Emergency Fire Board Up in Orting, WA
To fight the fire, the engine company smashed out windows, pried open a door and opened up the roof. Tonight the house is open to weather, wildlife and whoever comes looking. One free call to Unify Fire Solutions starts the search for an independent board-up crew in Orting.
- Every opening on the building closed up
- Free call, answered day and night
- Homes, rentals and storefronts
What to Expect From the Crew You Get
We're a free referral line, and every crew we dispatch is an independent local company. Here's what our dispatchers look for when they line one up.
Licensed and Insured Independents
Climbing a fire-weakened roof after dark is risky work, and coverage matters. Ask the independent crew for proof of liability and workers' comp before they set a ladder.
Upfront Written Estimates
The crew should count the openings, measure them and write a line-item estimate before cutting a single sheet. Your adjuster will want that paper.
Dispatch Begins Right Away
The moment you call, a dispatcher starts contacting board-up crews close to Orting. Arrival depends on who's free and how far they're driving, but same-night work is common.
The Right Board-Up Gear
A properly stocked truck carries plywood or OSB, lumber, bolts, saws, impact drivers, heavy tarps and work lights. No guesswork, no trip back to the store at midnight.
Closing Up Every Opening the Fire Left
Breaking glass, forcing doors and venting the roof are standard firefighting tactics that leave a building wide open. Here's the typical scope for an independent board-up contractor.
Window Openings Boarded Tight
The common method is a plywood or OSB panel, 1/2" or 5/8" thick, clamped from inside by 2x4 strongbacks and carriage bolts. Bolts can't be backed out from the street the way exterior screws can.
- Loose glass knocked out of the sash first
- Panel overlaps the opening on every side
- Upper-floor windows reached by ladder or lift
Doors Rebuilt as Locked Access
A door that was kicked or pried open usually won't latch again. The crew can seal it completely or frame a hinged plywood door with a hasp and padlock. Ask for at least one locking access point so adjusters and later crews can get in without tearing boards off.
Tarp-and-Batten Roof Covers
Firefighters often cut a square vent hole in the roof deck to let heat and smoke escape. The crew stretches a heavy reinforced tarp well past the hole, wraps the edges around wood battens and fastens the battens down so wind can't get under it. Big openings sometimes get a plywood deck patch before tarping.
Glass and Debris Removal
Broken glass and charred debris spread around the yard and walkways. The crew bags loose glass and debris and sets anything that might be claimable aside for inspection.
Temporary Fencing Around the Site
Rental fence panels go up when the site is unsafe to approach or when kids and scavengers keep wandering in. Some crews add warning signs and motion lights for extra security. Fence panels are usually rented by the week, so ask how that's listed on the estimate.
Securing a Business Storefront
Large plate-glass storefronts need bigger sheet goods, more strongbacks and sometimes framing to span the opening. A locking service door lets you remove inventory, files and cash drawers while the front stays sealed.
The Cost of Leaving It Open Overnight
Almost every property policy includes a duty to protect the property from further loss. Rain through an untarped roof or a looted house can be treated as a separate, avoidable loss. Securing the building is how you meet that obligation, and the reasonable cost is typically covered.
Before any plywood goes up, photograph every broken window, the forced door and the roof hole from the ground. Those shots prove what the fire department had to do.
What You Can Do Before the Crew Arrives
Leave the ladders and the jagged glass to the crew. Some quick steps from the ground will speed up the job and help the claim.
- Walk the outside and count every broken window, forced door and vent opening.
- Film each damaged opening, the roof from across the street and the debris in the yard.
- Move cars out of the driveway so the truck can park close and unload sheet goods.
- Retrieve medicines, IDs and important papers only when firefighters confirm you can.
- Let a neighbor know nobody is staying there and ask them to report anyone poking around.
- Keep pets away from the yard, where glass and nails are scattered.
Thieves watch for fire-damaged houses, because copper pipe, wiring and tools are easy targets once the family has left. Raccoons, birds and stray cats will move into an open attic within a night or two, and squatters aren't far behind. Getting it closed tonight matters far more than making it pretty.
Is the House Open Right Now?
Don't spend the night guarding the driveway. A dispatcher can start finding an independent board-up crew near Orting the moment you call.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightHow a Board-Up Call Goes
- 1
Phone the Dispatch Line
Give a rough count of broken windows and forced doors, mention any roof opening and say whether it's one story or two. The crew uses those numbers to stock the truck.
- 2
The Board-Up Crew Arrives
The contractor calls you directly with an arrival window, which depends on availability and how far they're coming. Work lights come out first so they can safely see the damage after dark.
- 3
On-Site Count and Written Estimate
Every opening gets measured, the roof is checked from the ladder, and you get a line-item quote. Once you sign off, the saws come out.
- 4
Locked Up and Walked Through
Before they pack up, circle the building with the crew to check every panel and the roof cover. Make sure you have the padlock key and photos of the finished work for your adjuster.
Nights the Building Got Closed Up
The firefighters cut a big hole in our roof and the forecast called for rain by dawn. The crew got a tarp wrapped on battens over it by flashlight, and it held through a hard storm two days later.
Every downstairs window was out and the front door wouldn't latch anymore. They bolted panels on with strongbacks inside and built a little plywood door with a padlock so my adjuster could get in. I didn't have to drive over every time someone needed access.
The fire started next door and took out our whole storefront window. They framed the opening, sealed it with OSB and left a locking door so we could pull inventory out the next morning. Nobody got in overnight.
Questions About Securing Your Property
Does homeowners insurance pay for emergency board-up after a fire?
Usually, yes. Policies generally require you to protect the property from further damage, and the reasonable cost of boarding and tarping is normally treated as part of the fire claim. Hold onto the estimate, the final invoice and your photos for the adjuster.
Why do board-up crews use carriage bolts instead of screws?
Screws driven from outside can be backed out by anyone with a cordless drill. With a carriage bolt, the rounded head sits outside and the nut is tightened against an inside strongback, which makes the panel very hard to remove from outside. Some crews still use screws on upper windows that no one can reach.
Should I take pictures before the house gets boarded up?
Yes, and do it before the first panel goes up. Shoot every broken pane, the damaged door frame, the roof opening and the debris on the ground. After the boards go on, the adjuster would have to pull them off to see what happened.
How do adjusters and contractors get inside once everything is boarded?
Ask the crew to build at least one hinged access door with a hasp and padlock. You keep the key, or put it in a lockbox so the adjuster and later contractors can let themselves in. Otherwise, someone has to remove a sealed panel every time access is needed.
How long can plywood and a roof tarp stay up?
Properly fastened panels and a battened tarp can last for months during the claim process. Tarps wear out faster under sun and wind, so check the roof cover after every storm. If a panel loosens or the tarp starts flapping, call the crew back before water gets in.
Can a board-up crew keep squatters and animals out of a vacant fire house?
A tight board-up is the best deterrent you have. Crews seal all lower openings, cover crawlspace and attic vents, and add fencing when the lot needs it. Check on it often and ask a neighbor to keep an eye out.
Securing Buildings in Orting, WA
The line connects property owners in Orting and nearby neighborhoods with independent board-up crews. Single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, garages, shops and restaurants all get the same approach.
- Broken windows
- Forced-entry doors
- Roof vent holes
- Storefront glass
- Detached garages
- Vacant rentals
An open building doesn't stay empty for long. Call now, and if the first contractor isn't the right fit, call back and we'll connect you with another one.
