A fire-damaged hard drive.
Southern California is experiencing record-breaking wildfires, with total losses expected to be $50 billion or more. At least five people have died, and thousands have been displaced.
At Datarecovery.com, we’ve provided services to businesses, consumers, nonprofits, and state agencies following major natural disasters. We’ve pledged free media evaluation services for all hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and other storage media damaged in the 2025 California wildfires.*
If your hard drive or other storage devices have been exposed to fire, do not attempt to use them. Heat, smoke, and water damage can severely compromise the internal components of a hard drive. Attempting to operate a hard drive, server, or other device can cause extensive damage and permanent data loss.
Call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with a data recovery expert or set up a risk-free evaluation online. All services are supported by our no data, no charge guarantee.
Fire-Damaged Hard Drive Data Recovery: Protecting Media
Here’s what to do if your hard drive has been impacted by the California wildfires:
- Do not operate the drive. This is the most important step. Resist the urge to “see if it still works;” operating the device for even a few seconds could cause extensive platter damage, which is irreversible. Learn about hard drive platter damage.
- Do not attempt to clean the drive yourself. This includes wiping it down or trying to remove any soot or other debris. Cleaning the drive could lead to corrosion or component damage.
- If the drive is wet, do not attempt to dry it. Do not use a hairdryer or place it in rice; put the drive into a plastic bag or anti-static bag.
- Package the hard drive carefully. Place it in an anti-static bag if possible, then wrap it in at least 3-5 inches of bubble wrap for added protection during shipping. If possible, we recommend dropping the drive off at one of our locations (each Datarecovery.com location is equipped with a full-service laboratory; we do not operate shipping offices).
- Choose a reputable data recovery provider. Look for a company with extensive experience in fire damage recovery. See examples of fire-damaged hard drives we’ve received at our laboratories.
To optimize the chances of successful data recovery, we recommend seeking professional assistance as soon as possible. Fire-damaged storage devices may corrode over time, and corrosion is often a more significant issue than fire exposure.
Understanding the Data Recovery Process for Fire-Damaged Drives
Recovering data from a fire-damaged hard drive is a complex process that requires specialized tools and expertise. Here’s a basic overview of what you can expect:
- Evaluation: Our engineers will carefully assess the extent of the damage to your hard drive, identifying the affected components and determining the best strategy for recovery.
- Decontamination: Media is meticulously cleaned in a specialized cleanroom environment to remove any soot, debris, and other contaminants.
- Component Replacement: If necessary, damaged components such as the printed circuit board or read/write heads will be replaced with donor parts from compatible drives. Learn about Datarecovery.com’s industry leading hard drive parts inventory.
- Data Extraction and Verification: Using advanced techniques and proprietary tools, our engineers will extract the data and verify its integrity, then return the recovered data to the client. All data is handled on closed networks, and encryption is used to ensure privacy.
The prognosis for fire-damaged hard drives is typically strong. This is also true for servers and SSDs: Even when media shows severe external damage, the data-storage components are often well insulated.
Datarecovery.com supports every case with a no data, no charge guarantee: If we’re unable to recover the files you identify as important, there’s no charge for the attempt. Call 1-800-237-4200 to get started or submit a case online.
Free Data Recovery Evaluations for California Wildfire Victims
*In most cases, data recovery providers charge a nominal upfront fee to evaluate fire- and water-damaged cases due to the high likelihood of component contamination. Contaminants must be cleared from media before data recovery can be attempted; this is an intensive, time-consuming process.
Datarecovery.com will provide free evaluations for all fire-damaged drives received from California in an effort to optimize the chances of successful case outcomes. Evaluations may be performed at any Datarecovery.com laboratory, including our Pleasanton, California location. To learn more, contact our customer support team at 1-800-237-4200.
