Fire Damage Restoration in West Los Angeles
Fire damage restoration is the cleanup, drying and repair of a home after a fire. Absolute Maintenance & Consulting removes the water used to put the fire out, cleans smoke and soot, dries the structure and rebuilds what can’t be saved. We work in West Los Angeles, Culver City and nearby Westside communities.
Call (310) 678-4345 to schedule a fire damage inspection.
Licensed California contractor, CSLB #998184 · IICRC-certified firm · 4.8 stars, 180+ reviews across Google, Yelp, and BBB
Quick links: What it covers What to do now Our process Cost FAQs
The fire is out. Now the water and soot have to go.
What Fire Damage Restoration Covers
Fire damage restoration covers three jobs: cleaning smoke and soot, removing and drying the firefighting water, and rebuilding what came out. Most house fires need all three, and the order matters, because nothing should be rebuilt over wet or sooty material.
Smoke Damage Restoration
Smoke damage restoration cleans soot and smoke residue and removes the materials that hold smoke odor. Smoke doesn’t stay in the burned room. It drifts into closets, cabinets, attics and wall cavities, and soot stains deeper the longer it sits. The smoke damage restoration page covers what can be cleaned and what has to go.
Water Damage From Firefighting
Water damage from firefighting is the soaking left by the hoses that put the fire out, and it often reaches more of the house than the fire did. Hose water soaks floors, walls and ceilings, runs into the rooms below and carries soot and ash with it, so wet materials need cleaning or removal, not just drying. Getting that water out before mold starts is the job of our water damage from firefighting service.
Repairs and Rebuilding
A fire-damaged house can usually be repaired when the framing is sound. Once the building is clean and dry, we rebuild what came out: drywall, insulation, flooring, trim and paint. The roof and window openings left by the fire and the firefighters are repaired as part of the rebuild, so the building sheds weather again.
Commercial and Multi-Unit Buildings
We also restore fire damage in condos, apartment buildings and offices, where water and smoke from one unit can reach the units below and beside it. Owners, boards and insurers then need a separate record for each unit, and we keep one from the first visit. The commercial fire damage restoration page covers how we plan that work around tenants.
What to Do After a House Fire
Stay out of the house until the fire department says it’s safe, then call your insurance company and call us at (310) 678-4345. Until we arrive:
Do:
- Take photos and video of every room before anything is moved or thrown away.
- Move undamaged belongings out of wet or smoky rooms.
- Open windows for fresh air if it’s safe and the weather is dry.
- Keep receipts for anything you buy while you’re out of the house.
Don’t:
- Don’t turn on power, lights or ceiling fans until the utility or an electrician says it’s safe.
- Don’t wipe soot off walls, ceilings or furniture. It smears and sinks in.
- Don’t run the heating or air conditioning, which can spread soot through the ducts.
- Don’t eat food or take medicine that was near the heat, smoke or water.
- Don’t wait for wet materials to dry on their own.
Wet materials are how a fire turns into a mold problem. Firefighting water leaves drywall, insulation and framing wet, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Our post-fire mold prevention work targets those wet areas before growth starts.
Don't wipe it, don't wait on it. Call for a fire damage inspection.
Our Fire Damage Restoration Process
Our fire damage restoration process has six steps: water first, smoke second, rebuild last.
1. Call (310) 678-4345 once the fire department clears the building. We’ll ask how big the fire was, which rooms took water and whether the power is off.
2. We inspect every room and map moisture with meters and thermal imaging. Walls and floors that look dry often aren’t.
3. Water extraction comes first: standing water, then soaked materials that can’t be saved. Structural drying continues until moisture readings are back to normal.
4. Soot gets cleaned off every surface that can be saved. Charred drywall and insulation that holds smoke odor come out.
5. Rebuilding comes last, over dry, clean framing: drywall, insulation, flooring, trim and paint, plus repairs to the roof and window openings.
6. A final moisture check closes the job. You get the photos, readings and written findings for your insurance file.
How long fire damage restoration takes depends on how much water was used, how far the smoke spread and how much has to be rebuilt. A smoky kitchen is a shorter job than a house that took water on two floors. Drying is done when the readings say so, not on a set date. After the inspection, we can tell you which parts will take longest.
How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration Cost?
Fire damage restoration has no set price: it’s quoted in a written estimate after an inspection, and the inspection for one home costs $375 to $775.
| Inspection | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Inspection | $375 to $575 | About 15 to 20 minutes with an infrared camera; price depends on size and time |
| Detailed Inspection | $575 to $775 | A more in-depth investigation of up to about 1 hour, for one household or unit up to 3,000 sq. ft. |
| Multi-Unit / Larger Property Inspection | $975 to $1,500 | Up to 5 units or properties, 3,500 to 10,000 sq. ft. |
The estimate depends on how far fire, smoke and firefighting water spread, how much material can be cleaned instead of replaced, and how much has to be rebuilt. The written scope lists the water removal, drying, cleaning and repairs before work starts, so you and your adjuster are looking at the same job. Most homeowners policies cover fire, including the smoke and water damage from putting it out, but limits and exclusions vary and your insurer decides coverage.
Water testing isn’t included in inspection prices. When we do the work, the fee for a Basic or Detailed Inspection is credited toward the cost of the work. Multi-Unit / Larger Property Inspection fees and water testing fees are not credited.
Call (310) 678-4345 to schedule an inspection and get a written estimate.
Get a written fire damage scope you and your adjuster can both work from.
Why Choose Absolute for Fire Damage Restoration
Absolute gives you one licensed, IICRC-certified contractor for the firefighting water, the smoke cleanup and the rebuild.
Water Damage Is Our Specialty
We’re a water damage restoration company that specializes in finding and repairing leaks from exterior sources. Firefighting water gets the same moisture mapping and drying we give any leak. We repair the roof and window openings the same way we fix any exterior leak.
Documentation for Your Insurance Claim
We document fire damage the way an adjuster needs it: photos, moisture readings and written findings from the first visit to the final dry check. Fire claims need the same paper trail as water claims, which our water damage insurance claims page walks through.
Licensed, Certified and Experienced
We’re a licensed California contractor (CSLB #998184), an IICRC-certified firm (#70018676) and a MICRO Certified Firm, with more than 30 years in business. Our founder, Cameron Figgins, has more than 30 years of hands-on experience, and our work includes a $1.2 million project at San Francisco State University.
Where We Provide Fire Damage Restoration
We provide fire damage restoration in West Los Angeles, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Bel Air. Homes on the brush-covered hillsides of Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Bel Air can take in wildfire smoke through vents and gaps even when the flames never reach them, especially when Santa Ana winds are blowing. See all the areas we serve.
Licensed, IICRC-certified fire damage restoration in West LA and Culver City.
Fire Damage Restoration FAQs
Is it safe to stay in a house after a fire?
Not until it’s been checked. Smoke residue, soot and wet, weakened ceilings can make a home unsafe even after a small fire. Follow the fire department’s instructions, and don’t turn the power back on until the utility or an electrician clears it. If you’re unsure, call us and we’ll help you decide which rooms to avoid.
Why did firefighters break my windows and cut holes in the roof?
Firefighters break windows and cut roof openings to let heat and smoke out and to reach the fire. Venting helps them work and can limit how far the fire spreads. Those openings are part of the fire damage, and we repair them during the rebuild, once the structure behind them is dry, so the roof and walls shed rain again.
Can smoke damage be cleaned, or does everything have to be replaced?
Much of it can be cleaned. Hard surfaces like tile, metal and sealed wood often clean up well if soot comes off early. Porous materials such as insulation, carpet pad and some drywall absorb smoke and odor and usually need replacement. We test-clean first, so you only replace what can’t be saved.
Does homeowners insurance pay for somewhere to stay after a fire?
Many homeowners policies include loss-of-use coverage, often called additional living expenses, which helps pay for temporary housing while a home is repaired after a covered fire. Limits and time periods vary by policy. Ask your adjuster early and keep every receipt. Your insurer decides what’s covered.
Book a Fire Damage Inspection
Call (310) 678-4345 or schedule an inspection online. The sooner the water is out, the more of your home we can save.