Fire Damage Restoration San Diego: $3,083 to $52,031 (2026)
Fire damage restoration in San Diego typically costs $3,083 to $52,031, HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range (average $27,477), since no San Diego price is published.
Call your insurer first, photograph everything, and request the San Diego Fire-Rescue incident report through the City's NextRequest portal for the claim.
Key numbers
- Average $27,477Fire and smoke restoration, nationalHomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 (same data as Angi)
- $8,000 to $18,000 on averageFire damage restoration, nationalHomeGuide, Dec 2025
- $6,000 to $10,5001,500 sq ft home, nationalHomeGuide, Dec 2025
Fire is out and the house smells of smoke in San Diego? Call the fire damage line and say which rooms were hit.
| Job or rate | Published cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fire and smoke restoration, national | Average $27,477; most $3,083 to $52,031 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 (same data as Angi) |
| Fire damage restoration, national | $8,000 to $18,000 on average; $4 to $7 per sq ft | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| 1,500 sq ft home, national | $6,000 to $10,500 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| 2,000 sq ft home, national | $8,000 to $14,000 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
| Smoke damage, national | $200 to $1,200 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Soot removal, national | $2,000 to $6,000 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Rewiring, national | $900 to $3,000 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Structural inspection, national | $350 to $900 | HomeGuide, Dec 2025 |
All figures are national; no San Diego fire restoration price is published. Angi and HomeAdvisor are one company and publish the same figures.
Do this now: the first hours after a San Diego house fire
- Stay out until fire officials say it is safe, the Red Cross says. Do not walk past colored tape on doors or windows.
- Check outside first for loose power lines or damaged gas lines. Smell gas or hear hissing: leave and call 911 from a safe place.
- Downed line? Stay away, call 911, and report it to SDG&E at sdge.com/report-outage.
- Do not reset tripped breakers. The Red Cross says to call an electrician; FEMA says keep power and water off until they are checked.
- Photograph the damage and call your insurer. Do not sign an assignment of benefits or any contract that hands your claim to a contractor. FEMA says to call your agent as soon as possible and photograph damaged items.
- Get the fire report. San Diego Fire-Rescue says you may need one for insurance; request it through the City's NextRequest portal.
Fire damage restoration in San Diego is cleaning soot and smoke, drying water from firefighting, removing ruined materials and rebuilding after a house fire. HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range is $3,083 to $52,031.
Is it urgent? Why the first 48 hours matter
Restoration is urgent: HomeGuide says to hire a company as soon as possible, usually within 48 hours of the fire. Water from the hoses soaks walls, floors and insulation, and HomeAdvisor says drying and dehumidifying are needed to prevent mold. Ask about securing the house the same day; the Red Cross says your insurer can help secure the property.
- Same day: board-up or tarping of open windows and roof, water extraction, and a list of what must be thrown out.
- First week: soot cleanup, odor treatment and an itemized estimate for your insurer. HomeAdvisor says minor jobs take about a week and extensive damage several months.
San Diego fire reports for your insurance claim
San Diego Fire-Rescue says that after a fire you may need a report of the emergency for insurance purposes, and that copies are requested through the City's NextRequest portal (sandiego.nextrequest.com). The department does not publish a fee or a turnaround time, so request it early. The same page points residents to the Red Guide to Recovery for organizing the paperwork.
Rebuilding in San Diego: roof and wildfire rules
Rebuilt roofs follow the City's Information Bulletin 123: every replacement, alteration or repair needs a Class A roof covering, and if more than 25% of the roof is redone within 12 months the whole roof must be a Class A assembly. Homes in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone built on or after August 27, 2009 carry added wildland-urban interface rules. The State Fire Marshal released updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for local areas in four phases from February 10 to March 24, 2025; check your address on its map viewer. Roof details are on roof repair in San Diego.
Wildfire weather also cuts power. In the January 2025 Santa Ana wind event SDG&E shut off power to over 7,000 customers, with up to 56,484 potentially affected, ABC 10News reported. Once you are back in, San Diego Fire-Rescue has offered a Home Risk Assessment of defensible space, including Zone 0, since July 1, 2025, for a $163 fee. FEMA also says to check with the building department about permits before repairs start.
Insurer called and photos taken? Call the fire damage line and ask whether the company does board-up, water drying and smoke cleanup.
| What | San Diego | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fire report | Request through the City's NextRequest portal; no fee or turnaround published | San Diego Fire-Rescue |
| Roof rebuild | Class A covering; whole roof Class A if over 25% redone in 12 months | City of San Diego IB 123 |
| Wildfire zones | 2025 local maps released Feb 10 to Mar 24, 2025 | CAL FIRE OSFM |
| Power shutoffs | Jan 2025: over 7,000 SDG&E customers cut off; up to 56,484 potentially affected | ABC 10News San Diego |
| Home risk check | $163 Home Risk Assessment, since July 1, 2025 | San Diego Fire-Rescue |
| Complaints | CSLB first for licensed contractors; County DA online; status line (619) 531-4070 | CSLB; San Diego County DA |
San Diego rules, programs and numbers for this job, from City, County, state, utility, Census and NOAA pages.
Questions to ask a San Diego fire restoration company
- Do you do board-up, water drying, soot cleanup and rebuilding, or only part of it?
- What is your CSLB license number for the rebuild? California requires one for jobs of $1,000 or more, CSLB says.
- Will you give me an itemized written estimate I can send to my insurer, and do you bill the insurer directly?
- Can I see proof of insurance before work starts?
- Does any contract you want me to sign assign my insurance benefits to you? If so, do not sign it.
More San Diego restoration pages
Smoke odor only: smoke damage restoration. Water from firefighting: water damage restoration in San Diego and mold removal in San Diego. Wiring checks: electrician in San Diego. National detail: fire damage restoration cost. Compare fire damage restoration in Los Angeles and fire damage restoration in Phoenix. Calls to the line go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).
More help in San Diego
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- AC installation in San Diego
- Water damage restoration in San Diego
- Mold removal in San Diego
- Roof repair in San Diego
- Electrical repair in San Diego
- Garage door repair in San Diego
- Window replacement in San Diego
- Home repair in San Diego
Fire damage restoration in other cities
Questions people ask
How much does fire damage restoration cost in San Diego?
No San Diego price is published. HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range is $3,083 to $52,031 with a $27,477 average, and HomeGuide puts most jobs at $8,000 to $18,000, or $4 to $7 a square foot.
How do I get a fire report in San Diego?
San Diego Fire-Rescue says to request it through the City's NextRequest portal, sandiego.nextrequest.com. No fee or turnaround is published.
What should I do first after a house fire?
Stay out until fire officials say it is safe, check for downed lines and gas, do not reset breakers, photograph the damage and call your insurer. Never sign a contract that hands your claim to a contractor.
Does a rebuilt roof in San Diego have to be Class A?
Yes. The City's IB 123 requires a Class A covering on every roof repair or replacement, and a full Class A roof if more than 25% is redone in 12 months.
How fast should fire restoration start?
HomeGuide says to hire a restoration company as soon as possible, usually within 48 hours, because water from firefighting can lead to mold.
In San Diego after a fire? Call your insurer, then call the fire damage line and ask about same-day board-up.
- 1Call the line
- 2It rings a local company
- 3They give you the price
Before you book
- License numberAsk for it, then check it with the state board.
- Written priceGet the visit fee and the job price in writing before work starts.
- Proof of insuranceAsk for the certificate, especially for roof, tree and electrical work.
Sources (16)
- HomeAdvisor: How Much Does Fire and Smoke Remediation Cost? (2026-06-20)
- Angi: How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration Cost? (2026-09-25)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration Cost? (2026) (2025-12-01)
- American Red Cross (North Texas): What to Do After a Home Fire (2024-01-24)
- American Red Cross: Checking Your Home After a Fire (checked 2026-10-11)
- FEMA: FEMA Offers Tips for Safely Returning to a Fire or Flood Damaged Home (2024-07-13)
- San Diego Fire-Rescue: Victim Resources (checked 2026-10-11)
- San Diego Fire-Rescue: Records and Forms (checked 2026-10-11)
- City of San Diego DSD: Information Bulletin 123, Minimum Standards for Renewal of Roof Covering (2026-09)
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal: Fire Hazard Severity Zones (checked 2026-10-11)
- ABC 10News San Diego: Over 7,000 SDG&E customers without power as fire threat persists (2025-01-09)
- SDG&E: Report an outage (checked 2026-10-11)
- San Diego Fire-Rescue: Wildfire Preparedness (checked 2026-10-11)
- CSLB Industry Bulletin 24-07: License Requirement for Minor Work Increases from $500 to $1,000 (2024-12-31)
- CSLB: Filing a Complaint (checked 2026-10-11)
- San Diego County DA: Consumer Protection Unit (checked 2026-10-11)
Call the fire damage line in San Diego
Have the address, which rooms were affected, whether the fire department has released the house, and your insurer's name if you are filing. Take photos first. The company will quote its inspection fee before work starts.
Free call to an independent company in your area that takes this kind of work.