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Professional Fire Damage Cleaning
The aftermath of a fire can be overwhelming, leaving your property structurally compromised and covered in hazardous soot and smoke. Swift, professional action is critical not only to restore your premises but also to protect the health of its occupants from the harmful chemicals left behind. At Rentokil Specialist Hygiene, we provide a comprehensive and emergency fire damage cleaning service designed to handle every aspect of the restoration process with care and expertise.
Our highly trained specialists understand the complexities of dealing with fire and smoke damage. From residential homes to commercial properties, we deploy advanced techniques and equipment for a thorough cleanup, addressing everything from soot removal on sensitive surfaces to the deep cleaning of your building's structure and ventilation systems. We are dedicated to helping you navigate this difficult time, ensuring your property is returned to a safe, clean, and habitable state as quickly as possible, with services available 24/7 across the UK.
What damage does a fire cause?
Fires in commercial and residential settings can cause extensive and devastating damage. A rapid fire damage cleaning response is vital to handle smoke, soot, structure and water damage that can make your premise unsafe and cause operational issues.
Key causes of concern include:
Structural - the obvious concern following a fire is whether the building is safe to return for staff, customers and residents. Whilst this is a job for Fire Officers and/or structural engineers, cleaning work may need to be carried out to reveal the extent of the damage and is an essential part of refurbishment.
Soot and Ash - Soot clings to all surfaces and ash can infiltrate everywhere including into sensitive machinery and equipment. Porous surfaces such as plaster expand with heat, trapping soot into the walls and ceilings which then leaches out weeks or months after completion, potentially ruining redecoration and affecting air quality.
Water Damage - Excess water that remains following extinguishing the fire can cause issues with mould and damp and add to odour issues in the property. It can damage stock, equipment and furniture.
Odour - Even once everything has been cleaned, the acrid smell of smoke can linger for weeks, creating an unpleasant environment for employees, clients and homeowners.
Each element of a fire damage clean up needs handling in a different way, but always with the utmost care for you and your property.
The Dangers of Fire Damage
It's easy to believe that the risk of harm is gone once the fire has been put out, but sadly fire damaged properties can remain extremely hazardous for a long time unless they are correctly dealt with.
Damaged structures, furniture and fittings can leave high concentrations of harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the air along with other airborne pollutants such as soot and PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less that can cause respiratory issues). Combine these with potential building damage and electrical systems and a post-fire site is a dangerous place to be. Our professional fire restoration service is designed to eliminate these unsightly and harmful pollutants, helping to get your business or premise operational as quickly and safely as possible.
What is Fire Damage Cleaning?
Fire damage cleaning is the process of restoring a fire damaged property back to a usable condition.
Soot in particular can be stubborn to clean and travel a long way from the fire itself. Once the property is deemed safe to access after a fire, removal of soot, ash, debris and odour is a dirty yet essential job to pave the way for redecoration.
Our clean up process relies heavily on the experience of our fire cleaning experts to swiftly and correctly identify the best way to clean each and every square inch of the affected area, using equipment and cleaning products designed specifically for the job.
Why is professional fire damage cleanup important to prevent secondary fire damage?
A rapid, professional fire damage clean is important to prevent further problems from secondary fire damage later on, and get your business or home back up and running quickly and safely.
Smoke and soot particles, harmful chemicals and malodour can leach out of ceilings and walls long after everything has cooled down if not dealt with and contained immediately after the fire, this is what's known as secondary damage. Residues seeping from walls and ceilings after redecoration are both unsightly and costly, and can even be harmful if breathed in months after the incident.
Our expert technicians will not only remove soot and smoke from the property, we can also seal the surfaces afterwards to ensure your walls are clean,protected and ready for redecoration.
What happens during a fire damage clean?
A fire damage clean can involve the following techniques:
Manual Cleaning - Our experts employ advanced cleaning methods and specialised products alongside traditional techniques to provide a complete restoration service for your business.
Ecoblasting - for heavily soiled surfaces we offer a non-corrosive substrate blasting method that lifts soot and odours without damaging surfaces.
Latex Clean - For more intricate or delicate porous surfaces such as exposed brick,stone and heritage finishes, we apply a natural peelable latex-based solution. This solvent-free product is applied as a liquid and, once dry, is peeled away, drawing out embedded soot and contamination without harming the original surface.
Sealing - Once all surfaces have been cleaned of visible soot deposits, we can seal porous surfaces such as plaster walls to prepare them for redecoration without the worry of deep seated soot marking walls in the future. Our Smokeseal service locks remaining smoke and odours into the walls, to provide a complete seal of porous surfaces. This unique, mould resistant coating dries white in colour ready for immediate redecoration.
Odour - The final step in fire restoration is to get rid of the smell. We use our powerful Ozone generators to actively destroy airborne odours and leave the property smelling great. Ozone is an extremely effective oxidising agent and the most effective way to rid a property of lingering malodour.
Our fire damage restoration process
Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Fire Risk
The London Fire Brigade reports that cookers (23%) and kitchen appliances (25%) are leading causes of fires in commercial restaurants and takeaways. As BESA-certified experts in TR19 cleaning, the UK's top standard for kitchen ventilation cleaning.
Rentokil Specialist Hygiene can help you mitigate this significant risk. Proper kitchen extract cleaning is essential for fire prevention and meeting your insurance obligations. Speak to our kitchen extract experts on 0808 159 1403 or contact us here to arrange a no obligation survey.
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Why choose Rentokil Specialist Hygiene for your fire damage clean
With over 50 year experience, Rentokil Specialist Hygiene are the UK trusted experts in handling fire and smoke damage emergencies in commercial sites and residential properties:
- 24/7 rapid response across the UK, minimising operational downtime
- Wholly employed, industry trained operatives with specialist PPE and equipment
- Expert, consultant-led risk assessment on every job
- Full regulatory compliance and detailed post-clean reporting
- Certified and safe waste disposal
Trust Rentokil Specialist Hygiene to restore your property, protect your operations, and ensure a compliant and professional return to business.
How can I arrange a fire damage clean?
To arrange a fire damage clean, get in touch with Rentokil Specialist Hygiene no matter what the emergency
Day or night, you can trust us to get to you to help with any kind of fire or smoke damage emergency, call our friendly team of experts on 0808 159 1403 or contact us here 24/7/365 for a dispatch response within the hour.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Fire Damage Restoration
Below are answers to common questions about fire damage restoration and smoke damage cleaning. If you need more help, our team is available 24/7.
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How do I get rid of the smoke smell in a fire-damaged property?
In a commercial environment, eliminating smoke odour is critical for business continuity and ensuring a safe, welcoming space for employees and customers. Simply airing out the property is likely to be insufficient and a professional assessment, deep clean and advance deodourisation will be required.
In smaller spaces and residential properties, start by airing out the space and removing all damaged materials. Wash all hard surfaces, but for embedded smells in walls or soft furnishings. If the smell persists or you have further damage you’ll likely need professional smoke damage cleaning using industrial deodorisers or soda blasting.
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Can smoke damage make you sick?
Yes, smoke residue contains toxic particles and gases that can cause respiratory issues, headaches, or skin irritation. Long-term exposure increases health risks, especially in children and vulnerable individuals.
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How long does it take to air out a premise after smoke?
This depends on the size of the fire, the damage to the property and the ventilation in place. If a HVAC is present then this may be affected by smoke penetration. A light smoke smell may dissipate in a day or two, but strong or embedded odours can linger for weeks without specialist treatment.
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Can we operate our business if it has been damaged by smoke or fire?
It’s not recommended. An employer has a duty of care to provide a safe working environment. Residual toxins and microscopic soot can pose significant health risks to employees and visitors. The area should be professionally cleaned and restored to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations before resuming operations.
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How do you clean up after smoke damage?
Clean all surfaces with appropriate detergents, ventilate rooms, and discard any smoke-absorbed soft furnishings. For severe damage, hire a fire damage restoration service with access to professional-grade equipment.
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Does the risk of fire increase during the summer months?
Yes. Hot weather increases the risk of fire, especially in commercial kitchens and dry environments. Regular maintenance and cleaning significantly reduce the risk.
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What is the process for fire debris clean up?
Fire debris clean up includes removing burnt materials, vacuuming soot, scrubbing and specialist cleaning of surfaces, deodorising, and properly disposing of contaminated waste by a licence waste carrier.
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How do you clean a kitchen after a fire?
The process begins by removing all burnt items and cleaning soot from surfaces. It is critical to professionally clean ventilation systems and filters thoroughly, and ensure compliance with TR19 standards.
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Can I clean fire damage myself?
Small superficial cleaning may be possible, but deep fire damage clean up should be left to professionals due to safety risks and the need for specialist training, PPE and advanced cleaning equipment.
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How much does it cost to clean up fire damage?
The cost depends on the severity, property size and time required. Rentokil Specialist Hygiene offers tailored quotes following a free site survey. Your business insurance may cover some or all of the costs.
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Who is responsible for fire damage?
It depends on the situation. Homeowners, tenants, or businesses may be liable depending on the lease agreements and the cause. Insurers often assist in determining responsibility.
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Do you have local fire damage cleaners?
Yes. Rentokil Specialist Hygiene has trained, accredited teams nationwide, ensuring a local response backed by national expertise. We provide a rapid response to minimise business disruption.
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