every room, taken before cleanup
- A list of damaged belongings: what can be cleaned and what can’t
- Receipts for emergency repairs, hotel stays, and meals
What we send them
- Date-stamped photos of each damaged area
- Moisture readings from the firefighting water
- A line-by-line estimate for cleanup and rebuild
- One point of contact for your adjuster
Where we work
Areas we serve around Indianapolis
Our crew serves Indianapolis and the surrounding suburbs.
Counties
- Marion County
- Hamilton County
- Hendricks County
- Johnson County
- Boone County
Neighborhoods
- Broad Ripple
- Irvington
- Fountain Square
- Meridian-Kessler
- Herron-Morton
- Butler-Tarkington
Nearby cities
- Carmel
- Fishers
- Noblesville
- Westfield
- Greenwood
- Avon
- Plainfield
- Brownsburg
- Zionsville
- Lawrence
- Beech Grove
- Speedway
Don’t see your area listed? Call us and we’ll tell you right away.
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Common questions
Indianapolis fire and smoke damage FAQs
How fast can 24 Hour Flood Pros get to me?
A crew can be there within 45 minutes. We work 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. If the fire department hasn’t cleared the house yet, we’ll talk you through what to do until it does.
Is it safe to stay in my house after a fire?
Not until it’s been checked, and often not in the rooms closest to the fire. Soot in the air irritates your lungs, and burned floors, ceilings, and wiring can be unsafe. After the inspection, we’ll tell you which areas are safe to use and whether it makes sense to stay somewhere else during the work.
Will the smoke smell ever go away?
In most homes, yes, once the residue is cleaned off and the materials that soaked up smoke are treated or removed. A smell that keeps coming back usually means residue was missed, often in the ducts, the insulation, or inside cabinets. That’s why our final walkthrough includes a smell check with the heat or air running.
Can I clean the soot myself?
A light film on a small area, maybe. Anything more, we don’t recommend it. Wiping soot with water or household cleaners usually smears it into paint and grout and can set the stain. Soot is also acidic and irritating, so it shouldn’t be handled without gloves and a respirator.
Does homeowners insurance cover fire and smoke damage in Indiana?
Most standard homeowners policies cover sudden fires, including smoke damage and water damage from putting the fire out. Limits, deductibles, and exclusions vary, so check your policy or ask your agent.
How much does fire damage restoration cost in Indianapolis?
It depends on how far the soot and smoke spread, what can be cleaned or has to be replaced, how much water needs drying, and how much has to be rebuilt. One smoky room costs far less than a kitchen fire that reached the attic. The inspection and estimate are free, so you know the cost before any work starts.
How long does fire damage restoration take?
Light smoke damage in a room or two can take a few days. A fire that needs walls, cabinets, or floors rebuilt can take several weeks or longer, depending on the scope, permits, and insurance approvals. Your estimate includes a schedule.
How do I get a fire report in Indianapolis?
For fires inside the City of Indianapolis, request the incident report from the Indianapolis Fire Department. Many nearby cities and counties run their own fire departments, so ask the department that responded.
Do you handle commercial fire damage?
Yes. We restore offices, restaurants, shops, and other commercial buildings, and we plan the work around getting you reopened. See our commercial restoration page for more.
Available 24/7
Get a free inspection
Day or night, weekend or holiday, call (463) 255-2390. A crew can be there within 45 minutes to start your free inspection.
Call (463) 255-2390Or request a free inspection online
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