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WOODLAND HILLS HQ OPEN 24/7 IICRC CERTIFIED CSLB LICENSED ★ 5.0 108 REVIEWS WATER FIRE SMOKE MOLD SERVING LA VENTURA ORANGE COUNTY
Service 03 · Fire Restoration

Fire damage restoration in Los Angeles.

Smoke, soot, water damage from suppression, structural assessment. We handle everything after the fire department leaves — under one team. Call (818) 486-6546, 24/7.

  • CSLB #1078518
  • IICRC S700 Certified
  • 24/7 Emergency Dispatch
  • 55-Minute Response Target
⚡ Call (818) 486-6546
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★ 5.0 from 108+ Google reviews · 200+ jobs completed since 2019 · Woodland Hills HQ · CSLB #1078518 · B-General + HAZ Certified
Section 01 · After the fire department leaves

When the fire’s out, the real work begins.

The fire is extinguished. The fire department leaves. The insurance adjuster is on their way. And you’re standing in your property looking at everywhere the smoke went, water reached, and heat compromised structure.

The damage isn’t just what’s visible — it’s smoke-stained walls, water-soaked carpet, soot on every surface, and a structure that may or may not be safe to enter. This is where we come in.

Fire damage restoration isn’t a single service — it’s the coordination of multiple disciplines: soot remediation, smoke deodorization, water damage from suppression, and structural reconstruction, all under one team. We do all of it.

Within an hour of your call

  • Structural safety assessment
  • Coordination with your insurance adjuster
  • Securing the property — board-up, tarps, content protection
  • Initial damage documentation
  • Written scope drafting
Section 02 · IICRC S700

S700 defines four damage levels.

The IICRC S700 standard categorizes fire and smoke damage by severity. Each level requires different cleaning protocols, equipment, and disposal decisions.

Class 1 · Minor

Minor Smoke Damage

Description
Limited area affected. Light surface soot. No structural damage. Minimal odor.
Treatment
Dry cleaning, HEPA vacuuming, light deodorization. No demolition required.
Typical scenario
Small kitchen fire contained quickly, mostly smoke smell in adjacent rooms.
Class 2 · Moderate

Moderate Smoke & Soot

Description
Multiple rooms affected. Visible soot on surfaces. Smoke odor saturated into porous materials. Some heat damage possible.
Treatment
Wet cleaning, abrasive cleaning, ozone treatment, content cleaning. Selective material removal.
Typical scenario
Kitchen fire that spread to adjacent rooms; contents need cleaning, drywall may need replacement.
Class 3 · Major

Major Fire Damage

Description
Significant structural damage. Charred materials. Heavy soot. Severe odor saturation. Water damage from suppression.
Treatment
Removal of charred materials, structural repair, deep deodorization, content pack-out, full reconstruction.
Typical scenario
Room of origin destroyed, significant smoke and water damage throughout; structural assessment required.
Class 4 · Catastrophic

Catastrophic Loss

Description
Total or near-total loss. Multiple rooms gutted. Structural integrity compromised. Often paired with wildfire or major electrical fires.
Treatment
Demolition, structural reconstruction, complete rebuild of affected areas. Often months of work.
Typical scenario
Wildfire ember intrusion + interior fire, or a major electrical fire that spread through walls.

Why classification matters: insurance approval, scope of work, timeline, and final cost all derive from accurate classification. Under-classification leaves smoke smell that returns weeks later; over-classification leads to insurance disputes. We classify honestly and document the justification per IICRC S700.

Section 03 · Scenarios

The fire calls we get most.

Most residential fire work falls into one of these six. The restoration protocol stays IICRC S700 — the residue and scope change with the source.

Kitchen fire

By far the most common residential fire. Cooking grease ignites, fire spreads to the range hood, cabinets, ceiling. Smoke damage extends throughout the home. Often Class 1–2.

Specific issue

Protein soot from burning food is one of the hardest residues to remove.

Electrical fire

Wiring fault, overloaded outlet, or failed appliance. Often starts in walls or the attic, so discovery is delayed.

Specific issue

Electrical-fire residue can be acidic and corrode metal — electronics, fixtures — if not cleaned quickly.

Chimney fire

Creosote buildup ignites in the flue and spreads to surrounding structure.

Specific issue

Creosote stain is hard to remove from masonry and often requires specialized cleaning.

Vehicle fire in garage

Battery fire, fuel leak, or mechanical failure. Often spreads to the attached garage and into the main residence.

Specific issue

Tire smoke and battery residue have unique chemical signatures requiring specific cleaning agents.

Neighbor’s house fire

Your property takes smoke and water damage from the next-door fire. Different insurance coordination — your policy plus their liability, possibly third-party claims.

Specific issue

Documentation must clearly separate damage from the neighbor’s fire vs. your existing conditions.

Cigarette & candle fires

Often start in soft furnishings and smolder before flame. Significant smoke damage, sometimes hidden until the property is occupied again.

Specific issue

Tar-based cigarette smoke residue embeds into porous materials more aggressively than other smoke types.

Section 04 · Wildfire · Southern California

Wildfire damage restoration.

Wildfires are different from structural fires. Even when your property doesn’t burn, wildfire smoke and ash can cause significant damage that requires professional restoration.

Direct structural damage

Flames reached the property. Partial or total loss. Class 3–4 under IICRC S700. Often requires full reconstruction.

Ember intrusion

Embers entered through vents, broken windows, or roof openings and started small interior fires — sometimes extinguished by occupants or sprinklers. Looks like a small fire, but smoke and ash damage extends throughout. Often Class 2–3.

Smoke & ash, no direct fire

A wildfire passes nearby but the property doesn’t burn. Smoke and ash penetrate every gap — under doors, through HVAC, around windows. Particles include burned vegetation, shingles, plastics, vehicle paints. Often Class 1–2 with heavy deodorization and HVAC needs.

Wildfire-prone neighborhoods we cover

Areas impacted in recent California wildfire seasons. In any of these and dealt with direct, ember, or smoke/ash damage? Call (818) 486-6546.

Bell Canyon · Topanga · Malibu · Calabasas · Hidden Hills · Pacific Palisades · Brentwood · Bel Air · Westridge · Mandeville Canyon · Sylmar · Porter Ranch · Chatsworth · Stevenson Ranch · Castaic · Newhall · Saugus · Agoura Hills · Westlake Village · Thousand Oaks · Newbury Park · Ojai · Santa Paula · Fillmore · Ventura foothills

The most overlooked damage: HVAC

Smoke particles draw into the air handler and settle on coils and inside ductwork. Every time the HVAC runs, those particles re-circulate.

Without HVAC cleaning, smoke smell returns whenever the system operates. We coordinate with HVAC professionals when system cleaning is part of the scope.

Section 05 · How we restore

Eleven steps, per IICRC S700.

Every job follows the same path, same licensed crew start to finish — from the safety assessment through the final walkthrough.

Step 01

Emergency Call + Dispatch

24/7 line answered immediately. We get the fundamentals: location, fire-department status, occupant safety, insurance status. Dispatch decision on the call.

Step 02

Structural Safety Assessment

First priority on arrival. Is the property safe to enter? We coordinate with structural engineers when a formal assessment is required before work begins.

Step 03

Property Securement

Board-up of broken windows and doors. Tarps over roof openings. Securing the exterior to prevent further weather damage and theft.

Step 04

Insurance Coordination

With your written authorization, we coordinate documentation directly with your carrier and adjuster. Line-item scope drafted. Class determination per IICRC S700.

Step 05

Content Pack-Out

Affected contents removed for off-site cleaning and storage. Inventory documented with photo records. Critical for Class 2+ damage.

Step 06

Water Damage Mitigation

Suppression water needs immediate attention — extraction, drying, dehumidification. Same protocols as standalone water damage restoration (IICRC S500).

Step 07

Soot & Smoke Removal

HEPA vacuuming, dry-sponge cleaning for delicate surfaces, wet cleaning for non-porous, abrasive cleaning for charred areas. Each residue type gets its own agent.

Step 08

Deodorization

Multi-stage: source removal first, then thermal fogging, ozone, or hydroxyl generators by severity. Sealing of any remaining smoke-impacted materials.

Step 09

HVAC Decontamination

Air handler cleaning, duct cleaning, filter replacement. Without this, smoke smell returns when the system operates. We coordinate HVAC contractors for major cleaning.

Step 10

Reconstruction

Drywall, flooring, paint, cabinetry, framing — whatever was removed gets rebuilt. Same licensed B-General team. No remediation/reconstruction handoff.

Step 11

Content Return + Walkthrough

Cleaned contents returned to the restored property. Final walkthrough with you and your insurance adjuster if applicable.

Start to finish

Questions about the process?

Same project manager from the day after the fire through reconstruction. Call (818) 486-6546.

Section 06 · The science of fire residue

Fire damage is about more than soot.

Fire damage looks like soot on surfaces, but the actual damage is chemical — and different fire types leave different residues. The wrong cleaning agent can permanently set a residue into material.

Six common residue types, each with a different source, behavior, and treatment. Matching the agent to the residue is the difference between removing the damage and locking it in.

Dry smoke residue

From
Fast-burning, high-heat fires (paper, wood)
Characteristics
Dry, powdery, easy to vacuum
Treatment
HEPA vacuuming, dry-sponge cleaning

Wet smoke residue

From
Slow-burning, low-heat fires (plastics, rubber, foam)
Characteristics
Sticky, smeary, hard to remove
Treatment
Specialized solvent cleaning, often multiple passes

Protein smoke residue

From
Burning food (kitchen fires)
Characteristics
Nearly invisible, strong odor, yellow-brown film
Treatment
Enzymatic cleaning, specific deodorization protocols

Fuel oil soot

From
Furnace puffback, oil-burning equipment
Characteristics
Heavy, oily, deeply embedded
Treatment
Aggressive solvent cleaning, often requires sealing

Tear gas / police action

From
Law-enforcement chemical agents
Characteristics
Toxic, corrosive, irritant
Treatment
Full PPE protocols, specialized neutralizing agents

Fire-extinguisher chemical

From
Dry-chemical extinguishers used to suppress fire
Characteristics
Powdery, corrosive to metal, abrasive
Treatment
Neutralization, thorough cleaning of surfaces + electronics

This level of differentiation is what separates IICRC S700 restoration from “guys with rags and bleach.” For smoke-only scope without structural fire, see our smoke damage restoration.

Section 07 · When reconstruction is needed

Restoration vs. reconstruction.

Fire jobs almost always involve reconstruction. Unlike water damage (where drying may be the whole job), fire damage typically requires rebuilding what was destroyed.

We handle both phases — the cleanup and the rebuild — with the same licensed B-General team. For fire jobs, that matters more than on any other restoration type.

Restoration phase

  • Soot removal
  • Smoke deodorization
  • Water mitigation (suppression water)
  • Content cleaning
  • HVAC decontamination

Reconstruction phase

  • Drywall removal and replacement
  • Flooring replacement
  • Cabinetry rebuild
  • Paint
  • Trim and baseboard
  • Electrical (often required — heat-damaged wiring)
  • Plumbing
  • Roofing repair (if fire breached the roof)
  • Framing repair (Class 3–4)
  • Full structural rebuild (Class 4)

Why one team matters more for fire jobs

  • Restoration completed before structural assessment is finalized
  • Reconstruction started before deodorization fully cures
  • Material selection that re-introduces smoke odor
  • Insurance scope changes one team handles but the other never sees
  • Final walkthrough with two companies pointing fingers

Fire jobs often run 2–6 months. We do both phases — same licensed team, same project manager, same accountability from the day after the fire through the final walkthrough.

Section 08 · Results

Real fire restoration jobs.

Before & after photos from real jobs, added as client-permission photos are gathered.

Before / After · coming soon
Before / After · coming soon
Before / After · coming soon

Real job photos coming soon — each fire restoration follows IICRC S700 protocols with photo documentation throughout. Call (818) 486-6546 to discuss your situation.

Section 09 · Insurance

How insurance works for fire damage.

Fire claims are typically the highest-dollar restoration claims your insurance will see — with phased approvals and content pack-out. The full process matters.

Most fire damage is covered under standard homeowner’s and commercial property policies. Here’s what that coverage typically includes.

Structure Dwelling coverage

Covers structural damage and reconstruction.

Contents Personal property

Covers contents — typically 50–70% of the dwelling limit.

Housing Additional living expenses

Covers temporary housing while the property is uninhabitable.

Use Loss of use

Separate from ALE in some policies.

Endorsement Mold endorsement

Needed if fire-related water damage causes mold growth.

Wildfire Wildfire coverage

Typically covered under standard homeowner’s — check for exclusions in high-risk fire zones.

Our process with insurance for fire jobs

  1. You sign a Limited Authorization to Repair allowing us to coordinate with your carrier
  2. We document everything per IICRC S700 — class determination, photos, content inventory, daily progress
  3. We coordinate with the adjuster — often multiple site visits over weeks for major fire jobs
  4. Scope approval, often in phases (mitigation → restoration → reconstruction)
  5. We proceed with approved work in phases
  6. We invoice the carrier directly with your written authorization
  7. You typically pay only your deductible

Documentation adjusters respect

  • IICRC S700 class determination with justification
  • Photo timeline of every affected area
  • Content inventory with replacement-value documentation
  • Daily progress logs across multi-month timelines
  • Material disposal records
  • Air-quality testing documentation (third-party hygienist, when applicable)
  • Coordination logs with structural, HVAC, and electrical contractors
  • Final clearance documentation

We coordinate with every major California carrier

State Farm Allstate Farmers USAA AAA Liberty Mutual Travelers Mercury Nationwide Progressive Safeco MetLife Hartford Chubb CSAA Pacific Specialty Wawanesa Don’t see your carrier? Call (818) 486-6546 →
Section 10 · Where we restore

Three counties, one dispatch.

We dispatch from Woodland Hills across LA, Ventura, and Orange Counties. Full coverage in all three (130+ cities) — if you don’t see your city, call us.

Los Angeles County

Woodland Hills · Tarzana · Encino · Calabasas · Hidden Hills · Bell Canyon · West Hills · Chatsworth · Sherman Oaks · Studio City · Beverly Hills · Brentwood · Pacific Palisades · Malibu · Topanga · Santa Monica · Pasadena · Altadena · Glendale · Burbank · Santa Clarita · Stevenson Ranch · Sylmar

Ventura County

Thousand Oaks · Westlake Village · Newbury Park · Camarillo · Oxnard · Ventura · Ojai · Santa Paula · Fillmore · Simi Valley · Moorpark

Orange County

Anaheim · Irvine · Newport Beach · Costa Mesa · Huntington Beach · Santa Ana · Yorba Linda · Brea

City pages

Local response for fire damage across LA, Ventura & Orange County

Dedicated city pages with the fastest local response and the city-specific patterns we see most often. More cities as we expand.

Service areas — every city & ZIP we cover across LA, Ventura & Orange County

Los Angeles County

San Fernando Valley

Woodland Hills 91364·91365·91367 · Calabasas 91302 · Hidden Hills 91302 · West Hills 91307 · Canoga Park 91303·91304 · Winnetka 91306 · Reseda 91335 · Tarzana 91356 · Encino 91316 · Sherman Oaks 91403·91423 · Van Nuys 91401·91405·91406·91411 · North Hills 91343 · Northridge 91324·91325 · Granada Hills 91344 · Mission Hills 91345 · Porter Ranch 91326 · Chatsworth 91311 · Sylmar 91342 · Pacoima 91331 · Arleta 91331 · Panorama City 91402 · Sun Valley 91352

Westside & Coastal

Santa Monica 90401–90405 · Pacific Palisades 90272 · Brentwood 90049 · Westwood 90024 · Bel Air 90077 · Beverly Hills 90210·90211·90212 · Century City 90067 · West Los Angeles 90025 · Venice 90291 · Mar Vista 90066 · Culver City 90230·90232 · Playa Vista 90094 · Playa Del Rey 90293 · Marina Del Rey 90292 · Malibu 90265 · Topanga 90290

Hollywood / Central LA

Hollywood 90028·90038 · West Hollywood 90046·90048·90069 · Los Angeles — all districts 90001–90095

South Bay

Manhattan Beach 90266 · Hermosa Beach 90254 · Redondo Beach 90277·90278 · El Segundo 90245 · Hawthorne 90250 · Inglewood 90301–90305 · Torrance 90501–90505 · San Pedro 90731·90732 · Wilmington 90744

San Gabriel Valley

Pasadena 91101·91103–91107 · Altadena 91001 · Arcadia 91006·91007 · Sierra Madre 91024 · Temple City 91780 · San Gabriel 91775·91776 · Alhambra 91801·91803 · Monterey Park 91754·91755 · Rosemead 91770 · El Monte 91731–91733 · Duarte 91010

Santa Clarita Valley

Santa Clarita 91350·91351 · Valencia 91354·91355 · Newhall 91321 · Canyon Country 91387 · Stevenson Ranch 91381 · Castaic 91384

Ventura County

Ventura & Coastal

Ventura 93001·93003·93004 · Oxnard 93030·93033·93035·93036 · Port Hueneme 93041·93044 · Channel Islands Beach 93035 · Silver Strand 93035 · Hollywood Beach 93035 · La Conchita 93001

Conejo Valley

Thousand Oaks 91360·91362 · Newbury Park 91320 · Westlake Village 91361 · Oak Park 91377 · Agoura Hills 91301

Simi Valley Corridor

Simi Valley 93063·93065 · Moorpark 93021 · Somis 93066 · Santa Rosa Valley 93012

Ojai Valley

Ojai 93023 · Mira Monte 93023 · Meiners Oaks 93023 · Oak View 93022

Heritage Valley

Santa Paula 93060 · Fillmore 93015·93016 · Piru 93040

Orange County

North Orange County

Anaheim 92801·92802·92804–92808 · Fullerton 92831·92832·92833·92835 · Buena Park 90620·90621·90622 · La Habra 90631·90632·90633 · Brea 92821·92823 · Placentia 92870 · Yorba Linda 92886·92887 · La Palma 90623

Central Orange County

Santa Ana 92701·92703–92707 · Orange 92865–92869 · Garden Grove 92840–92845 · Tustin 92780·92782 · Villa Park 92861 · Costa Mesa 92626·92627·92628

Coastal

Huntington Beach 92646–92649 · Newport Beach 92657–92663 · Seal Beach 90740 · Sunset Beach 90742

South Orange County

Irvine 92602·92603·92604·92606·92612·92614·92617·92618·92620 · Lake Forest 92630 · Foothill Ranch 92610 · Mission Viejo 92691·92692·92694 · Rancho Santa Margarita 92688 · Coto de Caza 92679 · Aliso Viejo 92656 · Laguna Hills 92653·92654 · Laguna Woods 92637 · Laguna Beach 92651·92652 · Laguna Niguel 92677 · Dana Point 92624·92629 · Capistrano Beach 92624 · San Clemente 92672·92673·92674 · San Juan Capistrano 92675

Section 11 · Common questions

Common questions about fire damage.

Six questions we hear most. For more, see the full FAQ.

How fast can you arrive?
Our target on-site response is under 55 minutes anywhere in our service area. Fire jobs benefit from fast response — soot becomes harder to remove as it sits, electronic corrosion from acidic residue accelerates over hours, and suppression water starts causing secondary damage immediately.
Will my insurance cover this?
Fire damage is typically covered under standard homeowner’s and commercial property policies — usually dwelling, contents, additional living expenses, and loss of use. We coordinate with your carrier and adjuster directly with your written authorization. Most clients pay only their deductible. CSLB #1078518.
How long does fire damage restoration take?
Small Class 1 jobs (light smoke, no demolition): 1–2 weeks. Class 2 (multiple rooms, content cleaning, some replacement): 1–2 months. Class 3 (significant damage, reconstruction required): 3–6 months. Class 4 catastrophic loss: 6–12 months or longer. We give you a realistic timeline on the first assessment.
Do I need to leave my property during restoration?
Usually yes, especially for Class 2+ damage. Insurance typically covers additional living expenses (ALE) for the duration. We coordinate with your adjuster on temporary housing arrangements.
What about my belongings?
For Class 2+ damage, we typically pack out contents for off-site cleaning. Inventory is documented with photos and condition notes. Items are cleaned at our facility (or a partner facility) and stored until the property is ready. Items beyond restoration are documented as total losses for insurance.
What about wildfire smoke if my property didn’t burn?
We restore wildfire smoke and ash damage even without direct fire. The protocols are similar to Class 1–2 smoke damage, with specific attention to ash composition (which varies by what burned) and HVAC system decontamination. Call (818) 486-6546 to discuss your situation.

See all FAQs → · Browse all services →

Section 12 · Ready when you need us

After the fire, you need one team. We’re that team.

Emergency? Call now.

24/7 dispatch across LA, Ventura, and Orange Counties.

(818) 486-6546

Insurance claim started? Book assessment.

Free on-site assessment with written scope and IICRC S700 classification.