A house fire turns life upside down in minutes. Once everyone is safe and the fire department has left, most homeowners have the same question: what happens now? The fire restoration process can feel confusing, with insurers, adjusters, contractors and cleaning crews all involved at once.
This guide walks Ontario homeowners through the full process, step by step, from the first phone call to the day you move back in. Knowing what to expect makes it easier to ask the right questions and keep your claim on track.
Step 1: Emergency call and first response
Fire restoration starts with a call. When you reach us at any hour, a restoration manager asks about the fire, whether the fire department has released the property, whether there is water damage from firefighting, and what your insurance situation is. A crew is sent out, with a 60-minute target response across Southern Ontario.
Before anyone goes inside, the fire department must confirm the building is safe to enter. If it is not, the crew secures the outside while waiting.
Step 2: Securing the property
A home after a fire is open to weather, trespassers and further damage. Firefighters often break windows and doors to get in, or cut openings in the roof to vent smoke. The first job on site is to close the home up:
- Boarding up broken windows and doors
- Tarping holes in the roof
- Installing temporary fencing if needed
- Shutting off utilities that are not safe
Securing the property protects your belongings and is usually something your insurer expects you to do. Read more in emergency board-up after a fire.
Step 3: Inspection and damage assessment
Next, the crew inspects the whole home, not just the rooms that burned. Smoke and soot travel through the house, into ductwork, attics and wall cavities. Technicians look at:
- Structural damage to framing, floors, roof and walls
- How far smoke and soot spread, and what type of residue it is
- Water damage from fire hoses and sprinklers
- Which belongings can be cleaned and which cannot
Everything is photographed and documented. This assessment becomes the scope of work that your insurance adjuster reviews.
Step 4: Water removal and drying
Firefighting uses a lot of water, and it soaks into drywall, insulation, subfloors and basements. If it is left wet, mould can start growing within 24 to 48 hours, on top of the fire damage. Crews extract standing water and set up dehumidifiers and air movers to dry the structure, taking daily moisture readings until it is dry. See our water damage restoration service and how to prevent mould after water damage.
Step 5: Contents pack-out
Belongings that can be saved are carefully packed, listed and moved off site to be cleaned and stored. This protects them during demolition and cleaning, and gives your insurer a clear inventory. Clothing, furniture, electronics, documents and keepsakes each get the right cleaning method. Learn more about our contents pack-out service.
Step 6: Demolition and debris removal
Materials that are burned, charred or too damaged by smoke and water are removed. This can include drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinets and sometimes framing. Removing them safely stops odour from lingering and lets the crew clean the structure underneath. Homes built before the 1990s may need to be tested for asbestos before certain materials are disturbed.
Step 7: Soot cleaning and odour removal
This is the heart of fire restoration. Crews clean every surface with methods matched to the type of soot, using dry soot sponges, HEPA vacuums and specialized cleaners. Then comes odour removal. Smoke smell lives in porous materials, so crews use treatments such as thermal fogging and hydroxyl or ozone equipment to neutralize odour rather than cover it. Ducts are cleaned so the heating system does not spread smell once it is turned back on.
This step is also why DIY cleaning after a fire so often fails. Read why DIY cleaning makes smoke damage worse.
Step 8: Sealing
After cleaning, framing and surfaces that were exposed to smoke are often sealed with an odour-blocking primer. This locks in any remaining odour molecules before new insulation and drywall go up.
Step 9: Rebuild and repairs
Now the home is put back together. Depending on the damage, this can include framing repairs, electrical and plumbing work, insulation, drywall, flooring, cabinets, paint and trim. Permits and inspections from your municipality may be needed for structural, electrical or plumbing work. A good restoration company coordinates the trades so the job moves in the right order.
Step 10: Final walk-through and move-back
Before you move back in, you walk through the home with the project manager, check the work, and make a list of anything that still needs attention. Cleaned belongings are returned and put back in place.
How long does fire restoration take?
Every fire is different. A small kitchen fire with light smoke may be cleaned and repaired in one to three weeks. A fire that damaged several rooms or the structure can take several months, especially when permits, insurance approvals and material orders are involved. Your project manager should give you a realistic timeline after the inspection.
Working with your insurance company
Most Ontario home policies cover fire damage, smoke damage, cleaning, contents and additional living expenses while you cannot live at home. Keep receipts for hotels, meals and other extra costs. Photograph everything, keep a claim diary, and ask your adjuster before throwing anything away. Our team documents every step and works directly with adjusters. See how we handle insurance claims.
Who does what during a fire claim
Several people are involved in a fire restoration, and it helps to know each role:
- You, the homeowner: report the loss, make decisions about your home and belongings, approve the work and keep track of extra costs.
- Your insurance adjuster: reviews the damage, confirms what your policy covers and approves the scope and cost of the work.
- The restoration company: secures the home, dries, cleans, removes odour, handles contents and documents everything for the claim.
- The project manager: your main contact, who plans the work, coordinates trades and keeps you updated.
- Trades and inspectors: electricians, plumbers and other specialists, plus municipal inspectors when permits are required.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose my own fire restoration company?
Yes. Your insurer may recommend a company, but in Ontario you can generally choose who works on your home.
Is it safe to stay in my home after a small fire?
Only if the fire department says it is safe and the smoke and soot are limited. Soot and smoke residue can irritate your lungs, so many families stay elsewhere until cleaning is done.
Will my home smell like smoke forever?
Not if it is restored properly. Removing damaged materials, cleaning, professional odour treatment and sealing remove the smell in most homes.
What should I do in the first 24 hours after a fire?
Make sure everyone is safe, contact your insurer, arrange for the home to be secured, and take photos before anything is moved. Do not start cleaning soot yourself.
Fire damage? Call now, day or night
999 Restoration answers live 24 hours a day with a 60-minute target response across Southern Ontario, including Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Kitchener and London. See all locations, or call +1-888-999-0292 and a restoration manager will be on the line in seconds.