Firefighting water runs into basements and wall cavities. 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 · Salt Lake City and nearby areas
Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration in Salt Lake City, UT
A kitchen fire, a furnace problem, or wildfire smoke can leave soot throughout your home. Our crew handles fire and smoke damage restoration in Salt Lake City, UT, from soot cleanup to repairs. Call any time, day or night.
Call (801) 301-982545minutes
IICRC Certified Firm#70120685
We work with all major insurance carriers
Fire damage help
Fire and smoke damage in Salt Lake City
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 reaches places the fire never did. Smoke settles into Salt Lake closets, cabinets, and finished basements. A running furnace then moves it through the ducts. In summer, smoke from western wildfires can also settle over the valley and work its way inside through vents and gaps.
Water from firefighting brings its own problems. Hose water runs into basements and soaks drywall, carpet, and subfloor. Anything that stays wet more than two days may turn moldy, so drying begins on the first visit.
Homeowners, property managers, and business owners call us after fires all year round. We work across The Avenues, Sugar House, Liberty Wells, Rose Park, Capitol Hill, East Bench, Glendale, Federal Heights, Yalecrest, and Fairpark.
Call Now (801) 301-9825Fire damage restoration at a glance
What’s included
Securing the house, basement drying, soot and odor removal, and the rebuild.
Typical timeline
Light smoke in a room or two usually takes a few days. Expect several weeks or longer if walls, cabinets, or floors are rebuilt.
How cost is set
How far smoke and ash reached, which materials clean up and which don’t, how much water must dry, and the rebuild.
First visit
Call (801) 301-9825A free inspection and estimate before any work starts.
The first 24 hours
What to do after a fire in Salt Lake City
The Salt Lake City 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 (801) 301-9825What 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 Salt Lake City 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 Rocky Mountain Power, Enbridge Gas Utah or a licensed electrician.
Common fire damage
Types of fire and smoke damage we clean up in Salt Lake City
Each kind of fire leaves a different residue, and that residue decides how we clean it. These are the fires we see most often along the Wasatch Front. Basement laundry rooms and long winters add to the risk.
Kitchen Fires
Kitchen fires in Salt Lake homes leave a yellowish grease film on cabinets, ceilings, and drawers far from the stove. It has to be degreased, not just wiped.
Heating Equipment Fires
Long Utah winters keep furnaces, space heaters, and fireplaces running for months.
Electrical Fires
Aging wiring, overloaded power strips, and space heaters plugged into the wrong outlet can start fires behind walls. Wire insulation that burns leaves oily soot that smears, and the circuits need an electrician’s check before power returns.
Dryer Fires
Salt Lake basements often hold the laundry, so a lint fire in the dryer vent sends smoke up the stairs.
Wildfire Smoke and Ash
Fires across the West may send smoke over the Salt Lake Valley, leaving ash in vents and carpet. Airing out the house won’t remove it, so it needs careful cleaning.
Water From Firefighting
Salt Lake basements collect the hose water that soaks drywall and carpet above. Wet drywall and carpet must dry out while the soot comes off, or mold can follow.
How we clean
How we get smoke and soot out of your home
A smoky smell in your home comes from residue, not the air itself. It coats drywall, cabinets, insulation, carpet pad, and ductwork, and sprays only cover it for a while.
We test first. A small test spot on each surface shows which method removes soot without spreading it or damaging the finish.
Loose soot comes off dry. We use HEPA vacuums and dry chemical sponges before any wet cleaning touches a surface, so residue isn’t driven into paint and grout.
We remove the smell at its source. With the residue gone, we deodorize the framing, subfloor, and ducts that absorbed smoke. We remove materials too saturated to clean. Some treatments require the house to be empty of people, pets, and plants, so we plan them with you.
What the residue tells us
Dry soot
Usually fromHot fires burning wood or paper
How it behavesPowdery and loose; usually vacuums off.
Oily residue
Usually fromSmoldering fires and plastics
How it behavesSticky; smears unless it’s cleaned the right way.
Protein residue
Usually fromBurned food
How it behavesThin film, strong odor, and it yellows paint.
Wildfire ash
Usually fromSmoke drifting in from outdoor fires
How it behavesFine particles in vents, fabrics, and carpet.
What can be saved
What can be cleaned and what gets replaced
It depends on the material, how close it was to the fire, and how fast cleaning begins. Here’s a general guide, and your inspection confirms it for your home.
Glass, tile, metal, and stone
Usually cleanedCleaned within days, these usually recover. If soot sits for weeks, its acid can etch glass and pit metal.
Painted walls and ceilings
Usually cleanedMost clean up. Where a soot shadow remains, a sealing primer and fresh paint take care of it.
Drywall
Depends on heat and timingSmoke-stained drywall can usually be cleaned and sealed. Burned sections, or any that soaked up hose water, are removed.
Wood cabinets and furniture
Depends on heat and timingSealed wood generally cleans. Wood that blistered from heat or absorbed heavy smoke may need refinishing.
Clothing, curtains, and bedding
Depends on heat and timingProfessional cleaning brings many washable items back. Burned or melted pieces are lost.
Upholstered furniture and rugs
Depends on heat and timingAsh and light smoke can often be cleaned out of upholstery and rugs. Heavy smoke or soaking hose water generally means the piece is replaced.
Electronics and appliances
Depends on heat and timingElectronics can hold corrosive soot inside even when they look clean. Get them tested before using them.
Photos and documents
Depends on heat and timingSet photos and papers aside, flat and dry. Document specialists can often restore more than you’d expect.
Charred framing
Depends on heat and timingStuds with surface charring can sometimes be cleaned and sealed against odor. Framing the fire weakened is replaced.
Insulation, mattresses, and carpet pad
Usually replacedSmoke and hose water soak deep into insulation, mattresses, and carpet pad, so these get replaced, not cleaned.
Food and medicine
Usually replacedDiscard food that heat or smoke reached, plus any canned goods that got hot. A pharmacist can tell you whether nearby medicine is still safe.
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.
Unsalvageable items are photographed and listed separately for your adjuster.
Help beyond the fire
Other restoration services we offer in Salt Lake City
Every job starts with a free inspection and estimate. Fire damage rarely comes alone, so the same team handles what comes with it.
A basement or wall left wet after firefighting can grow mold, Utah’s dry air or not. We find the moisture source, contain the area, remove the mold, and dry the space out.
More about Mold Remediation
Canyon winds, ice dams, and deep snow may let water into Salt Lake attics. We dry the structure, remove damaged materials, and repair the ceilings and walls inside.
More about Storm Damage
A fire can shut down a restaurant, store, or office overnight. 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 (801) 301-9825Call 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 (801) 301-9825 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.
Ash inside after wildfire smoke?
Call (801) 301-9825Wildfire smoke settling over the Salt Lake Valley may leave ash on furniture, carpet, and vents. Smoky smell after a bad air day? Ask 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 Utah Insurance Department.
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 Salt Lake City
We serve Salt Lake City and communities up and down the Salt Lake Valley.
Salt Lake City neighborhoods
- The Avenues
- Sugar House
- Liberty Wells
- Rose Park
- Capitol Hill
- East Bench
- Glendale
- Federal Heights
- Yalecrest
- Fairpark
Nearby cities
- West Valley City
- Murray
- Sandy
- South Jordan
- West Jordan
- Draper
- Holladay
- Millcreek
- Cottonwood Heights
- Taylorsville
- Midvale
- Bountiful
Don’t see your area listed? Call us and we’ll tell you right away.
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Common questions
Salt Lake City 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 Utah?
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 Salt Lake City?
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 Salt Lake City?
The Salt Lake City Fire Department keeps the incident report for fires inside the city, so request it there. 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 (801) 301-9825. A crew can be there within 45 minutes to start your free inspection.
Call (801) 301-9825Or request a free inspection online
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