Fire and smoke damage help for Cheyenne properties
After a fire is out, the damage is rarely over. Smoke and soot reach rooms the flames never touched, and the water used to put the fire out soaks floors, walls and belongings. This page explains what to do in the first hours and what to ask before a contractor starts work.
Cheyenne Water Damage is a referral service. We connect you with independent local fire damage restoration contractors. We do not perform the work ourselves.
Fire damage restoration line for Cheyenne: calls are answered day or night.
What a fire leaves behind
A fire loss usually has three layers. There is the burned structure itself. There is smoke and soot, which settle on walls, ceilings, ducts, furniture and clothing and leave a smell that can last. And there is water: from hoses, sprinklers, or the melting and leaking that follows. Water left in a building after a fire can lead to warped flooring, swollen drywall and mold if it is not dried quickly.
Cheyenne's cold winters add a further problem. A building with a damaged roof, broken windows or a dead heating system can freeze, and frozen pipes can burst and add a second loss on top of the first.
Safety first
- Do not go back into a building until the fire department says it is safe.
- Stay out of rooms with weakened floors, hanging ceilings or standing water near electrical equipment.
- Do not turn on appliances or electrical systems that were exposed to fire or water.
- If you can reach a water shutoff safely, closing it limits further damage. If reaching it is unsafe, leave it for the professionals.
- Do not eat or use food and medicine that were exposed to heat, smoke or soot unless you have confirmed they are safe.
What to do while you wait for help
- Call your insurer early and ask what they need from you.
- Take photos and video of every affected room before anything is moved, and write down what was damaged.
- Keep receipts for emergency costs such as temporary lodging, in case your policy covers them.
- If you can, secure the property against weather and entry. Ask your insurer before hiring anyone for board-up so you know what is covered.
- Do not wipe or scrub soot from walls and surfaces yourself. Rubbing can push it deeper into the material.
What to ask a fire damage contractor before work starts
Confirm the following directly with the contractor you are connected with:
- Do they handle fire, smoke and soot cleanup, and do they also dry out water left from firefighting?
- Do they work on homes, on commercial properties, or both?
- How will they document damage and progress for your insurance claim?
- How will they handle smoke odor in the building?
- Who is your point of contact during the job?
Scope, timing and price are agreed between you and the contractor. This referral service does not set or guarantee them.
When fire and water damage overlap
Most fire losses also involve water. Depending on where it went, the job may include water removal and extraction for standing water, water mitigation to limit further damage, flood cleanup for larger water loss, or basement water removal for lower levels. If mold shows up afterward, see mold remediation. You can also check the coverage area or reach us through the contact page.
Frequently asked questions: fire damage in Cheyenne
Does smoke damage matter if the fire was small?
Yes. Smoke and soot can travel through a whole building, including through vents and wall cavities, even when the fire stayed in one room.
Do the contractors you connect us with handle fire damage?
We connect callers with independent local contractors. Tell the call handler it was a fire or smoke loss, say whether it is a home or a business, and confirm the contractor's scope directly before work begins.
Can I stay in the building?
That depends on the extent of the damage and on what the fire department and your insurer say. Do not re-enter until it has been cleared as safe.
Will insurance cover the cleanup?
Many policies cover fire loss, but terms differ. Call your insurer early and keep photos, dates and receipts.
How fast can someone come?
We do not promise arrival times. Calls are answered day or night, and the contractor confirms timing with you directly.
Fire damage restoration line for Cheyenne: describe what happened and confirm scope with the contractor.
This website is a referral service. We connect callers with independent local restoration contractors. Availability, scope, timing and price are confirmed with the contractor before work begins.