House fire just out? Here's what to do right now.
- Wait for the fire department to formally clear the structure before re-entering.
- Don't sleep in or work extended hours in a smoke-damaged home — smoke residue is carcinogenic.
- Shut off your HVAC at the thermostat to stop soot from migrating through ducts to clean rooms.
- Don't wipe soot off walls or contents — wet soot smears and pushes deeper, dry soot needs specialized chemistry.
- Photograph every room and damaged item before moving anything (insurance needs this documentation).
- Call 205-452-9543 — we board up your property and start containment within 90 minutes.
Our processHow we handle fire & smoke in Birmingham
Every fire & smoke job we run in the Birmingham metro follows the same documented sequence — same equipment, same IICRC standard, same paperwork. Here's what to expect from the moment you call.
01
Emergency Board-Up & Secure
We board up broken windows, tarp the roof, and lock down the structure inside 90 minutes so the property is safe from weather, looters, and further damage while your insurance carrier opens the claim.
02
Smoke & Soot Assessment
We test soot type — wet (low-temperature, oily), dry (high-temperature, powdery), or protein (kitchen) — because each one needs a different cleaning chemistry. We map smoke migration through HVAC ducts and identify what's salvageable.
03
Cleaning, Deodorization & Contents
HEPA vacuuming, dry-sponge wipe-down, chemical soot removal, and thermal fogging or hydroxyl generation neutralize odor at the source — not just masking it. Salvageable contents are packed out, cleaned at our facility, and returned.
04
Clearance & Final Walkthrough
We confirm soot and smoke residue are removed, odor is neutralized, and the air is clean. We coordinate with your adjuster on Xactimate-aligned scope, walk you through every cleaned area, and don't close the job until you're satisfied.
Every fire & smoke job includes
- 24/7 emergency dispatch and on-site arrival
- Emergency board-up, tarping, and securement
- Soot identification (wet, dry, protein)
- HEPA air scrubbing and thermal fogging
- Hydroxyl and ozone odor neutralization
- Contents pack-out, cleaning, and inventory
- Smoke residue removal from HVAC ducts
- Direct insurance billing and Xactimate scope
- Air-quality clearance and odor verification before we close out
Why Smoke Damage Is Often Worse Than the Fire
Fire damages what it touches. Smoke damages what it reaches — which is almost everything. Within minutes of ignition, smoke and soot migrate through HVAC ducts, settle into porous materials like drywall and upholstery, and bond chemically with surfaces. The longer it sits, the harder it is to clean. That's why our first job is containment: shutting down the HVAC, sealing affected zones, and starting HEPA air scrubbing within hours of the fire being out.
The other reality is that soot is corrosive. Acidic deposits from synthetic materials etch glass, tarnish metal, and yellow plastics in days. We've seen claims where the fire itself caused $20,000 in damage and unaddressed soot caused $40,000 more — because no one stabilized the property in the first 48 hours. Don't wait. The moment your fire department clears the scene, call us.
Kitchen Fires, Electrical Fires, and Puffbacks
Most of the residential fire calls we run in Birmingham come from kitchens — grease, unattended burners, or oven flare-ups. Kitchen fires leave protein soot, a clear film that's nearly invisible but coats every surface and produces a smell that lingers for months if not properly cleaned. We test for it and use specialized chemistry to lift it.
Electrical fires inside walls or HVAC equipment leave dry soot — powdery, easier to vacuum but more prone to airborne migration. Puffbacks from oil furnaces leave wet, oily soot that smears if you wipe it. Each one has a correct cleaning sequence; using the wrong one drives the soot deeper and makes the job harder. Our IICRC training tells us which is which inside the first inspection.
Our equipmentThe gear we bring to every Birmingham job
The right equipment matched to the right job is what separates a real restoration crew from a couple of fans and a wet-vac. Here's what shows up in our trucks for fire & smoke.
HEPA Air Scrubbers
99.97% filtration at 0.3μm. Run continuously during cleanup to remove airborne soot, VOCs, and combustion particulates so the rest of the home stays safe to occupy.
Hydroxyl Generators
Break odor molecules at the molecular level with safe UV-activated chemistry — unlike ozone, hydroxyls can run while occupants and pets are in the building. 24 to 72 hour treatment cycles.
Ozone Chambers
High-concentration ozone treatment for contents pack-out — soft goods, fabrics, clothing, and porous items go through sealed chambers that neutralize embedded smoke odor at our facility.
Thermal Foggers
Penetrating deodorization for structural smoke odor — heated mist carries odor neutralizer into walls, attics, and HVAC ducts that surface cleaning can't reach.
Chemical Dry Sponges
Specialized vulcanized rubber sponges that lift dry soot off walls and ceilings without smearing. The right tool for dry-soot fires before any wet cleaning starts.
Ultrasonic Cleaning Tanks
Sound-wave cleaning for hard contents — electronics, photo frames, china, jewelry, hardware. Removes soot from crevices that hand cleaning misses.
Thermal Imaging Camera
FLIR-grade IR to find hidden hot spots and assess hidden structural compromise behind walls and ceilings so nothing is missed during cleanup.
Negative-Air Containment
6-mil poly sheeting with zipper doors and negative-pressure machines that seal off the work zone — clean parts of your home stay clean during smoke and soot removal.
Why homeowners pick Extreme Services for fire & smoke
IICRC FSRT Certified
Our technicians hold the IICRC Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician certification — the industry standard for cleaning soot, neutralizing odor, and decontaminating fire-damaged structures.
Real Odor Elimination
We don't mask smoke with deodorant sprays. Hydroxyl generators and thermal fogging break down odor molecules in walls, fabric, and HVAC ducts so the smell is actually gone, not covered up.
Insurance Restoration Specialists
We've worked with every major carrier serving Alabama. Our Xactimate-aligned scopes and photo documentation keep your claim moving so you don't get stuck in adjuster limbo.
Insurance carriers we work with in Alabama
As an Alacrity Network preferred contractor, we bill homeowners insurance direct, prepare Xactimate-aligned scopes, and coordinate with adjusters from intake through final inspection. You stay the policyholder. We handle the paperwork.
State FarmAllstateLiberty MutualNationwideFarmersAmerican FamilyProgressiveTravelersUSAAChubbHartfordAuto-OwnersAlabama Farm BureauAlfa Insurance
Don't see your carrier? Call us — we work with every major insurer serving Alabama homeowners.
FAQFire & Smoke in Birmingham — questions answered
How quickly can you respond to fire damage in Birmingham?
We arrive within 90 minutes across the Birmingham metro for emergency board-up, tarping, and securement. Call 205-452-9543 — we answer 24/7 and dispatch a real crew, not just a voicemail.
What's the difference between dry soot, wet soot, and protein soot?
Dry soot comes from high-temperature, fast-burning fires (paper, wood) — powdery, easy to vacuum, but spreads through HVAC fast. Wet soot comes from low-temperature, smoldering fires (plastics, synthetics) — oily and smears if you wipe it. Protein soot comes from kitchen fires — nearly invisible film that coats every surface and has a strong lingering smell. Each one needs different chemistry. Using the wrong method drives the soot deeper and makes the cleanup harder.
Does homeowners insurance cover fire damage in Alabama?
Yes. Fire is a named peril in every standard Alabama homeowners policy, covering both the structure and contents up to your policy limits. Most policies also cover additional living expenses while your home is uninhabitable. We help document everything to maximize your claim and bill the carrier direct.
How do you remove smoke smell after a fire?
Real odor elimination requires breaking down odor molecules, not covering them. We HEPA-vacuum dry soot, chemically clean walls and contents, then run hydroxyl generators or thermal fogging for 24 to 72 hours depending on severity. HVAC ducts are cleaned separately because they hold smoke residue long after the rest of the house is clean.
Can my belongings be saved after a house fire?
Often yes — especially clothing, soft goods, electronics, and hard goods with light to moderate soot. We pack contents out, inventory every item, clean them at our facility with ultrasonic equipment for hard goods and ozone chambers for soft goods, and return them once the home is restored.
Can my photos and documents be saved after a fire?
Many can — especially if they weren't directly in the burn zone. We use specialized photo and document restoration techniques including freeze-drying for water-damaged items, surface cleaning for soot-coated papers, and digital scanning for irreplaceable originals. Time matters here: the longer soot sits on paper, the more acidic damage accumulates. Tell us about your photo albums and important documents at the inspection.
How long should I wait before re-entering a fire-damaged home?
Wait for the fire department to formally clear the structure — usually within hours of the fire being out. After that, only enter long enough to grab essentials (medications, ID, pet supplies) wearing an N95 mask. Don't sleep in or work extended hours in a smoke-damaged home until HEPA air scrubbing is in place. Smoke residue contains carcinogens, VOCs, and corrosive acids that damage your lungs and skin.
How long does fire and smoke cleanup take?
Minor smoke damage cleanup may take 1 to 2 weeks. Larger losses with heavy soot, structural cleaning, full deodorization, and contents pack-out can run 3 to 6 weeks depending on the size of the home and severity of the smoke. We give you a realistic timeline at inspection and keep you updated weekly.
Is smoke damage dangerous to breathe?
Yes. Smoke residue contains carcinogens, VOCs, and corrosive acids that irritate lungs and skin. Don't sleep in or work in a smoke-damaged home without HEPA air scrubbing in place. We seal off affected zones with negative-pressure containment so clean areas of the home stay clean during cleanup.
What ZIP codes around Birmingham do you cover for fire damage?
We cover the entire greater Birmingham metro 24/7: 35203, 35205, 35209, 35213, 35216, 35226, 35242, 35244 (Birmingham + Hoover), 35223 (Mountain Brook), 35243 (Vestavia Hills), 35007 (Alabaster), 35124 (Pelham), 35080 (Helena), 35173 (Trussville), 35020, 35022, 35023 (Bessemer + Hueytown), and surrounding ZIPs. If you're not sure, call us — we'll confirm coverage and dispatch.
