Hose water drains into Nashville crawl spaces and basements. 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 · Nashville and nearby areas
Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration in Nashville, TN
A kitchen fire, a dryer fire, or an electrical short can leave soot from floor to ceiling. Our crew handles fire and smoke damage restoration in Nashville, TN, from soot cleanup to repairs. Call any time, day or night.
Call (615) 535-573445minutes
IICRC Certified Firm#70120685
We work with all major insurance carriers
Fire damage help
Fire and smoke damage in Nashville
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.
Nashville’s housing mix changes how smoke travels. In older bungalows, it slips through plaster walls and up into the attic. In newer three-story infill homes, open stairwells pull it straight to the top floor bedrooms.
Firefighting water usually finds the lowest point, whether that’s a crawl space or a finished basement. Left wet in the humid months, it can start mold within days.
Homeowners, property managers, and business owners call us after fires all year round. We work across East Nashville, Germantown, The Gulch, 12 South, Sylvan Park, Green Hills, Donelson, Bellevue, Antioch, and Madison.
Call Now (615) 535-5734Fire damage restoration at a glance
What’s included
Board-up, crawl space or basement drying, soot cleanup on every floor, odor work, and rebuilding.
Typical timeline
A smoky bedroom or two can be cleaned in days. A burned kitchen in a three-story home takes weeks to rebuild.
How cost is set
We price by how many floors the smoke reached, what cleans versus what’s replaced, drying needs, and repairs.
First visit
Call (615) 535-5734A free inspection and estimate before any work starts.
The first 24 hours
What to do after a fire in Nashville
The Nashville 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 (615) 535-5734What 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 Nashville 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 NES, Piedmont Natural Gas or a licensed electrician.
Common fire damage
Types of fire and smoke damage we clean up in Nashville
Nashville’s mix of historic cottages, brand-new infill, and apartment complexes shapes the fires we see. Each one leaves a residue that needs its own cleaning plan.
Kitchen Fires
Hot oil and scorched food leave an amber film on cabinets, range hoods, and ceilings. In open-plan infill homes, that film can reach the living room and the stairwell too.
Electrical Fires
Aging wiring in mid-century homes, overloaded outlets, and long extension cords can ignite inside walls.
Stairwell and HVAC Smoke
In three-story homes, open stairs act like a chimney, and separate HVAC zones can carry soot to bedrooms on the top floor.
Dryer Fires
Second- and third-floor laundry closets often have long vent runs where lint builds up and ignites.
Smoke in Apartments and Townhomes
Nashville townhome rows share attics and walls, so smoke reaches units that never burned.
Water From Firefighting
Hose water runs down through floors into crawl spaces and basements. It needs to come out quickly before humidity turns it into a mold problem.
How we clean
How we get smoke and soot out of your home
The smoke smell sticking around means residue is still on something: painted drywall, cabinet interiors, insulation, carpet pad, or the ducts on each floor.
We test the finish first. Flat paint, plaster, and newer drywall all respond differently, so each gets a small trial before full cleaning.
Dry cleaning comes before wet. HEPA vacuums and chemical sponges lift loose soot so washing doesn’t smear it across walls.
Then we target the odor where it’s trapped. Framing, subfloor, and every duct zone that pulled in smoke are deodorized, and saturated insulation is removed. Some treatments require an empty house, so we schedule them around you.
What the residue tells us
Dry soot
Usually fromHot, quick fires in wood or paper
How it behavesA dusty film that HEPA vacuums lift.
Oily residue
Usually fromSmoldering vinyl, foam, and plastics
How it behavesTacky coating that smears under a rag.
Protein residue
Usually fromBurned food on the stove
How it behavesNear-invisible layer with a lasting odor.
Upper-floor soot
Usually fromSmoke rising through open stairwells
How it behavesHeaviest on top-floor ceilings and walls.
What can be saved
What can be cleaned and what gets replaced
Outcomes depend on the material, how close it sat to the fire, and how quickly we start. Here’s a general guide in Nashville homes, and the inspection settles the details.
Glass, tile, metal, and stone
Usually cleanedQuartz counters, tile backsplashes, and fixtures usually clean if soot comes off within days.
Painted walls and ceilings
Usually cleanedMost painted surfaces wash clean. Flat paint that holds a shadow gets sealed and repainted.
Drywall
Depends on heat and timingInfill-home drywall with smoke staining can often be cleaned and primed. Charred or soaked panels come out.
Hardwood floors and cabinets
Depends on heat and timingSite-finished hardwood and painted cabinets often clean well. Heat-blistered finishes may need refinishing.
Clothing, curtains, and bedding
Depends on heat and timingOdor-removal laundering saves most washable fabrics. Melted or burned pieces can’t come back.
Upholstered furniture and rugs
Depends on heat and timingLight smoke in a sectional or rug can usually be removed. Hose-soaked pieces are typically replaced.
Electronics and appliances
Depends on heat and timingSmart-home hubs, TVs, and laptops should be tested before use, since soot corrodes circuits from inside.
Photos and documents
Depends on heat and timingKeep them flat and dry in a cool room until a restoration specialist can review them.
Charred framing
Depends on heat and timingRafters and studs with only light char, common after attic fires in older cottages, can often be scrubbed and sealed. Burned-through lumber gets replaced.
Insulation, mattresses, and carpet pad
Usually replacedAttic insulation, mattresses, and pad hold smoke deep inside, so they’re removed.
Food and medicine
Usually replacedThrow out food from near the fire, and check any medicine from that room with your 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.
Things too damaged to keep are photographed and noted on a separate sheet, so your adjuster can see the reasoning.
Help beyond the fire
Other restoration services we offer in Nashville
Every job starts with a free inspection and estimate. Fire damage rarely comes alone, so the same team handles what comes with it.
Nashville’s humid summers help mold grow fast in crawl spaces soaked after a fire. We find the moisture source, contain the area, remove the mold, and dry the space out.
More about Mold Remediation
Middle Tennessee thunderstorms and tornado-season winds can open roofs to rain. We dry the structure, remove damaged materials, and repair the ceilings and walls inside.
More about Storm Damage
On Broadway or in the Gulch, a fire means empty tables and lost bookings until the soot is out. 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 (615) 535-5734Call 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 (615) 535-5734 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.
Smoke reached the top floor?
Call (615) 535-5734In multi-story homes, smoke often settles heaviest in upstairs bedrooms, even when the fire started in the kitchen. 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 Nashville
We serve Nashville and communities across Middle Tennessee.
Nashville neighborhoods
- East Nashville
- Germantown
- The Gulch
- 12 South
- Sylvan Park
- Green Hills
- Donelson
- Bellevue
- Antioch
- Madison
Nearby cities
- Franklin
- Brentwood
- Murfreesboro
- Hendersonville
- Mount Juliet
- Smyrna
- La Vergne
- Gallatin
- Goodlettsville
- Lebanon
- Nolensville
- Spring Hill
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.
Memphis, TN
View Memphis fire restoration services →Atlanta, GA
View Atlanta fire restoration services →Indianapolis, IN
View Indianapolis fire restoration services →Common questions
Nashville 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 Nashville?
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 Nashville?
For fires inside the City of Nashville, request the incident report from the Nashville 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 (615) 535-5734. A crew can be there within 45 minutes to start your free inspection.
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