Fire & Smoke Cleanup Guide
After fire departments leave, your property is vulnerable to weather, vandalism, and further structural damage. Emergency board-up is the critical first step in protecting what remains and beginning the recovery process.
First-Hour Priorities
Step 1
Once the fire marshal allows access, board-up should begin immediately. Every hour of exposure increases water damage from rain, theft risk, and animal intrusion. Our teams arrive within hours of your call.
Step 2
If the structure has visible sagging, leaning walls, or compromised roofing, stay out. Professional crews assess structural integrity before beginning board-up work. Safety comes first.
Step 3
If you can safely access important documents, medications, or small valuables, remove them before board-up begins. Once the property is secured, access will require coordination with the restoration team.
Step 4
Board-up is considered emergency mitigation and is typically covered by insurance. Inform your adjuster that you're taking steps to prevent further damage—this demonstrates responsible property stewardship.
Field Visuals
These examples show the conditions and response patterns our teams evaluate during active fire damage restoration.
Fire-rated plywood secured over all exposed openings. Heavy-duty fasteners and weatherproofing protect against rain intrusion and unauthorized entry.
Exposed interiors are vulnerable to rain, wind, animal intrusion, and theft. Board-up preserves evidence for insurance and prevents secondary damage.
Technical Workflow
This sequence keeps decisions measurable, documented, and aligned with insurance requirements and safe reconstruction.
Before any work begins, our team assesses structural integrity. Load-bearing walls, roof trusses, and floor joists are checked to ensure safe working conditions for our crew.
All broken or exposed windows and doors are secured with fire-rated plywood. We use heavy-duty fasteners and weatherproofing to create a sealed barrier against rain, wind, and unauthorized entry.
Damaged roof sections are covered with heavy-duty tarps secured against wind uplift. This prevents rain water from entering the structure and causing additional water damage during the restoration period.
The property perimeter is secured, warning signage is posted, and all work is photographed for insurance documentation. We provide your adjuster with a detailed report of all emergency mitigation performed.
South Florida
Florida's frequent rain and hurricane season make emergency tarping especially critical. Even a single rainstorm can cause thousands in additional water damage to an unsecured fire-damaged property.
Charlotte, NC
Winter storms and freezing temperatures can cause pipe bursts in fire-damaged properties where heating systems are no longer operational. Board-up includes winterization when needed.
All Service Areas
Our 24/7 emergency response teams maintain fully-stocked vehicles with board-up materials, allowing us to secure properties within hours of the call—not days.
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