Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Tallahassee
A fire leaves smoke, soot, and water damage all at once, and every hour lets corrosion and odor set deeper. We secure the property and remove soot and smoke odor.
Fire or smoke damage to your property?
Soot and odor set deeper by the hour. Call for 24/7 dispatch.
Fast Emergency Response
We respond quickly and work efficiently without cutting corners, delivering reliable results through professional restoration work.
Licensed & Insured
Our team is fully licensed and insured, with every job handled safely and to professional industry standards.
Quality Work You Can Rely On
We stand behind our work and hold every project to clear quality expectations from start to finish.
Locally Owned & Operated
We're rooted in the community and committed to honest work that builds trust, not quick fixes.
What actually causes damage in Tallahassee.
Tallahassee is inland, hilly, and covered in oaks and pines, which changes what a storm does here. Hurricane Hermine in 2016 put trees across roofs and power lines all over the city, and the tornadoes of 10 May 2024 did it again with no hurricane in sight. The usual loss is a tree through the roof and the rain that follows it in.
Trees through the roof
The canopy that makes Tallahassee shady also puts big limbs over most roofs. When one comes down, the job is not only the hole: water gets into the attic insulation, the ceiling, and the walls below, and it keeps coming until the opening is closed.
Hills, clay, and water that runs downhill into houses
Red clay soil does not absorb a heavy rain, so water runs off fast and collects at the low side of a lot. Houses on slopes and in low spots take water through foundations, garages, and crawlspaces even when nothing nearby is officially flooding.
Student rentals and older apartments
Around FSU and FAMU, a lot of housing is older rental stock with tenants who may not report a slow leak. By the time a landlord hears about it, the water has been in the wall or under the floor long enough to become a mold problem.
Get your free visual fire damage assessment
Tell us what happened and a Swift advisor calls you back, usually within the hour. No obligation, and we bill your insurance directly.
(305) 733-4134
Recent Fire Restorations
Real jobs across Florida, from thermal moisture detection to full restoration.
Emergency Response Fleet
Thermal Moisture Detection
Commercial Ceiling Restoration
Flood Cut & Containment
Structural Drying
Moisture Metering
Post-Loss Restoration
Storm Damage Assessment
What smoke and soot do while you wait
The fire is out, but the damage keeps working. Soot is acidic and it sets a little more every day it sits.
Minutes
Soot settles everywhere
Fine acidic residue coats every surface in the home, including rooms the fire never reached.
Hours
Finishes discolor
Plastics and appliances yellow, grout and fiberglass stain, and uncoated metal starts to tarnish.
Days
Odor embeds
Smoke odor works into drywall, upholstery and HVAC ducting, and painted walls yellow for good.
Weeks
Damage becomes permanent
Metal corrodes, glass etches and wood needs refinishing or replacement instead of cleaning.
After a fire? Do this, not that.
Do this right now
Wait for the all-clear
Only re-enter once the fire department confirms the structure is safe.
Ventilate if it’s safe
Open windows to air out smoke once you’re cleared to go inside.
Keep your receipts
Track lodging and expenses; they’re often covered by your policy.
Please don't
Don’t wipe soot off walls
Dry-wiping grinds soot in and can etch surfaces permanently. Leave it to the techs.
Don’t run the HVAC
It circulates soot and smoke odor through the whole building.
Don’t toss items yet
Wait for the adjuster to document belongings before you throw anything out.
Complete fire and smoke recovery
Fire damage is never just the burned area. We handle the entire aftermath in one coordinated response, one team, start to finish.
Emergency board-up & roof tarping
We secure openings immediately to keep out rain, animals, and intruders while restoration is planned.
Soot & smoke residue removal
Different fires leave different residues. We identify the type and clean walls, ceilings, contents, and HVAC accordingly, before it etches surfaces permanently.
Smoke odor elimination
We don’t mask smells. Thermal fogging, ozone, and hydroxyl treatment neutralize odor at the molecular level, including inside porous materials and ductwork.
Water & extinguisher damage
Firefighting water and chemical residue are removed and the structure is dried to prevent secondary mold damage.
Contents cleaning, packout & storage
Salvageable belongings are inventoried, cleaned off-site, and stored safely until your home is ready.
Structural cleaning & treatment
We clean, treat, and protect affected surfaces and finishes to prevent further damage, one team, start to finish.
Our fire restoration process
A structured, insurance-ready response. You make one call, we handle securing, cleanup, and restoration.
One Call
24/7 dispatcher starts your emergency response immediately.
Secure & Assess
We board up, tarp, and document the full extent of fire, smoke, and water damage.
Clean & Deodorize
Soot removal, contents cleaning, and multi-stage odor treatment that removes smells, not just masks them.
Mitigate
Structural cleaning and treatment to prevent further damage.
We handle your fire claim
Fire claims are complex: structure, contents, and living expenses. We document everything, build a detailed loss inventory, and bill your insurer directly, so there's no upfront cost on covered claims. If you choose not to file, or the claim is denied, you're responsible for payment.
(305) 733-4134What Our Clients
Say About Us
Swift Restoration is trusted by thousands of homeowners and businesses across Florida.
"A pipe burst while we were on vacation and Swift had a crew at our door within the hour. They extracted the water, dried everything, and dealt with our insurance directly. We never lifted a finger."
One team, from board-up to fully mitigated.
Licensed & Insured
Every job handled safely and to professional industry standards.
Odor Neutralized at the Source
Thermal fogging, ozone, and hydroxyl treatment, not just air freshener.
Full Loss Inventory
A detailed, documented claim so nothing gets missed or under-paid.
Fire & smoke restoration across Tallahassee
North Florida work runs up the Turnpike and I-75 from our Miami base and along I-10, covering Leon County and the Big Bend.
Leon County, North Florida
Zip codes 32301 · 32303 · 32304 · 32308 · 32309 · 32311 · 32312 and surrounding
Other metros we serve
Fire damage
questions, answered
Everything worth knowing before you call, from what to do first to what insurance covers.
Once it’s safe and cleared by the fire department, don’t enter or touch soot-covered surfaces, which can be corrosive. Call us to secure the property and start documentation.
Yes. Surface cleaning alone won’t do it. We use thermal fogging, ozone, and hydroxyl treatment to neutralize odor at the source, including inside HVAC and porous materials.
Standard homeowners and commercial policies cover fire and smoke damage, including cleanup, contents, and restoration. We help you document and maximize the claim.
Cleanup and deodorization typically take days to a couple of weeks; full restoration depends on scope. You get a clear timeline after the free visual assessment.