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Fire and smoke

Fire and smoke damage restoration in Wisconsin

After the fire department leaves, the damage keeps working. Soot is acidic, smoke odor spreads through the house, and water from the hoses needs drying. Here's what happens next.

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Local Water & Mold is a referral service. A participating local company answers the call and does the work.

How the work goes

What a professional fire and smoke restoration job involves

  1. 01

    Secure the property

    Board up openings, tarp the roof, and protect the house from weather and entry.

  2. 02

    Water removal

    Extract and dry water used to put out the fire before it adds mold to the list.

  3. 03

    Soot and smoke cleaning

    Dry-sponge and clean soot from surfaces, clean or replace contents, and clean HVAC ducts.

  4. 04

    Odor removal and rebuild

    Treat lingering odor, seal surfaces that hold it, then repair or rebuild damaged areas.

The first 24 hours after a fire

  1. Wait for the all-clear. Don't go back in until the fire department says it's safe. Ask for the incident or report number.
  2. Call your insurer and ask about emergency board-up, additional living expenses and advances for immediate needs.
  3. Get help if you need a place to stay. The American Red Cross helps families after home fires with shelter, food and other urgent needs.
  4. Don't turn on the furnace or air conditioning, and don't wipe soot. Both spread damage.
  5. Discard exposed food, drinks and medicine.
  6. Photograph everything before cleanup starts, room by room.

Why smoke damage spreads so far

Smoke moves with air pressure and heat, into closets, cabinets, attic space and wall cavities. Rooms the fire never touched can need cleaning, and the HVAC system can carry soot to every vent. Soot residue is also acidic and can etch metal, glass and stone the longer it sits, which is why cleaning should start within days.

Don't forget the water

Firefighting puts a lot of water into a house. That water soaks drywall, insulation and flooring and can lead to mold within a couple of days, so drying is part of fire restoration from day one.

Questions

Fire and smoke restoration FAQ

What should I do first after a house fire?
Don't go back in until the fire department says it's safe, and ask for the incident report number. Call your insurer about board-up and additional living expenses, arrange a safe place to stay, don't run the furnace or air conditioning, and photograph everything before cleanup.
Can smoke damage be cleaned, or does everything have to be replaced?
Many hard surfaces and contents can be cleaned if work starts within days, because soot is acidic and etches surfaces over time. Porous items that absorbed heavy smoke, like insulation, some upholstery and mattresses, are often replaced.
How much does fire and smoke restoration cost?
Published 2026 national cost guides put fire and smoke restoration at about $2,900 to $38,000, averaging near $20,000. The cost depends on how far smoke traveled and how much water firefighting left behind.
Why does my house still smell like smoke after cleaning?
Smoke odor settles into porous materials, wall cavities and ductwork. Professional odor removal cleans or seals those surfaces and treats the air, and the HVAC system usually needs cleaning too.

Read next

Working with your insurerWisconsin claim deadlines apply to fire tooWhat fire restoration costsNational 2026 rangesPrintable checklistFor the first day after

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