Provider profile
Providence Fire Restoration
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Rhode Island homeowners dealing with mold tied to water damage or fire aftermath, where a single crew can handle demolition through rebuild under one contract.
Best for
- Riverside, Pawtucket, and greater Rhode Island homeowners who need mold remediation following water damage or fire, especially when the source problem also needs repair.
- Property owners who want one company to handle everything from emergency board-up through final reconstruction rather than coordinating separate contractors.
- Landlords and investment property owners dealing with fire or water damage across multiple units, where fast turnaround matters for rental income.
- Spanish-speaking households in the Rhode Island area who need to communicate directly with crew in their language.
About this company
Providence Fire Restoration is a family-owned restoration company based in Riverside, Rhode Island, operating since 1988. Their primary identity is fire and water damage restoration, with mold remediation as a secondary service that typically follows water events. They handle residential and commercial properties across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
The standout detail is scale: they claim over 700 pieces of equipment and promise to be onsite within 60 minutes of a call. Your call goes directly to their staff with no answering service or dispatch middleman. They handle the full arc from emergency board-up through demolition, drying, mold work, and reconstruction, so you deal with one company instead of coordinating multiple contractors. Their mold process includes air quality and specimen testing, containment, material removal, and drying of structures and HVAC systems.
Shane Howe owns the company. The contact email goes directly to him. They accept all major credit cards, checks, and cash, and their staff includes Spanish speakers. They hold memberships with the BBB and their local Chamber of Commerce.
At 4.3 stars across 41 Google reviews, the rating sits below the 4.5 threshold where most buyers feel comfortable. Most of the negative weight comes from older reviews outside the 18-month window. Recent reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with multiple reviewers describing rapid response times and praising specific crew members by name.
Services
Service area
Based in Riverside, Rhode Island at 5 Industrial Way. They serve Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, with Pawtucket specifically named on their website. They promise onsite arrival within 60 minutes, though that timeline may stretch for locations at the edges of their southeastern Massachusetts coverage.
Review consensus
Speed of response is the most consistent theme. Multiple reviewers describe same-day or next-day arrivals, with Vinny Taylor noting Derek arrived 45 minutes after a 2 PM call. Dereck Perry is praised as a calm, reassuring project leader. Tim C appears in multiple reviews as a helpful and knowledgeable project manager who handles smoke and water damage estimates. Judi gets singled out for empathetic phone manner and follow-up after work completed. Tori in the back office is noted for communication throughout a project. Pat led a team on a water and mold job with positive results. Bob drew praise for hands-on customer service. Ed is mentioned for clear process explanations. Shane Howe, the owner, is noted in one fire restoration review for arriving promptly and working directly on the project. Several reviewers mention quality reconstruction work, with one noting new floors, roofing, tile, and cabinetry.
1 found across 41 total reviews at 4.3★. The single recent complaint describes an incomplete job, alleges a gold chain was stolen from the home, and claims crew members were using cannabis vape pens inside the residence. The reviewer says they had to hire another company to finish work left half done, resulting in further damage. The owner did not respond to this review.
The owner response rate on recent negative reviews is 0%. With only one negative in the 18-month window and no reply, it is hard to call this a pattern, but it is notable that a serious allegation involving theft and misconduct went publicly unaddressed. The positive reviews, by contrast, show a company that generates genuine loyalty from customers, with detailed accounts of specific employees and situations rather than generic praise.
Dereck Perry (project leader — positive, praised for calm demeanor and fast response). Tim C (project manager — positive, noted as helpful and knowledgeable across multiple reviews). Judi (phone/office — positive, described as empathetic and attentive). Tori (back office — positive, praised for communication). Pat (crew leader — positive, led water and mold team). Bob (customer service — positive, hands-on and responsive). Ed (estimator/process — positive, clear explanations). George (project contact — positive, guided a kitchen restoration). Shane Howe (owner — positive, personally involved in fire restoration project). Kris Bernier (project manager — positive, noted in a fire restoration review).
Ask for Dereck Perry or Tim C as your project manager if you can. The single negative review raises serious concerns, but it stands alone against dozens of detailed, specific positive accounts naming real employees. Get your mold testing done independently before signing a remediation contract with them, and document the condition of your property before crews arrive.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. That means the same company that tells you whether you have a mold problem also profits from fixing it. Ask whether they will accept a third-party test result, or consider getting an independent test before signing a remediation contract.
- Their Google rating is 4.3 across 41 reviews, which is below the 4.5 threshold most buyers use as a baseline. The recent trend is strongly positive, but the overall number reflects some rough patches.
- The one recent negative review alleges an incomplete job, property theft, and crew misconduct. The owner did not respond to that review, which leaves the allegations unaddressed publicly.
- Their mold remediation page references OSHA standards and New York EPA guidelines for mold remediation, which is an unusual citation for a Rhode Island company. Ask what specific standards and training their mold technicians follow.
- They cover Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, which is a broad area for a single-location company in Riverside. Confirm response time and availability for jobs outside their immediate area.