Can smoke odor really be removed?

Yes. With proper cleaning, HEPA air scrubbing, and ozone or hydroxyl treatment, even severe smoke odor can be eliminated.

What about water damage from the fire?

We handle both - water extraction and drying happen alongside soot cleanup.

Can severe smoke odor really be removed permanently?

Yes - when soot is properly cleaned from every surface first, then porous materials are treated with thermal fogging or hydroxyl/ozone, even heavy smoke odor is eliminated. The mistake homeowners make is treating odor without removing the residue, which only masks the smell temporarily.

What's protein soot and why does it matter?

Protein soot is the nearly invisible yellow-brown film left by burned meat, oil, or food. It carries some of the most persistent odor of any soot type and requires specific surfactant cleaners - generic methods leave it behind.

Can my contents be saved?

More than most people expect. Hard goods, electronics, and a high percentage of soft goods (clothing, bedding, textiles) can be cleaned and deodorized through pack-out. Some items - heavily charred, melted, or porous food-contact items - cannot be restored.

Will my insurance cover everything?

On a covered loss, your policy generally covers structure, contents, ALE (hotel/temporary housing), and code upgrades up to your policy limits and after your deductible. We help document each category for your adjuster.

How long until I can move back in?

After cleanup, deodorization, and post-restoration verification, smaller fires often allow re-occupancy in 2-6 weeks. Whole-house structural fires may take 4-9 months including rebuild.

Lexington & Central Kentucky · 24/7

Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration

Soot, smoke odor, and structural fire cleanup - handled end-to-end.

(859) 629-3406 Get Free Estimate

IICRC Certified
S500 / S520 standards
EPA Lead-Safe (RRP)
Certified renovator
Insurance Approved
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Lexington homeowners

Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Lexington and Surrounding Counties

A house fire is one of the most disorienting events a Lexington family can face. Even after the flames are out, the work is just beginning: soot is acidic and etches finishes within hours, smoke odor penetrates porous materials at the molecular level, and water from suppression compounds the damage with secondary water and mold risk.

Independent Restoration Services has handled fire losses across Lexington and Fayette County for years. Our IICRC-certified Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) follow the IICRC S700 Standard from board-up through full reconstruction.

We're one of the only local teams that self-performs every step - emergency board-up, soot and smoke cleanup, contents pack-out, structural deodorization, and the final rebuild - so you don't have to coordinate three different contractors during the worst week of your life.

Emergency board-up and tarping
Soot, smoke, and ash removal
Thermal fogging and ozone deodorization
Contents cleaning and pack-out
Coordination with your insurance adjuster

Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration crew working in Lexington, KY - Independent Restoration Services

Common Causes

What causes fire & smoke damage restoration in Lexington homes

Cooking fires

The leading cause of residential fires nationwide per the NFPA - typically grease ignition or unattended stovetops.

Heating equipment

Wood stoves, space heaters, and chimney fires spike during Kentucky winters.

Electrical faults

Aging knob-and-tube wiring in older Lexington homes, overloaded circuits, and failed appliances.

Smoking & candles

Discarded smoking materials and unattended candles remain a top ignition source.

Lithium-ion battery fires

E-bike, scooter, and power-tool battery fires are an emerging cause and burn extremely hot.

Garage & vehicle fires

Often spread to attached structures before the fire department arrives.

Warning Signs

How to tell you have a problem

Visible char or structural fire damage
Soot residue on walls, ceilings, vents, and contents
Persistent smoke odor in HVAC, fabrics, and porous surfaces
Yellow-brown staining on ceilings (protein soot from kitchen fires)
Water damage from fire suppression
Damaged electrical, plumbing, or HVAC systems

What To Do Right Now

Before our crew arrives

1
Wait for the fire department's all-clear
Never re-enter until officials confirm structural and air safety.
2
Don't touch soot
Skin oils set soot into surfaces and finishes, turning a cleanable mark into permanent staining.
3
Don't run the HVAC
Soot circulating through ductwork spreads contamination to unaffected rooms.
4
Photograph everything
Document the scene before any cleanup or pack-out begins.
5
Call for emergency board-up
An unsecured fire-damaged property is a target for theft and weather damage. We board up 24/7.
6
Notify your carrier
File the claim and request emergency mitigation authorization.

Call (859) 629-3406 24/7

How It Works

Our Process

1
Secure the property
Board-up and tarping to keep your home or business safe.
2
Damage assessment
Detailed scope and photos for your carrier.
3
Cleanup & deodorize
Soot removal, HEPA filtration, and odor neutralization.
4
Restore
Surface refinishing, content restoration, and rebuild coordination.

On The Job

Recent fire & smoke damage restoration work in Lexington

Real photos from IRS crews on job sites across Lexington and surrounding counties - not stock imagery.

Heavy smoke and soot damage in a Lexington kitchen after a fire — Smoke and soot cleanup, top to bottom

Exterior of a Lexington house with fire damage to roof and siding — Structural fire damage assessment and board-up

Extensive fire damage inside a Lexington garage cleared by IRS crew — Full content pack-out and structural cleaning

Professional Equipment

The equipment we bring on every job

Consumer-grade tools won't reach professional dry standard or meet industry remediation requirements. Our crews arrive fully equipped from a Lexington-based fleet - no waiting on rented gear from out of town.

HEPA-filtered air scrubbers and negative-air machines
Thermal foggers for porous-surface deodorization
Hydroxyl generators for occupied-space odor neutralization
Ozone generators for unoccupied severe odor
Ultrasonic cleaning tanks for contents
Soda blasting and dry-ice blasting for char removal
Specialty soot sponges, surfactants, and degreasers

Standards & Certifications

Held to documented industry standards

Our fire restoration follows the IICRC ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration. Soot is identified by type (dry, wet, protein, fuel-oil) before cleaning because each requires different chemistry - using the wrong product can permanently set the residue.

Local & Independent

Why Lexington homeowners choose a local restoration team

Fire restoration takes weeks or months. You want a team you can drive to, not a 1-800 number that routes to a different state. We meet on-site, communicate directly with your adjuster, and walk the rebuild with you at every stage.

Our office is in Lexington and our crews are locals. References from past Fayette County fire jobs are available on request.

About IRS of Lexington Info for insurance agents Info for property managers Commercial Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration

Insurance & Pricing

Direct insurance billing - and what to expect on cost

Fire claims have multiple components: structure, contents, additional living expenses (ALE), and code upgrades. We document each separately so nothing is missed at settlement.

We coordinate directly with your adjuster, contents specialist, and any independent appraisers. Our scopes are written in Xactimate and reconcile cleanly.

Typical project ranges

Fire losses range widely. A small kitchen grease fire with smoke spread might be $8,000-$25,000 total. A whole-house structural fire with contents pack-out and rebuild commonly runs $80,000 to several hundred thousand. Insurance covers the vast majority on a covered loss.

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