After the Flames: Why Boarding Up Your Home is Critical After a Fire

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When a fire breaks out, the fire department’s priority is saving lives and stopping the flames. To do that, they often have to break windows, force open doors, or cut through the roof. While those actions are necessary in the moment, they leave your home exposed once the fire trucks leave.

That’s where emergency board-up services come in. Securing the property after a fire isn’t just about safety — it’s about protecting your home from further damage and making sure your insurance claim isn’t jeopardized.

Why Emergency Board-Up is Necessary

After a fire, your home is vulnerable. Gaping windows, broken doors, and damaged roofing allow:

  • Rain and snow to enter, leading to water and mold damage.
  • Thieves or vandals to gain easy access.
  • Animals and pests to make their way inside.

Worse, if someone enters your unsecured property and gets hurt, you could be held liable.

Common Openings After Fire Department Response

Even a small fire can leave a home wide open. It’s common to see:

  • Shattered windows from firefighting efforts.
  • Holes cut in the roof for ventilation.
  • Garage doors forced open or left inoperable.
  • Entry doors broken during rescue operations.

Every one of these openings is an invitation for more damage if left unattended.

The Risks of Leaving a Fire-Damaged Home Unsecured

  • Secondary water damage when rain or snow gets inside.
  • Structural deterioration as moisture weakens materials.
  • Theft of valuables, tools, or copper piping.
  • Legal and insurance issues if the property isn’t properly protected.

Insurance companies expect homeowners to take steps to mitigate further damage. Failing to secure your home can sometimes give them reason to reduce or deny coverage.

What Proper Board-Up Includes

Professional fire damage contractors like MSI move fast to:

  • Secure all windows, doors, and roof openings with plywood and heavy-duty tarps.
  • Install temporary fencing or barriers if necessary.
  • Change or secure locks to restrict access.
  • Provide documentation and photos for your insurance adjuster.

This isn’t a quick DIY project — it requires the right equipment and training to keep both you and the property safe.

Why Call MSI for Emergency Board-Up

Boarding up a fire-damaged home is about more than hammering in plywood. At MSI, we:

  • Respond 24/7 to secure properties the same day.
  • Follow IICRC safety standards for handling fire-damaged structures.
  • Provide the paperwork your insurance company expects.
  • Move seamlessly from board-up to fire and smoke cleanup, so you’re not juggling multiple contractors.

Protect Your Home Immediately

If you’ve just experienced a fire, don’t let your home sit exposed. A fast board-up is the first step toward recovery — and it prevents the situation from getting worse.

MSI is available 24/7 for emergency fire board-up and cleanup services. Call us today at 215-339-1769 to secure your property and start the restoration process.

Soft Goods Restoration: How Smoke Affects Clothing, and Upholstery

Posted on by msi-admin

When Smoke Clings Beyond the Flame

After a fire, it’s not only the walls, ceilings, and furniture that suffer. Soft goods — clothing, bedding, drapes, and upholstered furniture — absorb smoke and soot deep into their fibers. Even items that look “untouched” by flames can carry lingering odors and harmful residues that pose both comfort and health concerns.

Why Smoke and Soot Are So Difficult to Remove

Unlike surface cleaning, soft goods restoration is challenging because:

  • Porous Materials: Fabrics and stuffing absorb smoke particles quickly, trapping odors.
  • Chemical Residues: Soot contains acids that can break down fibers and cause discoloration.
  • Health Risks: Residual smoke odors are not just unpleasant — they can trigger asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues.

Professional Cleaning vs. DIY Attempts

Home washing machines and off-the-shelf cleaning products are rarely enough to eliminate smoke damage from fabrics. In fact, improper cleaning can “set” the odors and stains, making them harder to remove. Professional fire damage teams use specialized methods such as:

  • Ozone Treatment to neutralize odor molecules.
  • Thermal Fogging that penetrates fibers with odor-counteracting agents.
  • Specialized Laundering with detergents formulated to break down smoke residues.

Commonly Restored Soft Goods

  • Clothing and footwear
  • Bedding and pillows
  • Curtains and drapes
  • Upholstered chairs, sofas, and cushions
  • Area rugs and carpets

Why Acting Quickly Matters

The longer smoke sits, the harder it is to remove — and in many cases, fabrics may need to be discarded if not treated promptly. Quick professional intervention gives homeowners the best chance of saving items with both financial and sentimental value.

Call the Experts Who Know Soft Goods Restoration

MSI has decades of experience restoring fire-damaged homes, including delicate soft goods. Our team knows how to salvage what matters most, using proven techniques to remove smoke, soot, and odors safely and effectively.

If your home has suffered a fire, don’t assume your clothing, bedding, or furniture is lost — call MSI today at 215-339-1769 for expert fire and smoke restoration.

Furnace Puff Backs: The Fire Damage You Didn’t See Coming

Posted on by msi-admin

When you think of fire damage, you probably imagine flames, smoke, and the aftermath of a major blaze. But not all fire-related destruction is obvious—or even visible right away. One of the most overlooked and misunderstood forms of fire damage is something called a puff back—and if you’ve ever noticed black soot around your vents or a strange oily film on your walls, you may have experienced one without even realizing it.

Let’s break down what a puff back is, why it’s dangerous, and what to do if it happens in your home or business.

What Is a Puff Back?

A puff back occurs when unburned fuel (usually oil) ignites inside your furnace or boiler’s combustion chamber. Instead of burning cleanly, the ignition causes a small explosion that forces soot and smoke through the ductwork or exhaust system—dispersing a fine layer of greasy, black residue throughout the property.

These events often happen with oil-burning furnaces or water heaters but can also occur in gas systems if there’s a malfunction.

Common Signs of a Puff Back

You might not immediately realize a puff back has occurred. But the signs often include:

  • Black soot stains around air vents, ceilings, or baseboards
  • Burnt or smoky odors coming from your HVAC system
  • Oily residue on walls, ceilings, furniture, or window coverings
  • Sudden, loud “puff” sound when your furnace kicks on
  • Smoke alarms triggered without a visible fire

In commercial settings, puff backs can quietly coat office walls, equipment, and electronics—creating hidden damage that worsens over time if not handled properly.

Why Puff Backs Are So Dangerous

While puff backs don’t usually cause open flames or structural fires, they leave behind a trail of destruction that shouldn’t be ignored:

  • Health Hazards: The soot contains microscopic particles that irritate the lungs, eyes, and sinuses—especially for people with asthma or allergies.
  • Property Damage: Oily soot embeds itself into drywall, carpets, curtains, and HVAC systems. DIY cleaning methods can smear the damage or push it deeper into surfaces.
  • Odor Contamination: That burnt smell doesn’t go away easily—it lingers in soft materials and recirculates every time your system runs.

And perhaps the most frustrating part? Puff backs can happen more than once if the underlying mechanical problem isn’t fixed.

What to Do Immediately After a Puff Back

If you suspect a puff back has occurred:

  1. Shut off your heating system to stop further damage.
  2. Do not attempt to clean it yourself. Rubbing or wiping soot can permanently stain surfaces.
  3. Document the damage. Take photos and videos for insurance purposes.
  4. Contact a licensed HVAC professional to inspect and repair the unit.
  5. Call a certified fire and smoke restoration company like MSI to properly clean, decontaminate, and deodorize the affected areas.

Our Fire Damage Cleanup Process

At MSI, we approach puff back cleanup the same way we handle any smoke and soot restoration:

  • HEPA vacuuming and dry sponging to remove loose soot without smearing
  • Specialized chemical cleaning agents to break down oil-based residue
  • Duct cleaning to prevent recontamination through HVAC circulation
  • Thermal fogging and air scrubbing for deep odor removal
  • Detailed cleaning of walls, ceilings, furniture, and personal belongings

We work directly with insurance companies to help file claims and minimize out-of-pocket expenses for our clients.

How to Prevent a Puff Back

While not every puff back is avoidable, regular maintenance makes a big difference:

  • Have your furnace or boiler inspected annually by a licensed technician
  • Replace fuel nozzles and filters as recommended
  • Monitor for soot buildup, loud ignitions, or burnt smells
  • Keep exhaust flues and chimneys clear of blockages
  • Never ignore irregular furnace behavior—address issues promptly

Don’t Let Hidden Soot Destroy Your Property

A puff back might not look like a typical fire, but the damage it causes is very real—and often much harder to clean. If you’ve experienced black soot, unexplained odors, or residue after your heating system kicked on, don’t wait. Let MSI assess the situation, restore your property, and help prevent it from happening again.

We’ve helped hundreds of homeowners and businesses recover from hidden fire damage, and we’re available 24/7 for emergency response. Call today and let us make your space safe and clean again.