Fire damage can be so severe that the whole house is nothing but ashes or it can be as minor as a small area in one room. You can take care of a small fire and the damage it causes without outside help.

Say a fire started in the kitchen due to a frayed wire from the toaster. Take a fire extinguisher and put out the fire. Turn off the electrical circuit breaker and unplug the toaster. The toaster will not be salvageable so throw it out. Now you have to survey the fire damage. There is probably residue from the fire extinguisher, soot, some light scorching, and the strong odor of smoke. These are damages that you can take care of. Make sure to wear a heat resistant glove, a mask, and protective eyewear if needed. Open the nearby windows and doors to circulate air and dissipate the smoke smell.

The first thing you should notice is the residue left behind by the fire extinguisher. This is white and seems to be all over the area you sprayed it. Start by removing this residue. Using a vacuum with a hose should take care of the residue just fine.

After the fire extinguisher residue is vacuumed it is time to deal with the soot caused by the fire. Start by vacuuming the soot off the area. Once this is done use a dry cleaning sponge to remove any leftover soot. Start on the ceiling and work downward until you have cleaned it all. Do not use wet sponges on the soot if possible because soot can turn oily and be harder to remove, causing more work for you and possible staining on the areas you are trying to restore.

When this is done wash any curtains, towels, and other things which the smoky smell might cling to. Deodorize the room and try using an in room air purifier to clean the particles from the air and take the smell out of the room. These small tasks along with the open windows and doors should significantly reduce the odor caused by the fire damage.

After all of the above has been done, survey the fire damage that is left. This will be light scorching on the walls and counter or table upon which the toaster sat. It may be possible to remove the scorching by cleaning it with an abrasive substance. If that doesn't work the drywall wall that is affected will need to be replaced, primed, and repainted. The counter may have to be replaced or if the toaster sat on a table the table might need to be sanded and refinished. The table might turn out to be unsalvageable if the fire damage was more than a light scorching.

If fire damage only affects a small area it can be dealt with and won't be such a nightmare after all.