Soot, smoke odor and water damage handled before the smell sets in
Apartment Fire Cleanup in EAST IRVINE, California
Apartment Fire Cleanup in EAST IRVINE, California starts the moment we walk in: board-up, soot removal, water extraction, then odor treatment. We work on single units, whole floors and multi-family buildings, and we document everything for your renters or HOA claim. If you are searching for a 24/7 apartment fire damage restoration EAST IRVINE CA crew, call (833) 929-6186 and we roll.
Live phone supportUpfront optionsBacked workmanship
What's included
What Apartment Fire Cleanup Includes
Every apartment fire job starts with the same core scope: secure the unit, remove soot and water, kill the odor, and document the loss. Rebuild work like drywall, paint and structural repair is scoped and priced separately once we open the walls and see what the fire actually did.
Emergency Board-Up and Security
Burned windows, doors and openings get sealed the same night with plywood and plastic. In a shared building this also protects the hallway and neighboring units from weather, debris and theft.
Soot and Char Removal
HEPA vacuuming, dry-sponging and controlled demolition of unsalvageable drywall, insulation and charred lumber and framing. We bag and remove debris in compliance with California Department of Public Health regulations.
Water Extraction and Drying
Standing water from hose lines comes out with truck-mount extraction, then dehumidifiers and air movers run until moisture meter readings match dry standard. Daily readings are logged for your claim.
Odor Neutralization
Air scrubbers with HEPA filtration, hydroxyl generators in occupied buildings, thermal fogging solution in cavities and ductwork, and encapsulant on smoke-stained framing. Charcoal odor absorbers stay in place until the unit is signed off.
HVAC and Duct Cleaning
Smoke damage in HVAC ducts spreads odor to every room the system serves. We clean and treat the ductwork and replace filters before the system runs again.
Insurance Documentation
Room-by-room photos, moisture logs, and an Xactimate scope your adjuster can process. We send the file to you, your landlord and the HOA at the same time.
Service overview
What Apartment Fire Cleanup in EAST IRVINE, California Covers
Apartment Fire Cleanup in EAST IRVINE, California is the full scope of work that follows a fire inside a unit, a hallway or a shared wall: emergency board-up, soot and char removal, water extraction from firefighting, HVAC cleaning, odor neutralization and structural repair. It is not just wiping walls. Soot is acidic and etches within hours, smoke odor soaks into drywall, insulation and lumber and framing, and the water left behind by hose lines feeds mold growth in 24 to 48 hours.
Most calls we take in EAST IRVINE come from kitchen fires, electrical fires behind a wall outlet, and unattended cooking on a stove. In a multi-family fire cleanup EAST IRVINE CA job, the unit that burned is only part of the story: smoke travels through shared ductwork, under doors and through wall cavities, so the neighbor two doors down often needs soot removal and odor treatment too. If you need apartment fire cleanup near me in EAST IRVINE California at 2 a.m., we answer the phone.
How we workWe verify the cause, compare realistic options, and confirm the repair before we leave.
The service timeline
What to Expect From Start to Finish
The process flexes to the condition, but these checkpoints keep decisions clear.
Emergency Call
We answer 24/7 and ask what burned, which floor, and whether the fire department has cleared the scene. We dispatch a crew and give you an arrival window. First priority on site is board-up and security, because an open unit in a shared building invites theft and further damage.
Damage Assessment
We walk the unit with a thermal imaging camera and moisture meter to map hidden heat damage and trapped water, then check the HVAC ducts and the neighboring units for smoke migration. You get a written scope and a price before work begins, not a surprise invoice at the end.
Soot and Water Removal
Crews HEPA vacuum loose soot, dry-sponge walls and ceilings, then extract standing water and pull wet insulation. Charred drywall and unsalvageable lumber and framing come out. This phase usually runs two to four days on a standard one-bedroom apartment.
Odor and Air Treatment
Air scrubbers with HEPA filtration run continuously while we work. Hydroxyl generators handle occupied buildings; ozone generators are used only in vacant units. We fog ductwork and cavities, then seal smoke-stained framing with encapsulant so odor does not return on the first hot day.
Repair and Walkthrough
Drywall, paint and primer, trim and fixtures go back in, and we test every circuit that ran through fire-damaged wiring. Final walkthrough is with you or your property manager, with moisture readings and photos in hand. Most units are back in service in two to six weeks depending on scope.
Tools & methods
Equipment and Methods We Use
Purpose-built equipment, used by trained technicians, so the job is done accurately the first time.
Thermal imaging camera
Finds hidden heat damage in wall cavities and locates trapped water behind drywall without tearing the unit apart.
Moisture meter
Tracks drying progress daily and tells us when the structure has hit dry standard so rebuild can start.
HEPA vacuum
Removes fine soot particles from surfaces and air without pushing them back into the room.
Air scrubber and negative air machine
Keeps the work area under negative pressure so soot and odor do not migrate into hallways or neighboring units.
Hydroxyl generator and ozone generator
Hydroxyl units treat occupied buildings; ozone units handle vacant units and heavy odor loads.
Dehumidifier and air mover
Pulls moisture out of drywall, insulation and framing after firefighting water soaks the unit.
Fogger and thermal fogging solution
Pushes deodorizing agent into wall cavities, closets and ductwork where a spray bottle cannot reach.
Use cases
When to Call for Apartment Fire Cleanup
These examples show how the service framework adapts rather than forcing every call through one repair.
Electrical Fire in a Great Park Condo
A fire behind a bedroom outlet burned less than 8 square feet but filled the condo with acrid smoke. The closets, bedding and HVAC ducts all smelled. The owner was told the unit might need full drywall replacement. → We removed the burned wiring and drywall, HEPA vacuumed every surface, fogged the closets and ducts, and ran hydroxyl generators for three days. Only one wall needed new drywall. Total cost came in 40 percent under the first estimate.
Attic Fire Above Two Orchard Hills Units
An attic fire damaged roofing shingles and charred framing above two apartments. Rain was forecast in 36 hours and both units had water stains starting at the ceiling line. → We tarped the roof the same night, removed charred lumber and insulation, treated the framing with encapsulant, and rebuilt the roofline to code. Both units passed inspection and stayed dry through the first storm.
Problems we solve
Problems We Solve After an Apartment Fire
Most of the damage we see in EAST IRVINE apartments is not from the flame itself. It is what happens in the 24 to 72 hours after the trucks leave, when soot keeps etching and water keeps soaking into the walls.
Lingering smoke odor in closets and cabinets
We locate the source with thermal imaging, fog the cavities and ductwork, run hydroxyl generators, and seal framing with encapsulant. That is how odor gets removed instead of covered up.
Soot residue on walls and ceilings
We dry-sponge and HEPA vacuum first, then wet clean with the right agent for the residue type. Cleaning in the wrong order just smears soot deeper into the drywall.
Water damage from firefighting
Extraction starts the same night, followed by dehumidifiers and air movers with daily moisture meter readings. We dry to standard before any rebuild begins.
Melted electrical wiring and dead circuits
We remove and document melted wiring and burned panels, then coordinate with a licensed electrician so every circuit is tested before the unit is re-energized.
Pricing process
What Apartment Fire Cleanup Costs
$2,500 - $35,000+ depending on scope
Unit size and layout
A studio cleans up faster than a three-bedroom with a loft. Square footage drives labor hours, equipment count and material costs across every phase of the job.
Smoke travel distance
When smoke reaches neighboring units through shared ductwork, the scope grows to include testing, duct cleaning and odor treatment in apartments that never burned.
Water volume from firefighting
A contained fire might leave 50 gallons in the unit. A sprinkler discharge can leave 800. Extraction and drying time scale directly with that number.
How much does apartment fire cleanup cost in EAST IRVINE California?
A single-unit cleanup with minor soot and odor typically runs $2,500 to $8,000, while a full unit with structural repair runs $12,000 to $35,000 or more. The variables are square footage, how far smoke traveled, whether drywall and insulation must come out, and how much water the fire department used. We give you a written scope before work starts, so the number you approve is the number you pay.
Who does apartment fire damage restoration near me in EAST IRVINE?
We do, and we are local. Fire Damage Restoration East Irvine handles apartment fire damage restoration in EAST IRVINE California for renters, owners, property managers and HOAs, from board-up through final paint. Call (833) 929-6186 and we will dispatch a crew, assess the unit, and hand you a written scope the same day in most cases.
How long does apartment fire cleanup take in EAST IRVINE CA?
Plan on two to four days for soot removal and water extraction, one to two weeks for odor treatment and drying, and two to six weeks total if drywall, paint and structural repair are involved. Small kitchen fires with contained damage are often finished in under two weeks. We give you a day-by-day schedule after the assessment so you can plan where you are staying.
Does renters or HOA insurance cover apartment fire cleanup in EAST IRVINE?
Usually both policies are involved. The HOA or building policy typically covers the structure, shared walls and common areas, while a renter's policy covers personal belongings and often loss of use. We photograph and document everything, write the scope in Xactimate, and work directly with both adjusters so you are not stuck relaying paperwork between them.
Related services
Related Services
Smoke Damage Restoration
Smoke travels further than flame in any EAST IRVINE apartment building. We clean and seal wall cavities, ductwork and shared hallways so units that never burned do not smell like the one that did.
Fire Damage Clean Up
Debris hauling, char removal and safe disposal of burned materials from your unit. We separate salvageable contents from total loss and document both for your adjuster.
Emergency Fire Damage Restoration
Board-up, roof tarping and water extraction the same night. Getting the unit secured and dry in the first 24 hours is what keeps a small fire from becoming a mold job.Ready when you are
Call Now for Apartment Fire Cleanup in EAST IRVINE, California
One call gets a crew moving: board-up, water extraction and a written scope. We are licensed, insured and answer 24/7, including holidays. Call (833) 929-6186 and we will tell you exactly when we will be at your door.
Talk with the local team
Request Apartment Fire Cleanup
Call (833) 929-6186 any hour of the day or night. A live dispatcher answers, takes your address, and sends a crew within 60 minutes anywhere in EAST IRVINE. If you prefer email, send photos and details to info@firedamagerestorationeastirvine.com and we will respond the same day.