How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration and Cleanup Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $3,114 - $51,485
The average fire damage restoration cost is $27,299, with most people spending between $3,114 and $51,485.
How much does fire damage restoration cost? It depends on a few factors. Smaller fires impacting just one part of the home translate to less property damage and a reduced level of soot and smoke, while larger fires impacting multiple parts of the home will be more costly. While the average cost of fire damage restoration is $27,299, prices can potentially range from $800 to $180,000. Ultimately, what you’ll pay will depend on the size of your home and how extensive the damage is.
- Average
- $27,299
- Low end
- $800
- high end
- $180,000
In the aftermath of a fire, getting back to normal is your first priority. Even if your house's structure is intact, fire, smoke, and soot can leave your home damaged, meaning you'll need fire damage restoration as soon as possible. Here’s your guide to what you might end up paying.
Fire Damage Restoration Cost per Square Foot
It costs roughly $4.70 per square foot to restore a 2,600-square-foot home following fire damage. The complete bill for a home of this size will be in the ballpark of $12,200. On average, you’ll pay $4 to $6.50 per square foot for fire restoration services. Larger homes accrue steeper fees, as seen below.
| Home Size (sq. ft) | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $4,000 – $6,500 |
| 1,750 | $7,000 – $11,500 |
| 2,000 | $8,000 – $13,000 |
| 2,500 | $10,000 – $16,000 |
| 3,000 | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| 4,000 | $16,000 – $26,000 |
Fire Restoration Cost by Damage Type
Many different steps go into restoring a home following fire damage. While fire damage cleanup costs vary based on the severity and duration of fire exposure, this is a good idea of how much services related to restoring your home will cost.
| Type of Damage | Cost |
|---|---|
| Water Damage | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Soot Removal | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| Smoke Damage | $200 – $1,000 |
| Remove Damaged Items | $50 – $100 per lb. |
| Duct Cleaning | $200 – $500 |
| Furniture Deodorizing | $200 – $1,000 |
| Thermal Fogging | $200 – $600 |
| Ozone Treatment | $200 – $400 |
Water Damage Cleanup
If sprinklers were activated or authorities used a hose to control the fire, cleaning up the subsequent water damage typically costs between $1,300 and $5,700. Water damage cleanup involves thoroughly cleaning and repairing or removing materials like carpet, drywall, and insulation that have taken on water. It's important to seek water damage remediation right away because allowing the moisture to linger invites mold issues into your home.
Soot Removal and Cleanup
While the smoke and fire may be gone, soot can linger on your walls, carpeting, furniture, and upholstery and create stains, discoloration, and serious health hazards in your home.
Depending on the material, cleaning soot involves vacuuming, blowing, and treating with a strong cleaning solution. Soot removal costs average between $2,000 and $6,000.
Removal of Damaged Items
Having a professional remove damaged items safely from your home costs between $50 and $100 per pound. If you want to remove and restore damaged items, you can consider hiring an emergency pack-out service, which is often covered by insurance.
Smoke Damage Restoration
Like soot, smoke residue can linger on your walls and upholstery if it's not addressed by a professional. For most people, completely removing smoke odors after a fire costs between $200 and $1,200 per room.
Duct Cleaning
Cleaning your air ducts and vents can help to prevent trapped smoke odors from being carried through your home. The cost to clean air ducts ranges from $300 to $500 on average.
Deodorizing Costs
While many items in your home could be salvageable following a fire, you may find that they still have a strong smoke odor. You have several choices for removing the lingering smoke smell from your home:
Standard furniture and textile deodorizing: $200–$1,000
Thermal fogging: $200–$600
Ozone treatment: $200–$400
While thermal fogging extracts smoke from fabrics, ozone treatments break odor molecules down at the source. Ozone treatments work by attaching ozone and oxidizing odorous molecules in the air and on surfaces. Ask your fire damage remediation pros to help you decide which option is best based on your home. You may be able to begin deodorizing while your home's interior is still drying from water damage.
“We learned from our real estate agents about whole-house purifying treatments,” says Bob Tschudi, Angi Expert Review Board member and general contractor in Raleigh, NC. “For about $100, these devices totally eliminate any smells, from cigarette smoke to fire smoke damage.”
Fire Damage Restoration Costs by Fire Type
Restoration costs also vary depending on the type of fire and where the fire started. The Fire Equipment Manufacturers’ Association classifies fires into five categories, each with differing restoration cost ranges.
Ordinary Combustible Fires
When wood, paper, plastic, or other common materials catch ablaze, experts call it an ordinary combustible fire, or a Class A fire. These fires don’t spread quite as quickly as kitchen oil fires or electrical fires, and they are susceptible to fire extinguishers, so the price tag for damage restoration comes in slightly less than most other types. However, they still create plenty of soot and smoke damage, so you’ll pay between $9,000 to $14,000 for restoration services to a home of 2,500 square feet.
Gas Fires
Gas fires are different from kitchen oil fires, referring instead to flammable household liquids like petroleum, oil, and even oil paints. These fires are tough to put out, requiring smothering or a chemical that produces a similar result. As such, they create tons of damage in their wake and necessitate some unique procedures, as the flammable liquid likely leaves dangerous residue throughout the home.
You’ll pay between $14,000 to $20,000 for restoration services in a home of 2,500 square feet.
Electrical Fires
Electrical fires are particularly notorious. They can start at faulty outlets, the power grid itself, or appliances like computers. These fires often start without human interference and spread quickly before anyone notices anything is wrong. This process often translates to ruined furniture, appliances, and walls, with soot and smoke damage to match.
Restoring damage after an electrical fire can cost between $12,000 and $23,000 for a 2,500-square-foot home.
Combustible Metal Fire
These fires are relatively uncommon in residential settings, regularly occurring in industrial locations. A combustible metal fire involves an actual metal, such as aluminum or titanium, catching ablaze. Just like gas fires, they are tough to put out, as water actually encourages these fires to spread.
Given time, this type of fire spreads quickly throughout the home, leaving plenty of chemical residue that needs to be removed. Hiring a pro to restore damage after a combustible metal fire is expensive, at $16,000 to $25,000 for a home of 2,500 square feet.
Kitchen Oil Fire
Some of the most common house fires start with kitchen oil, grease, or related animal fats. These kitchen fires flare up quickly and can damage kitchen walls, cabinets, and appliances. They can also rapidly spread to other parts of the home, causing damage and leaving soot and debris in their wake.
As such, kitchen fire restoration costs are on the expensive side, with an average of $12,000 to $20,000 for a home of 2,500 square feet.
Cost to Rebuild After House Fire
Once you’ve paid a restoration pro to remove soot, smoke damage, debris, impacted furniture and appliances, and deodorize your home, it’s time to think about actual rebuilding. Of course, rebuilding costs vary wildly depending on damage severity, but here are some figures worth considering.
Remodeling a kitchen costs $14,600 to $41,300 in the case of a kitchen grease fire. The average cost to install drywall, in the case of a whole-house fire, is $1,800 or $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. Roof repair costs $400 to $1,800, while replacing a roof costs $5,900 to $12,800, depending on size and type.
Some major fires require differing levels of foundation repair, costing between $2,200 to $7,800, depending on the extent and location of the damage.
| Type of Work | Cost |
|---|---|
| Kitchen Repairs | $14,600 – $41,300 |
| Drywall Installation | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Roof Repair | $400 – $1,800 |
| Roof Replacement | $5,900 – $12,800 |
| Foundation Repair | $2,200 – $7,800 |
| Electrical Repair | $900 – $3,000 |
| Floor Repair | $400 – $20,000 |
Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Fire Damage Restoration?
It's possible. Many homeowners insurance policies do cover fire damage restoration under certain conditions. However, the specifics of your coverage could vary based on your location and the policy you've purchased. If your home sustains any type of fire damage, call your insurance agent immediately to determine the next steps you should take.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro for Fire Damage Restoration
Once your home has sustained fire damage, all bets are off for DIY fixes. You should always hire a licensed fire and smoke damage restoration pro near you to handle the cleanup and restoration work. Trying to tackle this yourself is extremely dangerous and could also affect your insurance policy. Fire restoration pros specialize in salvaging and restoring items, cleaning up soot, and removing lingering odors.
This is also a good time to note that you should always talk to your insurance company first before hiring anyone to tackle home restoration following a fire.
Future Suppression Plans Cost
If a recent fire has inspired you to upgrade your home's fire suppression system, you can fold those costs into your project. The average cost of a home fire sprinkler system falls between $0.80 and $7 per square foot. Here's a breakdown of other fire prevention costs:
Extinguishers: $20–$100
Standard smoke detectors: $10–$65
High-quality smoke detectors: $650–$950
Fire door cost: $400–$900
Questions to Ask a Fire Damage Restoration Pro
While stress levels may be running high after a fire breaks out at your home, it's important to keep a cool head when taking those early steps toward restoration. Here's a look at what to ask a fire restoration company before signing a contract:
Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
Do you also handle smoke damage restoration?
Do you specialize in working with fire-damage insurance claims?
How often do you work with my insurance company to get claims completed?
How long do you estimate restoration work will take?
Do you provide testimonials or referrals from previous clients?
There are several things to know when getting quotes for fire restoration. First, try to get quotes from at least three companies. Next, ask your insurance company if there are any requirements when choosing a fire restoration company.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first step in fire damage restoration is having a pro come in right away to help control moisture (if authorities used water to extinguish a fire at your home). Skipping moisture removal puts your home at risk for invasive mold and rot that can cause property damage and health issues.
It can take as little as a week or as long as months to repair fire damage, depending on the severity of it. If the damage is minimal and only extends to one or two locations throughout the home, the entire repair process can take around a week from start to finish. However, serious fires impacting larger areas require more labor and can take months to repair. Overall, it’s always best to talk to your team about your individual situation to get the best estimate.
You should pick ozone treatment to remove smoke odors because it’s a high-tech fire treatment that removes odor molecules from the air in each room of your home. It’s better at getting rid of smoke smells than many sprays and air fresheners, most of which just mask or lift odors from fabrics (rather than eliminating them altogether).
No, you don't necessarily have to build a replica of your damaged home just to get costs covered by your insurance. However, you'll need to build your home in the same spot. Some insurance policies may allow you to collect depreciation if you'd prefer to purchase or build a home somewhere different.