What Happens After Fire Damage To Your Home Or Business

The shock doesn’t wear off easily. One minute you're standing in your kitchen… the next, you're watching flames threaten everything you’ve built. Whether it’s a small kitchen fire or something more devastating, those first hours afterward are a whirlwind of questions, fear, and unknowns.

We know—because we've helped hundreds of Long Island families pick up the pieces. At K.O.S. Restoration, we want you to know: you are not alone, and there is a clear path forward.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what happens during the first 24 hours of professional fire damage restoration, and how fast action can save your home—and your peace of mind.

Hour 1: Emergency Contact & Dispatch

Your call is the first step. Our phones are answered 24/7 because fires don’t follow business hours.

Once you call K.O.S. Restoration, our fire damage response team mobilizes immediately. For homes in Suffolk County, we’re often on-site in under 45 minutes.

Our priority? Making sure your property is safe to enter and stabilized against further damage.

Hours 2–4: Damage Assessment & Safety Check

We start with a thorough walk-through of your property. This includes:

• Identifying structural hazards
• Assessing burn, smoke, and soot damage
• Checking for water damage from firefighting efforts
• Looking for areas where mold or bacteria could develop

This assessment helps us create a custom restoration plan and lets you know what can be salvaged—and what needs to go.

Hours 4–6: Emergency Board-Up & Structural Stabilization

To prevent break-ins, weather exposure, or even collapse, we secure the property by:

• Boarding up broken windows and doors
• Tarping damaged roofs
• Installing temporary supports if needed

This step is critical, especially during Long Island’s unpredictable weather. It also protects your claim if you're working with insurance.

Hours 6–12: Water Extraction & Drying

Many people don’t realize how much water is used to put out a fire. It soaks drywall, wood framing, flooring, and furniture—creating the perfect environment for mold within just a day.

That’s why we act quickly:

• Using industrial-grade pumps and vacuums to remove standing water
• Deploying dehumidifiers and air movers to begin the drying process
• Monitoring moisture levels to prevent hidden damage

Hours 12–24: Soot, Smoke & Odor Cleanup Begins

Once the property is dry and secure, we begin removing the visible and invisible fire damage:

• HEPA vacuuming and wiping all surfaces
• Using enzyme treatments and air scrubbers to neutralize odors
• Treating salvageable materials and contents
• Removing items that are beyond repair in a respectful, documented way

At this stage, your home starts to feel like it’s on the road to recovery. And it is.