Fire Damage Restoration Cost: $3,083 to $52,031 (2026 Data)

What to do in the first 48 hours after a fire

1. Fire still burning, or smoke coming back? Get everyone out and call 911.
2. Wait for the all clear. The Red Cross says to stay out of a fire-damaged home until local fire authorities declare it safe, and not to cross colored tape on doors or windows.
3. Check outside first. Look for downed power lines and damaged gas lines. If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave and call the fire department once you are safely away. FEMA says to keep the main power and water off until a professional says they are safe.
4. Photograph everything before cleanup. The Red Cross says not to throw damaged items away until an inventory has been taken.
5. Call your insurer. FEMA says to call your agent as soon as possible. The Red Cross notes the agent may help with immediate living expenses. Save every receipt.
6. Secure the house. Broken windows and roof openings let in weather. The Red Cross says your insurer can help secure the property, so ask on the first call.
7. Throw out food and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot, per the Red Cross.
8. Call a restoration company within 48 hours, HomeGuide says.

Is it an emergency? What cannot wait after a fire

The fire itself is a 911 call; after the fire department releases the house, three things are urgent: securing it, drying it and calling your insurer.

• Secure it now. Broken windows and roof openings let weather in. The Red Cross says your insurer can help secure the property, so ask on the first call.
• Dry it fast. Firefighting water soaks walls and floors, and HomeAdvisor says drying them and running dehumidifiers is what prevents mold.
• Gas smell or hissing: leave and call the fire department from a safe place, the Red Cross says.
• Paperwork: photograph first and do not sign an assignment of benefits or any contract that hands your claim to a contractor.

How much does fire damage restoration cost

Fire damage restoration averages $27,477 nationally in HomeAdvisor's June 2026 data, with a normal range of $3,083 to $52,031. Angi, which shares that data set, says a small cooking fire can cost as little as $800 and a major fire up to $180,000. Angi's prices by what burned run from $9,000 to $14,000 for standard combustible fires to $12,000 to $23,000 for electrical fires. HomeGuide's December 2025 guide puts the average job lower, at $8,000 to $18,000.

National figures for cleanup and restoration. Angi and HomeAdvisor are the same company and publish the same average. Rebuilding a total loss is priced separately below.

Angi says labor is 50% to 70% of the total, and about 33.9% of its projects involve smoke damage without much fire damage. For smoke-only jobs, see smoke damage restoration.

Fire damage restoration cost by house size

Both guides price restoration at about $4 to $7 per square foot of affected home.

Fire damage cleanup cost by type of damage

A fire leaves three kinds of damage: water from the hoses, soot on every surface, and smoke odor in everything porous. HomeAdvisor prices each separately:

HomeGuide's December 2025 figures: smoke and soot removal $500 to $5,000, ozone shock treatment $300 to $1,000, thermal fogging $200 to $600 per floor, duct cleaning $300 to $1,000.

The water is a water damage job of its own. HomeAdvisor says it means drying walls, floors and foundations and running dehumidifiers to prevent mold, and Angi says carpet, drywall and insulation that cannot be saved come out. Fast drying limits mold; water damage restoration explains the drying steps. Dry soot costs less to clean than oily soot, per HomeAdvisor.

What fire damage restoration includes

Fire damage restoration covers five jobs, in HomeGuide's description: debris and odor removal, cleaning or discarding contents, water extraction and drying, smoke and soot cleaning of walls, ceilings and belongings, and repairing or replacing building materials. HomeGuide suggests starting with a structural inspection to confirm the house is safe to clean, then a detailed written estimate, and comparing 2 to 3 companies.

The IICRC published ANSI/IICRC S700, its Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration, as a First Edition in 2025. It covers fire residues and odors in the building, its HVAC system and its contents, but not rebuilding or wildfires. HomeAdvisor says minor restorations take about one week and extensive damage several months.

What to throw away after smoke or fire damage

Throw away food, drinks and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot, the Red Cross says, but photograph and list them first: it also says not to discard damaged goods until an inventory has been taken for your insurer.

If a heat-exposed medicine treats a life-threatening condition and cannot be replaced right away, the FDA says it may be used if it looks unchanged, then replaced as soon as possible.

Most other belongings are cleaned or listed rather than thrown out on the spot; HomeGuide lists cleaning or discarding contents as part of restoration. Ask the company which items it will clean, deodorize or list for replacement, and see smoke damage restoration for odor treatments.

Fire damage repair: rebuilding costs

Rebuilding is priced separately from cleanup, and it is where large losses get expensive. HomeGuide puts partial repairs at about $50 per square foot and a total-loss rebuild at $180 to $450 or more per square foot.

Repair costs after the cleanup. Your adjuster's estimate should list these lines.

FEMA says to keep the main power off until a professional says it is safe. For burned wiring, see electrical repair, and the panel replacement cost page if the panel was damaged. A burned roof is priced on roof replacement cost, and a gutted kitchen on kitchen remodel cost. The home repair costs table has the other trades.

Fire damage and insurance: what to do before you sign

Call your insurer before you sign anything with a restoration company. HomeAdvisor says to review coverage and confirm the insurer's requirements before work begins, and HomeGuide suggests asking each company whether it bills your insurer directly.

• Do not sign over your claim. Florida voids assignments of post-loss benefits on policies issued on or after January 1, 2023 (s. 627.7152). In any state, read every work authorization for language that assigns your claim or payments to the contractor.
• Ask what you owe if the claim is denied. Get the answer in writing before you sign a work authorization.
• No blank spaces, no full payment up front. Do not sign a contract with blanks in it, and pay as work is done.

Public adjusters: fees and cancel rights

A public adjuster is a licensed adjuster you hire, for a percentage of the claim, to negotiate with your insurer. The fees are capped by state law in Florida and Texas:

TDI says a public adjuster on your claim cannot act as your contractor, and contractors cannot advertise that they will handle your claim.

Florida public adjusters may solicit only Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. State rules for disaster contractors are on storm damage contractor laws by state.

Fire damage restoration near me: what to ask

• Do you follow the IICRC S700 fire standard? It is the industry's fire and smoke restoration standard, first published in 2025.
• License and insurance: ask for the license number and proof of insurance, and check them with your state. Ask which license the rebuilding work needs.
• Is the estimate itemized? Cleanup, water drying, contents, odor treatment and repairs should be separate lines.
• How will you treat the odor? If the answer is ozone, ask how long the house must stay empty; smoke damage restoration has the EPA's ozone warning.
• Do you bill the insurer directly, and what do I owe if the claim is denied?
• Who handles contents? Get the price for cleaning and storing belongings in writing.

If smoke is the main problem, read smoke damage restoration before you book. If the hoses left standing water and you are worried about mold, mold remediation covers the next step. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job. How calls work.

Questions people ask

How much does fire damage restoration cost?

HomeAdvisor's 2026 national average is $27,477, with a normal range of $3,083 to $52,031. HomeGuide puts the average job at $8,000 to $18,000, or $4 to $7 per square foot.

How much does fire damage cleanup cost per square foot?

HomeGuide and Angi both put it at $4 to $7 per square foot, and Angi's average is $5.50. A 2,000 square foot home runs $8,000 to $14,000 in both guides.

When can I go back into my house after a fire?

Only when local fire authorities say it is safe, per the Red Cross. Do not cross colored tape on the doors, and if you smell gas, leave and call the fire department from outside.

Should I call my insurance company or a restoration company first?

Call your insurer as soon as possible, FEMA says, and photograph the damage first. You can call a restoration company the same day, but do not sign an assignment of benefits or any contract that hands your claim to the contractor.

How long does fire damage restoration take?

HomeAdvisor says about one week for minor restorations and several months for extensive damage. HomeGuide says to hire a company within 48 hours of the fire.

How much does a public adjuster charge?

Texas caps fees at 10% of what the insurer pays. Florida caps them at 10% for claims in the year after a declared emergency and 20% otherwise, with no fee on money the insurer paid before you signed.

Does insurance pay for fire damage restoration?

Check your policy and call your insurer first. HomeAdvisor says to contact your carrier early and confirm its requirements before work begins, and HomeGuide says to document every damaged item and its replacement cost.

What should you throw away after a fire?

Food, drinks and medicine exposed to heat, smoke or soot (American Red Cross); refrigerated food that smoke fumes reached and canned food that sat near the heat (USDA); and medicine exposed to high heat or unsafe water (FDA). Photograph and list everything for your insurer before it goes out.

Sources (12)

Show

1. HomeAdvisor: How Much Does Fire and Smoke Remediation Cost? (2026-06-20)
2. Angi: How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration Cost? (2026-09-25)
3. HomeGuide: How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration Cost? (2026) (2025-12-01)
4. American Red Cross (North Texas): What to Do After a Home Fire (2024-01-24)
5. American Red Cross: Checking Your Home After a Fire (checked 2026-10-11)
6. FEMA: FEMA Offers Tips for Safely Returning to a Fire or Flood Damaged Home (2024-07-13)
7. IICRC: ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration (checked 2026-10-11)
8. Florida Statutes: s. 627.7152 Assignment agreements (checked 2026-10-11)
9. Florida Statutes: s. 626.854 Public adjusters (checked 2026-10-11)
10. Texas Department of Insurance: Public Adjusters: What to Know Before You Hire One (2025-03-25)
11. USDA FSIS: Fires and food safety (checked 2026-10-11)
12. FDA: Safe drug use after a natural disaster (2026-09-01)