The Problem: Extensive fire & smoke damage
When a fire broke out at a Kent School, it spread across multiple areas, including the kitchen where food is prepared and served. The incident forced the closure of classrooms and left students unable to return until the site could be safely restored.
In September 2025, our emergency response team was called in to carry out fire damage cleaning and decontamination. The objective was clear: deliver a fast, thorough response so the school could welcome students back into a safe, hygienic environment without delay.
The fire left widespread soot contamination throughout teaching areas and the school kitchen. While flames caused localised damage, the smoke and soot spread far beyond the seat of the fire, coating walls, ceilings, and even curtains in multiple rooms.
This presented several challenges:
- Health & safety risks: Smoke residues contain harmful toxins and odours that can affect air quality and respiratory health, particularly concerning in a school environment.
- Food hygiene compliance: With the kitchen directly affected, strict standards had to be met before any food preparation could resume.
- Access difficulties: The building featured tall ceilings and large curtains, requiring tower access and trained operatives.
- Tight timescales: Students were at home awaiting the reopening of classrooms, so speed was essential.
Without a fast and effective response, the school faced prolonged closure, reputational risk, and significant disruption to students’ education.
The Solution: Emergency fire restoration & decontamination
We mobilised a specialist fire damage restoration team the very next day after receiving the call. To maximise both speed and quality, we implemented a structured approach:
- Rapid soot removal: Cleaning began immediately to minimise staining and prevent long-term damage.
- Full site survey: A comprehensive inspection identified all affected areas, allowing us to prioritise classrooms and teaching spaces for early reopening.
- Targeted decontamination: Classrooms, corridors, and the kitchen were deep-cleaned using wet vacs, ULV fogging, and professional-grade cleaning products to neutralise toxins, odours, and bacteria.
- Air quality restoration: ULV fogging was also used to eliminate airborne contaminants, ensuring a safe return for staff and students.
- Specialist access work: Tower equipment was used to clean high ceilings and curtains, areas often missed in standard fire cleans.
- Phased reopening: By cleaning in stages, sections of the school could be brought back into use while further decontamination continued elsewhere.
- Compliance assurance: On completion, decontamination certificates were issued, confirming that all areas were safe and compliant for occupation.
By combining rapid response with specialist expertise, we ensured the designated areas of the school were fully decontaminated and ready for safe reoccupation.
The Result
The project was completed across two site attendances, with multiple teams working to restore the school in the shortest possible timeframe.
- Classrooms and reception area restored: Teaching spaces were returned to their pre-incident condition.
- Air quality improved: Fogging eradicated odours and airborne risks, creating a safe learning environment.
- Downtime minimised: Students were able to return to lessons far quicker than expected.
What began as a hazardous and disruptive incident was transformed into a swift recovery, preventing extended operational downtime and ensuring residents could continue to enjoy freshly prepared meals without delay.
Why this project stood out
This project highlighted the importance of combining speed, scale, and expertise in emergency fire restoration. By mobilising next-day, deploying specialist equipment for hard-to-reach areas, and issuing decontamination certificates, we not only restored the visible damage but also reassured the school community of their safety.
The phased plan provided additional value, allowing the school to reopen key spaces quickly while phased work could continue elsewhere. For this Kent School, it wasn’t just about cleaning up after a fire, it was about restoring confidence, protecting health, and minimising disruption to education.
Need urgent fire damage cleaning? Our specialists provide rapid, compliant decontamination to restore safety and minimise disruption. Contact us today for a same-day response.
