Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration in Philadelphia

The first 24 hours after a fire

What you do in the first day affects both the outcome and the claim. Here is the order that works.

• Do not re-enter until the fire department says the structure is safe. Ceilings, stairs and floors can fail after a fire
• Call your insurer and open the claim. Get the claim number and adjuster contact
• Call Onyx. Board-up and roof tarping close the building against weather and entry before anything else
• Do not wipe soot, run the HVAC, or turn on ceiling fans. Wiping smears soot into surfaces; the HVAC pushes it through the whole house
• Do not throw anything away yet. Damaged contents are part of the claim and need to be photographed and listed
• Photograph every room, including ones that look untouched. Smoke damage shows up later
• Arrange somewhere to stay. Most insurance policies include loss-of-use coverage; ask your adjuster

What fire damage restoration includes

Every fire is different, but the scope usually covers the following.

• Emergency board-up of windows and doors, roof tarping over burn-throughs
• Water extraction and structural drying from firefighting water
• Removal of charred framing, drywall, insulation and cabinetry
• Soot removal from walls, ceilings, ductwork and hard contents using methods matched to the soot type
• Smoke odor treatment of the structure and cavities, not just the air
• Contents inventory: what can be cleaned, what is a loss, all documented for the adjuster
• Full rebuild: framing, electrical and plumbing coordination, drywall, flooring, kitchen and bath

Kitchen fire damage

Most house fires start in the kitchen, and most kitchen fires stay small: a pan fire that scorched the cabinets and put a layer of soot on every surface. Even a small one leaves greasy protein smoke residue that smells for months if it is wiped instead of properly cleaned.

Onyx cleans soot from walls, ceilings and cabinets, removes the odor at the source, replaces what burned and repaints, often without the rest of the house being affected.

What fire damage restoration costs →

Smoke damage restoration and odor removal

Smoke damage is the part people underestimate. Soot is acidic and keeps etching metal, glass and finishes the longer it sits. Different fires leave different residue: a grease fire, a protein fire and a burning sofa all need different cleaning chemistry. Using the wrong one sets the stain.

Odor lives in porous materials and wall cavities. Air fresheners and ozone alone do not fix it. We remove or seal the materials holding the odor, clean the HVAC path, and treat the structure so the smell does not return on the first humid day.

Commercial fire cleanup

Onyx has cleaned fire and smoke damage in large retail and warehouse spaces, working from lifts to clean ceilings and deck, containing affected areas so unaffected sections could stay in use where it was safe. If you run a business, tell us your hours and what has to keep operating. We plan the work around it.

Smoke odor removal

Smoke gets into drywall, insulation, HVAC ducts and every soft material in the house. Air fresheners and ozone alone do not fix it. We remove soot, clean the surfaces, treat the materials that stay, and deal with the ductwork, so the smell is gone for good.