A house does not have to burn to be damaged by a fire. Smoke gets in through attic vents, gaps around doors and windows, and the HVAC system. What it leaves behind is soot, ash and odor, and each one needs a different kind of cleaning.
I’m Igor, the owner of FastFix Restoration. Below is what we see in homes after a fire, including homes that stood after the January 2025 Palisades Fire, and what actually works.
Soot, ash and odor are three different problems
Soot is the fine black residue from burned material. It is oily, it smears when you wipe it, and it settles on walls, ceilings, inside cabinets and closets. Wiping it with a wet rag usually spreads it and pushes it into the paint.
Ash is heavier and dry. Outside it blows in from the fire area. Inside it collects on floors, window sills, in the attic and in the ducts. If you sweep it or use a regular vacuum, the fine part goes back into the air.
Odor comes from smoke particles that got into porous materials: drywall, insulation, carpet, furniture, clothes. Air fresheners cover it for a day. The smell comes back because the source is still there.
How to tell if your house has smoke damage
- A smoke smell that comes back after you air the house out
- A gray or yellow film on walls, ceilings or light fixtures
- Black streaks around vents, outlets and the top of the walls
- Ash on window sills, in closets or on top of cabinets
- Smell when the HVAC turns on
If you see these, don’t start scrubbing. The wrong cleaning method can set the stain and make it harder to remove.
How smoke cleaning is done
- Inspect first. We check every room, the attic and the HVAC, and decide what can be cleaned and what has to go. When the building’s age calls for it, we test for asbestos and lead before anything is disturbed.
- Remove the loose ash with HEPA vacuums. This comes before any wiping. HEPA filters hold the fine particles instead of blowing them back into the room.
- Clean the surfaces. Walls, ceilings, cabinets and floors are cleaned with methods that match the residue: dry sponges for light dry soot, cleaners made for oily soot. Some surfaces need sealing and repainting.
- Treat the odor at the source. HEPA air scrubbers clean the air while we work. Hydroxyl generators break down odor in the air and on surfaces, and people can stay in the room while they run.
- Get the HVAC checked. If the system pulled in smoke, it keeps spreading the smell until the ducts are cleaned or replaced. We bring in a licensed HVAC contractor for that.
- Handle the contents. Furniture, clothes, kitchenware and personal items are cleaned or documented as a loss for your insurance.
A real job: smoke cleaning after the Palisades Fire
This family home in Pacific Palisades was left standing after the fire, but smoke and ash got inside. It was an insurance claim. We emptied the rooms and removed ash and fine dust from the floors, closets and every surface with HEPA vacuums. Then every surface was cleaned.
The contents went outside. Each item was cleaned and photographed one by one: cushions, kitchenware, books, toys, small appliances. That record went to the adjuster, so nothing was missed on the claim. When we finished, the rooms were clean and ready for the family’s things to come back.
More about this job on our Pacific Palisades page.
What not to do
- Don’t wipe soot with water or household cleaners before it is assessed.
- Don’t run the HVAC until the system is checked.
- Don’t throw things away before they are photographed. Your insurance needs the record.
- Don’t paint over soot. The smell and the stain come through.
Smoke damage and insurance
Smoke damage is usually part of a fire claim, even when the fire was not in your house. Your carrier decides what is covered. What helps is a clear record: photos of every room, a list of what was cleaned and what was replaced, and why. We work directly with your insurance company and document the job from the first day.
When to call a professional
Light soot in one room from a candle or cooking can be a DIY job. Smoke from a house fire or a wildfire usually is not: it is in the attic, the ducts and the walls, not only on the surfaces you can see. If the smell is still there after a few days of airing out, the source is still in the house.
We answer 24/7 at (818) 717-7431. The on-site inspection is free. More about our fire and smoke restoration.
Igor, Owner, FastFix Restoration
IICRC Master Fire and Smoke Restorer · CSLB #1083206