I worked every angle of fire from forest fires, to Volunteer Captian of a Fire Ambulance company, Industrial Fire Marshal, and 25 years on a 500 person fire department from rookie to Chief of Training. That included a nearly 10 year stint as an Fire and Explosion Investigator. I'd have the piano treated.

The primary problem most people have after restoration is that when it gets really humid the fire smell comes back. I've seen a burnt furnace motor total a store inventory of 2 million dollars, and require a 30 day shut down to deal with the structural smoke damage. My best advice is to be picky at the start with them, they don't want to come back and have to redo things, but if you get even a hint of smoke be push-y.

As to the piano, I'd insist the tech (at your insurance companies expense), remove an entire key and all it's parts to ensure there is no smoke residue. If there is, then it has to be taken apart piece by piece and cleaned by hand. It would be easy for smoke particles to lodge between the wooden action and then every time you'd play it it would remind you of a house fire, which is not a nice smell unless the only thing that burned was cedar or hickory. (LOL).

It's all the plastic and synthetics we use now that make the smoke residue such a toxic and nasty blend. Which is why most full time municipal fire fighters rarely reach 70, however I made one more year as of today towards that goal...oh well.

Ah the golden years, as the light of day filters through the cataracts and onto eyes that look out of the windows that are darkened....everything has a soft focus golden hue, and slowly you don't hear much as the daughters of music are brought low...YIKES where did that come from..

John Conley
Musica est vita