Fire Damage and Smoke Cleanup in Chino Hills
Fire damage and smoke cleanup in Chino Hills, CA after evacuations like the Blue Ridge Fire. Ash and soot removal, odor control, board-up and rebuild. 24/7.
In October 2020, the Blue Ridge Fire led to evacuation orders for nearly 6,000 Chino Hills homes, including all of Carbon Canyon. Twelve years earlier, the 2008 Freeway Complex Fire burned about 95 percent of Chino Hills State Park. For families here, coming home after an evacuation and opening the door to a smoky house is a familiar worry.
Most homes that go through a wildfire evacuation don't burn. They come back with ash on the floors, soot in the ducts and a smell that won't leave. We clean that up, and we also restore homes after kitchen, electrical and dryer fires. Our crews are IICRC-certified and use the ANSI/IICRC S700 standard.
Serving Chino Hills 24/7
- A real person answers, day or night
- Up-front pricing before any work
- CSLB Lic. #798425
- IICRC-certified restoration crews
What's different about fire & smoke damage restoration in Chino Hills
Carbon Canyon and Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow began as a 1920s cabin community in Carbon Canyon, and many homes there are older, smaller and close to brush. Older wood construction means heavy smoke exposure during a fire, and the cleanup often has to reach crawl spaces, eaves and wood paneling.
Hillside homes next to open space
Many Chino Hills neighborhoods back up to open hills and the state park. When those slopes burn, embers and ash land on roofs and get pulled into attics through vents. Smoke settles into insulation, which may need to be replaced if the odor won't clean out.
Burned slopes and winter storms
Once vegetation burns, hillsides shed rain faster and can send mud toward the homes below. Runoff mixed with ash is contaminated, so drywall and flooring it soaks usually come out, and the structure has to be dried before mold gets started.
Houses closed up during an evacuation
During an evacuation, a house can sit shut for days with smoke trapped inside. Residue settles on everything, and if the power went out, a refrigerator or freezer full of spoiled food adds its own odor problem on top of the smoke.
Signs it's time to call
- A layer of ash on floors and counters when you return from an evacuation
- Smoke odor that clings to closets, bedding and curtains
- Soot inside the attic or on the HVAC filter
- Spoiled-food odor from a fridge or freezer that lost power
- Scorched patio covers, fences or vents on the side facing the hills
How we handle it in Chino Hills
We walk the house with you and note every affected area, from the attic to the garage. If the fire reached the structure, we board and tarp before anything else. Ash is removed with HEPA vacuums rather than swept or blown around, soot is cleaned to suit each material, and odor is treated in carpet, fabrics, insulation and ductwork. Belongings can be cleaned in place or stored off site until the home is ready.
After a declared wildfire emergency, California law generally gives homeowners more time on parts of a claim, such as living expenses and collecting full replacement cost, subject to policy limits. Ask your insurer how that applies, or call the Department of Insurance hotline, 1-800-927-4357. We supply photos and an itemized scope for your adjuster; approval is up to the insurer. Our wildfire smoke damage guide and Chino Hills restoration page have more.
Chino Hills questions, answered
We're allowed back home. Is it safe to start cleaning?+
Light cleaning is possible with the right gear, but follow EPA advice: wear a NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator, mist ash before sweeping, and skip the leaf blower and the regular shop vacuum. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant women should leave ash cleanup to others. For heavy ash or soot indoors, call us.
Our attic insulation smells like smoke. Does it have to come out?+
Not always, but it's often the hardest material to deodorize. If smoke or ash got into the attic, we inspect the insulation and tell you whether cleaning will work or replacement makes more sense.
Can you come out to Chino Hills in the middle of the night?+
Yes. We cover Chino Hills around the clock from San Bernardino, and we're usually there within 1-2 hours of an emergency call - sooner or later depending on where you are in the hills, traffic and how many calls we're handling.
Inland Empire neighbors trust First Call
4.8 from 35 Google reviews
“Jose was very knowledgeable and knew the area very well. Walked through everything with us and gave us suggestions and solutions. Would highly recommend.”
“Great price. Jose and his team did a great job unclogging and clearing my bathroom drain. Prior to him, I had three other plumbers out - First Call got it done.”
“Wonderful job! Jose was great! Prompt and stayed until the job was done!”
“Great price. We have used 3 different plumbing companies in the past that we weren't crazy about, so I decided to try this company - so glad I did. Jose provided fast, professional service.”
Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration nearby
Your First Call Clears It All.
Talk to a real person now and get a licensed plumber or restoration crew dispatched across the Inland Empire - day or night.