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

Restoration rows are national figures; no publisher lists a Houston-only price. The record fees are from the Houston Fire Department.

Do this now: after a fire in a Houston home

1. Stay out until fire officials say it is safe to go in, the Red Cross says. Do not cross tape over doors or windows.
2. Check outside first for loose power lines and damaged gas lines. Downed lines: stay 35 feet away and call CenterPoint at 713-207-2222. Gas smell or hissing: leave and call 911 or CenterPoint's gas line, 713-659-2111, from outside.
3. Do not reset tripped breakers, and stay out from under a sagging ceiling, which is likely waterlogged.
4. Photograph every room and damaged item before cleanup, and do not throw things away until they are on an inventory.
5. Call your insurer to start the claim. Do not sign any contract that hands your claim to a contractor.
6. Throw away food, drinks and medicine that were exposed to heat, smoke or soot.

Is it urgent? Why the first 48 hours matter

Restoration is time-sensitive: HomeGuide says to hire a restoration company as soon as possible, usually within 48 hours of the fire. Firefighting leaves water in walls and floors, and the EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to keep mold from growing. Once firefighters leave, protecting the house against further damage from weather, theft or vandalism is the owner's responsibility, the Seattle Fire Department's after-fire guide says, so boarding up and tarping often come first.

How to get a Houston Fire Department report

A Houston fire record typically costs $1.44 when requested online through the City's public information portal, the Houston Fire Department says. You can also go in person to 500 Jefferson, Suite 1970, where a fire record is $12.66, payable by exact cash, check or money order; bring the date, time and location of the fire. Written requests go to HFD Records, 500 Jefferson, Suite 1900, Houston, TX 77002, by email to [email protected] or by fax to 832-394-6883.

Local contacts for fire reports and utilities in Houston, from official pages.

If investigators are still looking at the cause, the department lists its Arson Division at 832-395-8542 and 713-247-8900 for fires under investigation. Request it early so you have it when the claim starts.

What fire restoration covers

Restoration covers debris and odor removal, cleaning or discarding contents, drying out water, smoke and soot cleaning, and repairing or replacing building materials, HomeGuide says. HomeAdvisor adds that soot cleanup often includes duct cleaning and deodorizing, and that dry soot costs less to clean than oily soot. The cleaning standard for the industry is ANSI/IICRC S700, first published in 2025. Smoke-only jobs are on smoke damage restoration.

Insurance and public adjusters in Texas

Call your insurer as soon as possible and photograph damaged items, FEMA says. The Texas Department of Insurance says a public adjuster can charge up to 10% of what the insurer pays, that you can ask for a fixed fee and cancel within 72 hours of signing, that a public adjuster on your claim cannot act as your contractor, and that contractors cannot advertise that they will handle your claim. Never sign an assignment of benefits or any contract that hands your claim to a contractor.

Permits and rebuilding in Houston

FEMA says to check with the local building department about permits before repairs. In Houston, the Residential Repair Permit covers replacing or repairing structural members and other building elements, with no plan review when the materials match, a 10 business day processing time and a $33.56 admin fee; a burned roof that needs a re-roof uses the separate residential roofing permit. Fire-damaged wiring is a job for an electrician in Houston. HomeGuide puts partial rebuilding at about $50 per square foot.

More Houston pages: water damage restoration in Houston and mold removal in Houston. The national fire damage restoration cost guide has prices by fire type. Compare fire damage restoration in San Antonio and fire damage restoration in Austin, or see home repair costs.