Firefighting water collects in crawl spaces and soaks subfloors. 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 · Memphis and nearby areas
Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration in Memphis, TN
A space heater, a kitchen fire, or old wiring can leave soot from the attic to the floor. Our crew handles fire and smoke damage restoration in Memphis, TN, from soot cleanup to repairs. Call any time, day or night.
Call (901) 563-279845minutes
IICRC Certified Firm#70120685
We work with all major insurance carriers
Fire damage help
Fire and smoke damage in Memphis
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.
Many older homes have tall ceilings, plaster walls, and original wood trim. Smoke settles into those porous surfaces and climbs open stairways to the second floor.
Firefighting water adds weeks of risk in a humid climate. Water trapped in crawl spaces, subfloors, and wall cavities can turn to mold quickly, so we start drying the same day.
Homeowners, property managers, and business owners across Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, DeSoto, Marshall, and Crittenden counties call us after fires all year round.
Call Now (901) 563-2798Fire damage restoration at a glance
What’s included
Board-up, crawl space drying, soot and odor removal, and rebuilding.
Typical timeline
A few smoky rooms: usually several days. Fires that need walls, cabinets, or floors rebuilt: a few weeks or more.
How cost is set
Memphis estimates depend on how far the soot traveled, what can be cleaned, the drying needed in crawl spaces and walls, and the rebuild.
First visit
Call (901) 563-2798A free inspection and estimate before any work starts.
The first 24 hours
What to do after a fire in Memphis
The Memphis 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 (901) 563-2798What 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 Memphis 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 HVAC
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 MLGW or a licensed electrician.
Common fire damage
Types of fire and smoke damage we clean up in Memphis
Humid summers, cold snaps, and older housing shape the fires we see in the Mid-South. Each type leaves its own residue.
Space Heater Fires
Cold snaps bring out space heaters. One placed near curtains or bedding can start a fire that leaves heavy soot.
Electrical Fires
Wiring in older homes, overloaded outlets, and cords run under rugs can ignite a fire behind the walls.
Kitchen Fires
Memphis frying fires leave a tacky film on the cabinets and ceiling that traps the smell.
Dryer Fires
A clogged dryer vent can ignite and fill the laundry room and hallway with smoke.
Smoke in Duplexes and Apartments
In Memphis apartments and duplexes, smoke passes through shared walls and attics into units that never burned.
Water From Firefighting
Fire hoses soak floors, and the water collects in crawl spaces under raised Memphis homes. In humid weather, it has to be dried quickly to prevent mold.
How we clean
How we get smoke and soot out of your home
A lingering smoke smell means residue remains on plaster, wood trim, cabinets, insulation, or ductwork. Fresheners only mask it.
We check each surface before cleaning. Plaster, old trim, and painted drywall each respond differently, so we test first.
Loose soot is lifted, not wiped. HEPA vacuums and dry soot sponges go first, which keeps wet cleaning from pressing residue into plaster and old trim.
Last comes the odor itself. Joists, subfloor, and ducts that absorbed smoke are deodorized, and crawl-space insulation that held smoke or water is replaced. Some treatments need the house empty for a time, so we schedule around you.
What the residue tells us
Dry soot
Usually fromFast, hot fires in wood or paper
How it behavesLight, dusty coating that HEPA vacuums capture.
Oily residue
Usually fromSmoldering vinyl, foam, and plastics
How it behavesTacky film that streaks across paint.
Protein residue
Usually fromBurned food
How it behavesFaint film with a heavy, lasting odor.
Heater soot
Usually fromA space heater fire
How it behavesDark soot concentrated near the source.
What can be saved
What can be cleaned and what gets replaced
Material, distance from the flames, and timing decide most outcomes. Here’s a general guide in Memphis-area homes, and the inspection gives you the specifics.
Glass, tile, metal, and stone
Usually cleanedThese clean well if the soot comes off within days. Humidity can speed up etching and corrosion.
Plaster walls and ceilings
Usually cleanedOld plaster often cleans up, but it can hold onto odor. Stubborn spots get an odor-sealing primer and fresh paint.
Drywall
Depends on heat and timingNewer drywall with smoke staining can usually be washed and sealed. Burned or soaked sheets are cut out.
Wood trim, floors, and cabinets
Depends on heat and timingHeart pine floors, original trim, and cabinets often clean well. Heat-blistered finishes may need refinishing.
Clothing, curtains, and bedding
Depends on heat and timingSpecialized laundering saves many fabrics. Burned or melted items don’t come back.
Upholstered furniture and rugs
Depends on heat and timingLightly smoky chairs and rugs can usually be deodorized. Furniture soaked by hoses or saturated with smoke is replaced.
Electronics and appliances
Depends on heat and timingSoot and humidity together are rough on circuit boards. Have TVs, computers, and appliances tested before switching them on.
Photos and documents
Depends on heat and timingLay photos and papers flat somewhere cool and dry. A document specialist can often recover them.
Charred framing
Depends on heat and timingJoists with only surface char may be cleaned and sealed. Lumber the fire burned into is replaced.
Insulation, mattresses, and carpet pad
Usually replacedCrawl-space insulation, mattresses, and carpet pad hold onto smoke and moisture, so they’re replaced instead of cleaned.
Food and medicine
Usually replacedThrow out food exposed to heat or smoke, and check medicine with a pharmacist.
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.
Items past saving are photographed and listed on their own, so your adjuster understands each decision.
Help beyond the fire
Other restoration services we offer in Memphis
Every job starts with a free inspection and estimate. Fire damage rarely comes alone, so the same team handles what comes with it.
Memphis humidity lets mold grow quickly in wet walls and crawl spaces. We find the moisture source, contain the area, remove the mold, and dry the space out.
More about Mold Remediation
Severe thunderstorms, high winds, and ice storms can damage roofs and bring down trees. We dry the structure, remove damaged materials, and repair the ceilings and walls inside.
More about Storm Damage
Memphis warehouses near the airport and Midtown restaurants both feel the cost of a fire right away. 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 (901) 563-2798Call 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 (901) 563-2798 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 HVAC running for a smell check, and send the final records to your insurance company to close out the claim.
Space heater fire during a cold snap?
Call (901) 563-2798A small heater fire can still blacken a room and push smoke through the house. Call us for a free inspection.
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 Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
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 Memphis
We serve Memphis, Shelby County, and communities across the Mid-South in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
Counties
- Shelby County
- Fayette County
- Tipton County
- DeSoto County
- Marshall County
- Crittenden County
Nearby cities
- Germantown
- Collierville
- Bartlett
- Arlington
- Lakeland
- Millington
- Oakland
- Southaven
- Olive Branch
- Horn Lake
- Hernando
- West Memphis
Don’t see your area listed? Call us and we’ll tell you right away.
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Nearby locations
Looking for a different location?
On the wrong page, or is another location closer to you? Here are our nearest locations.
Nashville, TN
View Nashville fire restoration services →Fayetteville, AR
View Fayetteville fire restoration services →Atlanta, GA
View Atlanta fire restoration services →Common questions
Memphis 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 Tennessee?
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 Memphis?
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 Memphis?
For fires inside the City of Memphis, request the incident report from the Memphis 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 (901) 563-2798. A crew can be there within 45 minutes to start your free inspection.
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