Rebuilding After A Fire on Holmes Makes It Right

By Guest Post

Mike’s Advice / TV Show Behind The Scenes

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025 @ 2:08pm

Holmes Makes It Right | Senseless Arson

Chili, a homeowner, suffered a devastating house fire due to arson. Thankfully, Chili and her baby were able to go down the fire escape which saved their lives. Their house however, was a different story. We filmed it for Holmes Makes It Right, for an episode called “5 Alarm Chili”.

The Insurance Company

Chili got in touch with her insurance company. The insurance company pressured her to hire from their “approved” list of contractors, who proposed merely painting over the soot and damage. Chili refused to authorize the job. Recognizing the true extent of structural and fire damage, she reached out to me for help.

A Holmes Makes It Right Reno

We launched a thorough investigation, uncovered serious structural and soot-related issues that needed to be addressed properly. My crew and I visited the Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute to better understand proper fire-damage protocols. We focused on the removal of damaged materials, air quality testing, and structural evaluation—not just cosmetic stuff.

The Damage From The Fire

The fire affected interior framing and joists, compromising their structural integrity. While some of the damage was visibly charred, much of it was hidden behind walls and ceilings.

Fire can weaken wooden beams and load-bearing walls. The Holmes crew had to determine whether essential structural components had lost their strength—even if they appeared intact on the surface.

Smoke residue had penetrated the drywall, insulation, and even electrical boxes. This posed both fire safety and air quality hazards.

We found asbestos in the materials as well and brought in the right pros for asbestos removal.

Even in rooms far from the fire, there was lingering smoke odor, indicating that fumes had traveled through the HVAC system and porous materials like drywall and insulation.

Most of the drywall had absorbed smoke and soot. It was unsalvageable and needed to be removed—not covered or painted.

Electrical wires can be damaged even if not directly touched by flames. Heat and soot can degrade insulation and cause future fire hazards.

My team had to assess if the panel and circuits were exposed to heat or smoke, which could cause hidden corrosion or failures later.

We fixed it all, pretty much gutted everything and redesigned the space. Chili was thrilled with the new space. Made me very happy to see her reaction😊

Watch The Full Episode – 5 Alarm Chili

More Mike Holmes Full episodes

You can watch full episodes of Mike Holmes’ shows for free on Homeful TV’s YouTube channel. Simply visit the channel, browse the playlist, and enjoy episodes featuring Mike’s expert home renovation advice and tips. It’s an easy and cost-free way to access all your favorite episodes!

About Holmes On Homes

Mike Holmes, contractor and TV host, visits unlucky families who have been swindled or abandoned during their home improvement projects on his hit TV series, Holmes On Homes. Each project is more than just a renovation, it’s an opportunity to help make people’s lives better.

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