Instant Restoration is a Woodland Hills-based, IICRC-certified, CSLB-licensed (#1078518) restoration and general contracting company. We respond 24/7 across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange County, Southern California, with a 45-minute target ETA from our headquarters. We deliver full ANSI/IICRC S700:2025-compliant smoke remediation, soot removal, odor neutralization, HVAC decontamination, and licensed reconstruction under one roof — so you never juggle a cleaning crew and a builder. From single-room puff-back damage to whole-home wildfire smoke contamination, our FSRT- and OCT-certified team handles it end to end.
Tell us what happened. We respond 24/7 across LA, Ventura, and Orange County.
We bill insurance directly: State Farm, Farmers, AAA, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Chubb, Mercury, USAA, Nationwide, and more.
Soot is acidic. Smoke odor bonds to porous surfaces. Firefighting water turns drywall into a mold incubator within 48 hours. Most homeowners lose more property to delay than they did to the fire itself. Here is the timeline.
Soot residue contains hydrogen chloride (from burning PVC plumbing, vinyl, and electronics), sulfuric compounds, and ammonia. Within hours, these acids etch glass, tarnish brass and chrome, corrode electrical contacts, and yellow plastics permanently. Marble and granite countertops can be stained for life. The first 24 hours is when emergency stabilization either saves your contents or doesn't.
Soot particles — many smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) — settle into drywall pores, fabric, and grout. Carpets and upholstery yellow. Smoke odor molecules cross-link with finish coatings on cabinets and trim. Soot already pulled through return vents is now coating every duct and the evaporator coil. After this window, surface cleaning alone will not remove the odor.
If suppression water sat in wall cavities or under flooring, mold colonies are now visible. Now you have a combined fire, smoke, and mold remediation project — plus the water damage from firefighting that everyone forgot about. Health complaints (cough, headaches, asthma flare-ups) typically start in this window.
Smoke is not one thing. The residue type dictates the cleaning method. Misidentifying it is the #1 reason DIY and unqualified contractors fail.
Fast-burning, oxygen-rich fires produce fine, powdery, dry residue. It smears easily and lodges in cracks. It must be lifted with dry sponging (a vulcanized rubber "chemical sponge" that absorbs soot without solvents) before any wet method touches the surface. Wet cleaning a dry-smoke wall first will smear soot into the paint permanently.
Low-temperature, oxygen-starved fires of plastic and rubber leave thick, sticky, black, pungent residue. Dry sponging will not lift it. We use solvent-based wet cleaning, alkaline degreasers, and on hard surfaces abrasive media blasting or dry ice blasting to strip residue from framing and joists.
Burned protein leaves a near-invisible yellow-brown film with a strong, persistent odor — the signature of kitchen fire smoke cleanup. Cabinets and clear-coated wood look fine until you wipe a fingertip across them. We treat protein residue with enzymatic cleaners and follow up with ozone treatment (oxidation), which IICRC S700 guidance reserves for protein fires.
A "puff back" is a misfire inside an oil-fired furnace that blasts oily soot through HVAC into every room. We isolate the HVAC, immersion clean removable contents (full submersion in cleaning solution), and use solvent wet cleaning plus thermal fogging on framing.
Wildfire smoke is not house-fire smoke. Wildfire smoke damage cleanup demands hazmat-aware containment, lab-tested clearance, and reconstruction. We have responded to homes across the Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga Canyon, the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Conejo Valley after every major fire of the past decade.
Wildfire smoke that enters intact homes carries combustion products from burned plastics, treated lumber, lead paint, asbestos siding, vehicle batteries, and electronics. After the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire (both ignited January 7, 2025), the EPA completed Phase 1 hazmat removal across both burn zones on February 26, 2025 — removing more than 1,000 lithium-ion batteries plus asbestos, household and automotive batteries, compressed gas cylinders, fuels, and medical waste. Standard duster cleaning leaves these contaminants behind. We treat every wildfire smoke job as hazmat-adjacent: HAZWOPER-trained crew, HEPA containment, lab-tested air clearance.
Homes in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Brentwood, and Topanga that survived the structure burn still pulled days of toxic smoke through HVAC returns. We provide source removal, HVAC decontamination, content pack-out, and clearance testing. See our Woodland Hills fire damage restoration page for nearby work.
USC research notes more than 70% of homes within the Eaton Fire footprint were built before 1979, when lead paint was common. The November 6, 2025 Eaton Fire Residents United report, released through Rep. Judy Chu's office, documented 50 self-submitted homes — 78% had been professionally cleaned, yet 63% still tested for lead above the EPA standard, with average lead levels almost 60 times higher than the EPA rule. Cleaning alone does not solve this. Our Eaton-zone scope covers ash cleanup, surface-by-surface lead testing, HEPA decontamination, and clearance documentation.
The Woolsey Fire (2018) tore through Calabasas, Woodland Hills, and Agoura Hills. Homes that "smelled fine" months later failed swab tests. Drapery, attic insulation, and HVAC stayed contaminated. We replace insulation, decontaminate ducts, and run hydroxyl generators in occupied homes.
The Thomas Fire (2017–2018) blanketed Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Camarillo with ash for weeks. We still get calls on Thomas-era residue in attics and crawlspaces.
ANSI/IICRC S700:2025 is the first publicly reviewed American National Standard for professional fire and smoke damage restoration. Our process follows it step for step.
Live dispatcher, not a call center. 45-min target ETA from Woodland Hills. Board-up, tarp, utility shutdown.
FSRT-certified tech writes a Restoration Work Plan. You and your adjuster get the same document.
6-mil poly containment plus HEPA negative-air so contaminated air can't migrate. EPA-compliant disposal.
Dry sponging, solvent wet cleaning, enzymatic, abrasive or dry ice blasting — matched to residue type.
HVAC smoke contamination is the #1 hidden travel path. We disassemble the air handler, replace filters, clean the coil, brush and HEPA-vacuum every duct run, seal the system.
Smoke odor removal by thermal fogging, hydroxyl, or ozone — surgically matched to job type per IICRC S700 guidance.
Barcoded inventory, ultrasonic, immersion, ozone/hydroxyl chamber, textile cleaning. Digital report.
Full smoke damage repair under our own CSLB GC license — drywall, paint, trim, flooring, cabinetry. Final air swab and clearance test, documented.
More detail on full fire damage restoration and licensed reconstruction and rebuild.
Thermal fogging vaporizes a heated deodorizer that follows the exact same paths the smoke took, penetrating cracks and porous surfaces. Hydroxyl generators use UV light to create hydroxyl radicals that break down odor molecules — safe to run with occupants in place. Ozone oxidizes odor molecules and is highly effective on protein fires, but it is toxic — full evacuation of people, pets, and live plants is required. IICRC S700 guidance reserves ozone for protein-fire cases.
Smoke contains particles of incomplete combustion (PIC) — toxins generated when fuel does not fully burn. PIC includes carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride (from burning PVC), asbestos fibers (from pre-1980 materials), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and known carcinogens. A 2019 study in PubMed Central (PMC6624307) reported that wood smoke contains many of the same toxic compounds as cigarette smoke, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbon monoxide, and free radicals.
The EPA states that fine particles in wildfire smoke worsen respiratory conditions for children, seniors, and people with pre-existing heart or lung disease. PM2.5 particles travel deep into the lungs and cross into the bloodstream. Soot is not "dust." Cleaning it incorrectly aerosolizes it. That is why our crews wear half-face APRs with P100 cartridges and run HEPA negative-air at all times.
We work with adjusters daily. Most California homeowner policies cover smoke damage — including wildfire smoke that drifted into a home that didn't burn.
Structural cleaning and repair, content cleaning or replacement, HVAC decontamination, debris removal, and Additional Living Expenses (ALE) while you cannot live in the home. Coverage limits vary; we read your policy before we scope.
Pre-cleaning photo log, room-by-room moisture and soot readings, Xactimate-format estimate, daily progress notes, equipment logs, content inventory, and final air-clearance results.
We bill your insurer directly so you are not floating tens of thousands of dollars. California law: on contracts over $10,000, no contractor may collect more than 10% of the total or $1,000 — whichever is less — as a down payment. Anyone asking for more is breaking the law. Verify any contractor at the CSLB license lookup.
Verify Our License (CSLB #1078518)
Honest ranges. No bait pricing.
The industry-reported 2024 U.S. national average for fire and smoke damage restoration is approximately $12,900, with a range of $1,200–$72,300. LA-area labor and disposal costs typically push above the national midpoint.
Square footage; residue type (protein and wet smoke are slower); HVAC contamination; presence of lead, asbestos, or lithium-ion residue; firefighting water and resulting mold; content pack-out volume; and whether reconstruction is needed.
We bill insurance directly: State Farm, Farmers, AAA, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Chubb, Mercury, USAA, Nationwide, and more.
24/7 response from our Woodland Hills HQ. Looking for smoke damage restoration "near me"? You're covered.
Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Studio City, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Altadena, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Northridge, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Santa Clarita, Valencia, Long Beach, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo.
Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Port Hueneme.
Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Santa Ana, Tustin, Fullerton, Brea, Yorba Linda, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano.
National franchises sub out reconstruction. We don't. One contract, one project manager, one insurance file. Faster, cleaner, cheaper.
Every lead tech holds FSRT (Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician) and OCT (Odor Control Technician) certifications. Our firm is IICRC Certified and ANSI/IICRC S700:2025-compliant.
"They beat SERVPRO to my Encino house by 30 minutes. Walked me through the insurance call the same night."
"After the Eaton Fire we hired a national franchise first. They missed the HVAC entirely. Instant Restoration redid the job correctly and our air tested clean."
State Farm, Farmers, AAA, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Chubb, Mercury, USAA, Nationwide, and more. You sign one form. We do the rest.
We dispatch 24/7 with a 45-minute target ETA from our Woodland Hills headquarters to most of Los Angeles County, with response under 90 minutes across Ventura and Orange County. A live dispatcher — not a call center — answers (818) 486-6546.
Emergency stabilization, containment with HEPA negative-air, source removal, surface cleaning by residue type, HVAC decontamination, odor neutralization (thermal fogging, hydroxyl, or ozone), content pack-out and cleaning, and licensed reconstruction. All steps follow ANSI/IICRC S700:2025.
Light surface jobs run $1,500–$5,000. Moderate multi-room work with HVAC decontamination runs $5,000–$25,000. Severe whole-structure wildfire damage with reconstruction runs $25,000–$100,000+. The U.S. national average in 2024 was about $12,900.
Most California homeowner policies cover smoke damage, including wildfire smoke that drifted into a home that didn't burn. We document the loss, bill your insurer directly, and handle adjuster communication. Coverage limits depend on your specific policy.
A single-room light job takes 1–3 days. Multi-room moderate jobs run 1–3 weeks. Whole-structure wildfire restoration plus reconstruction runs 1–6 months depending on scope and permit timelines.
No. Wiping soot before dry sponging smears it permanently into paint and finishes. DIY also aerosolizes PM2.5 and toxic residue into your lungs. Insurance often denies claims where the homeowner attempted cleaning. Call a certified firm first.
Thermal fogging vaporizes a heated deodorizer that follows the exact paths smoke took. Ozone oxidizes odor molecules and is highly effective on protein fires, but it's toxic — full evacuation is required. Hydroxyl generators are safe to run with occupants in place and work well for most residential smoke odors.
Yes. We have active and completed jobs in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Topanga, Altadena, Pasadena, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Agoura Hills, Ventura, and Ojai from all four fires. Wildfire smoke requires hazmat-aware containment, HEPA filtration, and lab-tested clearance.
Yes. Soot contains particles of incomplete combustion (PIC) including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride, asbestos, VOCs, and known carcinogens. The EPA reports fine particles worsen respiratory issues in children, seniors, and people with pre-existing conditions.
Yes. Instant Restoration is a CSLB-licensed General Contractor, license #1078518. We are an IICRC Certified Firm with FSRT and OCT technicians, HAZWOPER-trained, and ANSI/IICRC S700:2025-compliant. Verify us at cslb.ca.gov.
24/7 emergency response. 45-minute target ETA across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange County. CSLB #1078518. IICRC Certified. ANSI/IICRC S700:2025-compliant. 108 five-star Google reviews. We bill your insurance directly. Locally owned Woodland Hills contractor — first knock to final coat of paint.
Call (818) 486-6546Authoritative references: IICRC S700 · EPA Wildfire Smoke · CDPH Wildfire Ash Safety · CSLB License Verification.