Fire damage restoration in Clarksville, TN is rarely just about the fire. After the flames are out, a home usually has soot on walls and ceilings, smoke odor in fabric and air ducts, and water from fire hoses or sprinklers that soaked floors and drywall. What needs to be done also depends on what burned, since plastics, wiring, furniture and kitchen grease leave different residues. Call (931) 208-8559 with your ZIP code and a description of the damage, and the call is connected to an independent local service provider who can talk through the next steps.
Safety first after a fire
Do not go back into a fire-damaged building until the fire department says it is safe. Weakened floors, hot spots and structural damage are not always visible. If the fire department shut off gas, power or water, do not turn them back on yourself. Have a qualified person check the system first. Food that was exposed to heat, smoke or fire-fighting water is usually thrown away, and your fire department or local health department can advise you if you are unsure. Keep children and pets away from soot and wet debris.
What fire, smoke and soot do to a house
Soot is not all the same. A fast, hot fire tends to leave dry, powdery soot, while a smoldering fire or a kitchen grease fire leaves greasy, sticky smears that are harder to lift. Smoke travels through the whole house, into wall cavities, attics and the heating and cooling ducts, and the smell settles into carpet, upholstery, clothing and drywall. Left alone, soot residue can stain surfaces and tarnish metal. Wiping soot with a wet cloth can smear it into porous surfaces, so avoid scrubbing walls, ceilings and fabrics until a provider has looked at them.
The water side of a fire
Fire hoses and sprinklers put a lot of water into a building, and it does not stay on the floor. It soaks carpet and pad, runs into wall cavities, drips through ceilings and sits in insulation. Water used to fight a fire often carries soot and debris, so it is treated as contaminated, and wet porous materials are more likely to be removed than dried in place. If the water is not removed and dried, mold can start in a couple of days. See emergency water removal and extraction, water mitigation and structural drying and mold remediation in Clarksville.
What fire damage restoration usually involves
Every fire is different, so the scope depends on what you see. Common parts of the work include:
- Securing the property, for example with boards or tarps over openings.
- Removing standing water and wet materials that cannot be saved.
- Removing burned or heavily smoked materials.
- Cleaning soot from walls, ceilings, hard surfaces and contents with vacuums and cleaning products suited to the type of soot.
- Treating odor, which can include cleaning the air and the duct system and sealing surfaces.
- Drying the structure with moisture readings.
- Photos and notes for your insurer.
Rebuilding, such as new drywall, flooring and cabinets, is usually done by a general contractor after cleanup and drying. Ask the provider you speak with which of these parts they handle.
Contents, documents and insurance
Make a list of damaged items as soon as you can, with photos or video. Keep receipts for emergency purchases and, if you cannot stay in the home, for temporary lodging, since many homeowners and renters policies include some coverage for that. Call your insurer first, before throwing anything out, and ask what they need from you. Papers, electronics, photographs and clothing may be cleanable, so do not assume they are lost. See water damage insurance claim help for what to document, since much of it applies to a fire as well. Check your own policy, because coverage and limits vary.
Small fires and kitchen fires
A fire does not have to be large to need cleanup. A kitchen grease fire can leave a sticky film on cabinets, walls and the ceiling well beyond the stove. Powder from a dry chemical fire extinguisher spreads into the air and settles on surfaces, and it is better left for a provider to clean. Smoke from even a small fire can reach rooms you did not expect, and the smell may return in humid weather if the residue was not fully cleaned.
Fire damage in Clarksville homes and apartments
In duplexes, townhomes and apartment buildings, including those near Fort Campbell Boulevard, smoke and water can travel between units. Tell the landlord or property manager in writing, photograph your own unit and let neighbors on the same wall or stack know. In older homes near downtown and New Providence, smoke can move through wall and attic spaces to rooms far from the fire. Newer homes around Sango and along Tiny Town Road and Trenton Road have open floor plans where smoke and odor spread across the whole level. If you live in on-post housing at Fort Campbell, report damage to the housing maintenance office first.
How the call works
This site is a phone line, not a contractor. When you call (931) 208-8559, the call is connected to an independent local service provider when one covers your area. In an emergency, call 911 first. Once the fire department has cleared the building, call and tell the provider your ZIP code, what burned, which rooms have smoke or soot and whether water was used. Agree on the scope and the cost with them, and get it in writing before work starts.
Related help
- Emergency water removal and extraction
- Water mitigation and structural drying
- Mold remediation in Clarksville
- Commercial water damage in Clarksville
- Water damage insurance claim help
- Storm damage restoration in Clarksville
Areas nearby: Fort Campbell area, Oak Grove, KY and Sango. Back to [water damage restoration in Clarksville, TN](/).
Other restoration help
For a guide to every kind of cleanup on this site, see restoration services in Clarksville. If mold may have started where fire-fighting water sat, see mold inspection and testing in Clarksville.
How it works
- 1
Get safe
Wait for the fire department to clear the building before going back in.
- 2
Call (931) 208-8559
Share your ZIP code, what burned, where the smoke went and whether water was used.
- 3
Remove, clean and dry
Wet and burned materials come out, soot is cleaned and the structure is dried.
- 4
Document
Photos, lists and receipts are kept for your insurer.