How it goes
From the last fire truck to a clean, dry structure
To put the fire out, firefighters may break windows and cut holes in the roof and walls, and the water they use soaks rooms the flames never reached. Until those openings are closed, rain and intruders can get in. That is why we secure the house before anything else.
Plywood over broken windows and doors and a tarp over the holes in the roof, so rain and intruders stay out.
The water from the hoses is extracted and the structure dried, with moisture readings every day, same as any water job.
Soot cleaned off what can be saved, and odor handled by removing the residue that carries it instead of covering it with fragrance.
The U.S. Fire Administration says not to enter a fire-damaged home until the fire department says it is safe, and not to turn the water, power or gas back on yourself. Floors and walls may not be as safe as they look.
Things the flames never touched can still be ruined by smoke or soaked by the water used to fight the fire. That is why we check every room, not only the one that burned. The IICRC S700 standard for fire and smoke damage includes the heating and air conditioning system in that assessment.
The U.S. Fire Administration warns that the soot and dirty water left after a fire may contain things that can make you sick. If you have to move anything, wear gloves, and leave the cleaning to a crew with protective gear.
Our work ends when the house is closed, clean of soot and dry. Rebuilding walls, roofs or kitchens is a separate trade and a separate contract, and we say so from the first call.
Common questions
What people ask after a fire
Can you secure the house tonight?
We call you back in under 10 minutes and tell you straight away whether a crew can reach you tonight. Nobody goes in until the fire department says the house is safe, and daylight and wind decide what is safe to do on a roof.
What should I do while I wait?
Stay out until the fire department says it is safe, and do not turn the utilities back on yourself. If you can, call your insurer and ask what they need. Keep the receipts for everything you spend.
Can the smoke smell be removed?
The smell comes from residue on surfaces and inside porous materials. Cleaning that residue off is what removes it, and when a material holds the smell too deep to clean, we tell you before it comes out.
Does my insurance cover fire damage?
Only your policy and your insurer can answer that, so ask your insurer what to do first. What we hand you is the file, with dated photos of every room and of the emergency work. We do not file, negotiate or adjust claims.
Close the house before the next rain.
Board-up and a roof tarp take hours. Water through an open roof ruins what the fire left. Call now, or send the details and we call you.
(888) 844-7862 Report the damage