Commercial Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

Whether a small fire affected part of your facility or a large fire caused significant property loss, commercial fire and smoke damage restoration should start as quickly as possible. Cotton Global Disaster Solutions (GDS) is the fire damage restoration contractor businesses trust to restore their building to its pre-event state, or better, quickly and safely.

We provide commercial fire damage restoration, commercial smoke damage restoration and fire damage cleanup services for businesses across every industry, from the moment your fire is extinguished through final reconstruction.

For immediate help with commercial fire or smoke damage, CALL 877.511.2962

CONTACT A FIRE DAMAGE RESTORATION EXPERT

THE COTTON DIFFERENCE

Cotton GDS delivers exceptional restoration services characterized by decades of experience, a strong team of experts and rapid mobilization capabilities. Our transparent communication and structured project management ensure clarity and confidence throughout the restoration process. Whether dealing with localized emergencies or widespread disasters, Cotton GDS is prepared and equipped to manage every aspect of fire and smoke damage restoration effectively.

24/7 Situational Awareness.
Pre-Loaded Fleet for Immediate Dispatch.
Trusted Global Partner in Restoration, Disaster Recovery and Construction.
Adhere to OSHA Standards, Along with Local, State and Federal Regulations.
Commercial-Grade Equipment and Innovative Thinking.

Cotton's Commercial Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Services

Cotton GDS’s fire damage restoration experts have more than 25 years of experience and are available 24/7 to help get your business back up and running as soon as possible. Once on-site, Cotton GDS experts will assess the damage and create a plan for the recovery of all affected property. Cotton GDS offers a full range of fire damage restoration services, ensuring comprehensive care for all affected areas:

24-Hour Emergency Service
Rapid Response and Mobilization
Catastrophe Management
Emergency Board-Up
Removal and Disposal of Debris
Content Cleaning, Manipulation, Inventory and Storage
Smoke and Soot Removal
Deodorization
Water Extraction
Water Damage Restoration
Cleaning and Decontamination of HVAC Systems
Electronics and Data Recovery
Installment of Shoring to Secure Building Structure
Reconstruction
Roofing
Consulting
Demolition and Debris Removal

Soot & Smoke Removal Services

Odor Removal & Deodorization Services

Cotton GDS content cleaning and pack-out services team

Contents Cleaning & Pack-Out Services

Electronics Restoration and Data Recovery

Fire damage often brings water damage along with it, whether from firefighting efforts or building systems. When important paperwork is affected, our document recovery services handle drying and restoration of paper records alongside your other content restoration needs.

Get a Fire Damage Assessment Started Today

When you call Cotton GDS, you get a single point of contact managing every phase of your fire restoration, from board-up through final reconstruction, without juggling multiple fire damage cleanup companies. Our crews are pre-loaded and ready to mobilize the moment you call, so your business spends less time closed and more time operating.

Request Emergency Service

Procedural Guide for Fire Damage Restoration

Cotton’s expert crews follow proven protocols when restoring fire-damaged commercial properties, ensuring a thorough and efficient recovery process that addresses everything from emergency response and structural assessments to smoke removal and complete restoration.

Emergency Response & Site Inspection

24/7 emergency response to secure the property.
Safety assessments for structural stability and hazards.
Detailed inspection for fire, smoke and water damage.
Photo documentation for insurance reporting.

Board-Up & Roof Tarping

Secure compromised windows, doors and roofs.
Protection from weather, animals or trespassing.
Stabilization of unsafe structures.

Water Removal & Drying

Extract standing water from firefighting efforts.
Deploy industrial-grade drying equipment.
Monitor moisture levels to prevent mold growth.

Structural Cleaning & Decontamination

Deep cleaning and sanitization of the structural shell.
Application of antimicrobial treatments and odor removal and deodorization using thermal fogging or ozone treatments.

Smoke & Soot Removal

Clean all affected surfaces using HEPA vacuums, sponging and air scrubbers.
Specialized HVAC cleaning and deodorization.

Soot is acidic and will continue damaging surfaces, electronics and HVAC components the longer it sits untreated, which is why this step happens early in our sequence rather than after cosmetic repairs begin.

Contents Pack-Out & Cleaning

Inventory, pack and transport salvageable contents to off-site storage.
Professional cleaning and restoration of items.
Secure storage until reconstruction is completed.

Electronics & Data Recovery

Assess smoke and moisture exposure on affected electronics and equipment.
Clean, decontaminate and test recoverable devices before they leave the facility.
Coordinate specialized data recovery for damaged drives and documents.

Demolition & Debris Removal

Removal of non-salvageable materials.
Safe disposal in compliance with regulations.
Preparation for reconstruction.

What To Do if Your Business Experiences Fire Damage

Fast, informed action in the first hours after a fire protects your business and strengthens your insurance claim. Here is what to do before Cotton GDS arrives on-site:

Immediate Steps After a Fire:

Ensure Safety: Do not re-enter the building until it is declared safe by the fire department.
Notify Insurance: Contact your provider about the fire event.
Protect Property: If safe, close off exposed areas to prevent further damage.
Document Damage: Take photos or videos of all affected areas.
Avoid Further Disturbance: Do not disturb soot, ash or debris.
Shut Off Utilities: If instructed, turn off gas, electricity and water.

Businesses Cotton GDS Helps Recover

Cotton specializes in restoring various commercial properties such as:

Multifamily residences: smoke and water damage from firefighting efforts can affect multiple units at once, requiring coordinated restoration across shared systems.
Hotels and resorts: guest room downtime directly affects revenue, so we prioritize phased restoration to reopen unaffected areas while work continues elsewhere on the property.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities: restoration work must account for infection control and continuity of patient care, which changes how we sequence containment and cleaning.
Retail centers and restaurants: commercial kitchen fires often involve grease and cooking oil residue that requires different cleaning agents than a standard structure fire.
Industrial and manufacturing plants: equipment and machinery exposed to soot can corrode quickly if not cleaned promptly, making response speed a priority.
Educational institutions: restoration scheduling is often coordinated around the academic calendar to limit disruption to students and staff.
Commercial office buildings: electronics and data systems are frequently the most business-critical assets to address first.
Government and municipal buildings: documentation and compliance requirements are often more involved, and we coordinate accordingly.

Common Causes and Types of Fire Damage

Knowing what typically starts a commercial fire and how fire crews classify it once it starts helps you spot risk before it becomes a claim.

Common Causes:

Electrical faults, such as overloaded circuits or faulty wiring
Cooking accidents in commercial kitchens
Malfunctioning heating equipment
Improper storage of flammable materials
Arson, vandalism or natural disasters like lightning strikes
Mechanical failures in machinery

Types of Fires:

Class A: Involve ordinary combustibles like wood, paper and cloth
Class B: Involve flammable liquids like gasoline, paint or solvents
Class C: Involve electrical equipment
Class D: Involve combustible metals
Class K: Involve cooking oils and fats

Expert Advice on Insurance and Emergency Contacts

Cotton has dedicated experience partnering with insurance companies to streamline the recovery process, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring an efficient restoration journey. By meticulously coordinating with adjusters and keeping clients informed, Cotton ensures a seamless integration between inspection, scope development and policy execution, fostering a transparent and structured recovery experience.

Scope: Cotton performs detailed inspections and develops scopes of work.
Coordination: Engagement with insurance adjusters to align on scope and pricing.
Transparency: Keeping clients informed on coverage, approvals and policy details.
Billing: Following structured billing processes to avoid delays.

Get Your Business Back Up and Running

Every hour your business stays closed after a fire costs you revenue and customers. With Cotton GDS, you get one team managing board-up, smoke and soot removal, contents recovery and reconstruction, so you're not coordinating multiple vendors during an already stressful event. Our crews are available 24/7 and pre-positioned for immediate dispatch.

Contact Cotton GDS Now

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does commercial fire damage restoration include?

Commercial fire damage restoration includes soot and smoke removal, deodorization, contents cleaning and pack-out, electronics and data recovery, structural cleaning and reconstruction. Fire events often cause related water damage from firefighting efforts, which may require water extraction and document recovery services alongside standard fire and smoke cleanup.

Should I call insurance or a fire restoration company first after a fire?

Contact a professional fire restoration company immediately to secure the property and prevent further damage, then notify your insurance provider. Delaying professional response can allow soot, smoke and water damage to worsen, increasing repair costs and complicating your claim. Most restoration companies can also help document damage for your insurer.

What is a board-up service after a commercial fire?

Board-up service involves securing damaged windows, doors and roof openings with temporary materials immediately after a fire. This protects your property from weather, theft and unauthorized entry while permanent repairs are planned. It also helps stabilize structurally compromised areas until those repairs can begin safely.

Is it safe to re-enter a business after a fire?

No. Fire and smoke can weaken structural elements, increasing collapse risk, while lingering smoke inhalation poses a health hazard. Businesses should wait until the fire department declares the property safe and a restoration professional has assessed structural stability, air quality and soot contamination before allowing anyone back inside.

Can smoke odor be completely removed from a commercial building?

Yes. Once soot is removed from walls, carpets, furniture and HVAC systems, professional deodorization using air scrubbers and specialized cleaning agents eliminates embedded smoke odor rather than masking it. This step is typically completed after smoke and soot removal, ensuring the property is fully ready to reopen.

ADDITIONAL COTTON ASSISTANCE

Business operations don’t have to stop during the fire damage restoration process. Cotton Logistics and Cotton Culinary offer reliable, temporary solutions that allow you to continue serving your customers, while Cotton Construction and Cotton Roofing restore your facility.