Certified Fire Restoration in Orlando, FL
United Water Restoration Group of Orlando provides fire damage restoration in Orlando, FL around the clock, from board-up and debris removal to drying and rebuilding. Our IICRC-certified technicians work from our Winter Park shop next door to the city, and we coordinate directly with your insurance company from the initial assessment.
What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Fire Damages Your Home
The hours after the fire department leaves decide how much of your home or business can be saved. A few simple steps from you, plus fast stabilization from a restoration crew, keep the damage from spreading.
Steps to Take Before the Restoration Crew Arrives
- Stay out until the fire department clears the building. Burned framing and sagging ceilings can fail without warning.
- Leave the HVAC system off. Running it pulls soot through the ductwork and spreads smoke into rooms the fire never reached.
- Do not wipe soot off walls, furniture or electronics. Household cleaners smear acidic residue deeper into paint, fabric, and wood.
- Throw out exposed food, drinks and medication. Heat, smoke and the water used to put out the fire can contaminate anything that was open or stored near the fire.
- Photograph every room and damaged item before anything moves. Those photos support your insurance claim and your contents list.
- Ask your insurer about additional living expenses. Many homeowners policies include loss of use coverage that can pay for a hotel while the house is unlivable.
What Our Orlando Fire Restoration Crew Does on Arrival
We walk the property with you, complete a structural assessment, and identify what needs protection first and what can wait for repair. Then we board up openings, tarp damaged roof sections, and bring in extraction equipment for standing water. After the visit, you get a restoration plan and a timeline, and we work directly with your insurance company so your adjuster starts from the same scope.
Fire Damage That Keeps Spreading After the Fire Is Out
Local news outlets regularly report lightning-sparked house fires during the Central Florida summer storm season, but kitchen, electrical, and appliance fires happen year-round. Whatever the cause, residue keeps etching surfaces, firefighting water soaks into drywall and subfloors, and weakened framing can shift. Three problems drive most Orlando fire restoration jobs.
Smoke Damage on Walls, Furniture and Ductwork
Smoke damage travels well past the room that burned. Fine soot particles ride air currents into closets, attics, and the HVAC system, then settle on walls, ceilings, furniture, and electronics. Soot is acidic, so it stains paint, corrodes metal, and leaves the sharp odor most homeowners notice first.
Water Damage From Firefighting in Central Florida Humidity
The water damage from hoses and sprinklers often spreads farther than the flames did. It runs under baseboards, into wall cavities, and through the ceilings below. Central Florida air stays humid for much of the year, so wet insulation and drywall dry slowly and invite mold if the water sits. Pulling that water out on the opening visit keeps drying time and repair costs down.
Heat Damage to Framing, Roof Decking and Wiring
High heat weakens wood framing, warps roof trusses and melts the insulation on wiring inside walls. A room can look intact while the roof deck above it has charred through. We tarp or brace anything that cannot be repaired the same day so the structure stays safe and dry.
How Our Fire Damage Restoration in Orlando, FL Works
Each fire damage restoration job follows the same order so nothing gets cleaned twice or rebuilt over wet material. Here is what happens after the emergency visit.
Board Up, Roof Tarping and Property Security
Broken windows, open doors, and burned roof openings leave the house exposed to rain, wind, and trespassers. We board up openings, tarp the roof and reinforce weak areas. These emergency services protect the property and stop further damage.
Water Removal and Structural Drying
We extract standing firefighting water, then set industrial dehumidifiers to dry floors, walls, and framing. A correct drying plan uses moisture mapping to find water hiding behind baseboards and under flooring. Fire jobs get the same extraction and drying equipment we bring to water damage restoration in Orlando. If mold has already started, our mold remediation services take it from there.
Soot Removal and Smoke Cleanup
The cleaning method has to match the residue. Dry residue from a fast, hot fire lifts with vacuums and chemical sponges, while oily residue from burning plastics and kitchen fires needs wet cleaning agents. Cleaning runs from the ceiling down so residue never drops onto surfaces that are already clean.
Smoke Odor Removal and Indoor Air Quality
Smoke odor lives in porous materials and in the air itself. We run air scrubbers to capture airborne particles, then use ozone treatments and thermal fogging to neutralize odor that has worked into framing, carpet and upholstery. Ozone irritates the lungs, so people and pets stay out during an ozone treatment and until the space has aired out and your technician clears it. Deodorizing works only after the residue is gone, so this step always follows cleaning.
Contents Restoration and Pack Out
Belongings are often what owners worry about most. A thorough contents process inventories and photographs items room by room, separates what can be cleaned from what cannot, and gives your adjuster a list of items beyond saving. Depending on the size of the loss, salvageable furniture, clothing, electronics, and keepsakes are cleaned on site or packed out for cleaning and storage while the rebuild runs. Our contents restoration services cover belongings affected by fire and smoke, and we restore what the damage allows.
Fire Restoration Repairs and Reconstruction
The last phase of fire damage restoration is where we restore the building to the condition it was in before the fire. That can mean new drywall and insulation, framing and roof repair, or a full rebuild by our reconstruction services team. Business owners can turn to our commercial fire restoration in Orlando team for offices, retail space, restaurants, and multifamily buildings.
Fire Insurance Claims and Restoration Costs in Florida
Most homeowners and business insurance policies cover fire damage restoration, but coverage details vary by policy. Florida law sets deadlines on both sides of the claim, and knowing them early protects your recovery.
Florida Claim Deadlines for You and Your Insurer
- You report the loss within one year. Under Florida Statute 627.70132, notice of a new or reopened property claim must reach your insurer within one year of the date of loss, and notice of a supplemental claim within 18 months.
- Your insurer acknowledges you within 7 days. Florida Statute 627.70131 gives the insurer 7 days to review and acknowledge a communication about your claim.
- You get the adjuster's estimate within 7 days. The insurer must send you a copy of any detailed estimate within 7 days after its adjuster writes it.
- Your insurer pays or denies within 60 days. The insurer has 60 days after notice of the claim to pay or deny it, unless the delay comes from factors outside its control.
- The claim stays in your name. Florida law bans assignment of benefits agreements on residential and commercial property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, so you remain the claimant while we work alongside you and your adjuster.
The Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights in Florida Statute 627.7142 summarizes these protections, and your policy and agent have the final word on coverage.
What Drives Fire Restoration Costs
Restoration costs follow the scope of the damage, not a flat rate. The main drivers are how far smoke traveled through the building, whether the residue is dry or oily, how much water damage needs drying, how many belongings need cleaning or replacement, and how much drywall, framing and roofing has to be rebuilt. Permits and historic district review add time to a rebuild. Your price comes from the restoration plan, and your adjuster reviews that same scope.
We accept all insurance providers, and our insurance claim assistance services help you organize documentation and talk through the claim with your adjuster.
Our Orlando Fire Restoration Team and IICRC Certified Technicians
Our restoration company is locally owned and operated, and we serve Orlando with emergency services dispatched from our shop in Winter Park, just north of the city. Here is what our customers and credentials show about how we work.
- IICRC-certified technicians. Our specialists hold certification from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, the industry body behind the standards for fire damage restoration and smoke cleanup.
- Fast response after hours. One Google reviewer described two of our technicians arriving at 7 p.m. on a Friday to handle a leaking water tank and the mold it caused.
- More than 500 Google reviews. Our Google Business Profile shows a 4.9 star rating from more than 500 reviews.
- One team for the whole loss. Fire cleanup, water damage restoration, mold remediation and reconstruction come from the same company, so you are not coordinating separate contractors.
What a Fire Damage Customer Told Google
Norris M. hired us after a fire damaged the family garage and smoke damaged the house. The Google review credits Larry Lynn on the restoration side and Jean Civil on construction, saying they “were very responsive to our concerns and communicated the plans well.” The review also notes that Seminole County permitting slowed the project, which is why permit time belongs in any rebuild timeline.
More Fire Damage Restoration Services From Our Team
Our fire damage restoration services also come as focused jobs when a loss needs one service rather than a full fire restoration. Each page covers a different stage of the work.
- Fire Damage Cleanup clears debris, ash, and residue so the property is safe to repair.
- Fire Damage Remediation stabilizes the structure and removes the hazards a fire leaves behind before repairs start.
- Fire Damage Repairs brings burned finishes and damaged structures back to their condition before the loss.
- Structural Fire Damage Repair rebuilds framing, walls, and supports that fire weakened.
- Fire & Smoke Damage covers cleaning and restoring rooms and contents hit by both fire and smoke.
- Smoke Odor Removal neutralizes smoke odor in surfaces, air ducts, and contents.
- Soot Removal focuses on soot on walls, ceilings and belongings, using methods matched to the residue.
- Soot Cleanup clears soot residue through the home after smaller fires.
- Fire Damaged Roofs covers tarping, assessing, and repairing roofs that fire damaged.
Orlando Neighborhoods and Nearby Areas We Serve
Our crews work in neighborhoods across downtown Orlando and beyond, including Lake Eola Heights, Thornton Park, South Eola, Park Lake/Highland, Lake Cherokee, Lake Copeland, Delaney Park, Colonialtown South, Rowena Gardens, the Milk District and Dover Shores.
Beyond Orlando, FL city limits, we also handle fire restoration services in Winter Park, Maitland, and the surrounding parts of Orange County.
Fire Restoration Questions From Orlando Property Owners
Homeowners and property managers ask our Orlando fire restoration team these questions most often after a fire, including a few that apply only inside the city.
How soon should fire damage restoration start?
Start as soon as the fire department releases the property. Residue stains more deeply the longer it sits, and water damage keeps spreading through drywall and subflooring until someone removes the water. Calling a restoration company the same day gets board-up, water extraction, and the first round of cleaning moving while more of the house can still be saved.
Is it safe to go back into my house after a fire?
Wait until the fire department clears the building and a fire restoration professional checks it. Burned framing, sagging ceilings and damaged wiring can fail without warning, and the residue carries irritants that affect air quality. If you need documents, keys or medication from inside, ask the fire crew whether a short, escorted trip in is safe.
Can I stay in my house during fire restoration?
It depends on how much of the home or business the fire and smoke reached. A small kitchen fire may leave most rooms livable, while heavy smoke, standing water, or structural damage usually means moving out until our Orlando fire restoration crew finishes the work. You must stay out during any ozone treatment. If you need to relocate, ask your insurer about additional living expenses.
Do I need a City of Orlando permit to rebuild after a fire?
Inside Orlando, FL city limits, most structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical repairs need a permit from the City of Orlando Permitting Services Division, and the restoration company doing the work must be registered with the division. Plan reviewers check the work against the Florida Building Code. Cleaning, drying, and odor removal do not alter the building, while framing, roofing, and wiring repairs do, so your plan should show which phases need permits.
My home is in a historic district. Does that change my fire damage restoration?
It changes exterior work. The city has six historic preservation districts, including Lake Eola Heights, Lake Cherokee, Lake Copeland, and Colonialtown South near downtown Orlando, and exterior changes there need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Board. The city says repairs with matching materials and reroofing can go through its Minor Review Committee in 2 to 10 days. Interior cleaning, drying, and odor removal fall outside that review.
Why does lightning start so many house fires in Central Florida?
Florida sees more lightning than most of the country, and storms build over the interior on many summer afternoons. A strike can ignite attic insulation or decking, or travel through wiring and start a fire inside a wall. The same storm often adds wind and rain, the kind of storm damage our storm damage restoration team handles. A lightning fire calls for an electrician's inspection during the rebuild.
How long does Orlando fire restoration take?
Smoke and soot cleanup after a small kitchen fire may take a few days, while a loss that needs structural repairs and rebuilding can run several weeks or longer. Permit review and historic district approval, where they apply, add time to the rebuild phase. After the assessment, we give you a timeline built around your property and your insurance company's process.
Speak With Our Orlando Fire Restoration Team Today
Fire restoration in Orlando moves faster when one restoration company handles cleanup, drying, the insurance scope and the rebuild. We answer emergency calls at any hour, and one call gets you a plan to protect the property and restore your home or business.
United Water Restoration Group of Orlando
Address: 6959 Stapoint Ct Suite K, Winter Park, FL 32792
Phone: (407) 278-7715
Hours: 24/7 Emergency Service
Service Area: Serving Orlando from Winter Park