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.

The Difference Between Fire Damage Cleaning & Fire Damage Restoration

Posted on by msi-admin

After a fire, it’s natural to want your property cleaned up as quickly as possible. But there’s a big difference between a simple “fire cleanup” and a full fire damage restoration. While cleaning may make things look better on the surface, restoration ensures your home or business is truly safe, structurally sound, and free from hidden damage.

At MSI, we’ve seen many cases where homeowners thought their property was “cleaned” after a fire—only to find lingering smoke odors, soot stains, or even hidden health hazards weeks later. Here’s why understanding the difference matters.

What Fire Damage Cleaning Usually Means

  • Surface-Level Work – Many cleaning crews focus on wiping down visible soot or debris but don’t address hidden contamination.
  • Odor Cover-Ups – Basic cleaning often relies on air fresheners or sprays that mask smoke smells temporarily instead of removing them.
  • Cosmetic Results Only – Cleaning may make the home look livable but doesn’t address the damage beneath walls, inside ducts, or in porous materials.

What True Fire Damage Restoration Involves

  • Comprehensive Assessment – Restoration begins with inspecting not just what you can see, but also HVAC systems, insulation, and structural materials where smoke and soot hide.
  • Advanced Soot & Smoke Removal – Using HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, and specialized techniques, restoration removes contamination at the microscopic level.
  • Odor Elimination – Professional methods neutralize smoke odors permanently, instead of covering them up.
  • Structural and Safety Repairs – Restoration includes repairing or replacing fire-damaged materials to return your property to a safe, pre-loss condition.
  • Insurance Documentation – A true restoration team documents all damage and repairs so your insurance claim reflects the real scope of loss.

Why This Difference Matters

Choosing cleaning instead of restoration might save money up front, but it often leads to:

  • Persistent smoke odors that never go away
  • Hidden soot exposure that affects indoor air quality
  • Structural problems that resurface months later
  • Insurance disputes when damage wasn’t documented properly

When fire strikes, your home or business deserves more than a cosmetic cleanup. You need a full restoration to protect your property and your health.

Trust MSI for Complete Fire Damage Restoration

At MSI, we don’t just clean—we restore. Our certified team uses proven methods to remove hidden soot, neutralize odors, and repair the damage the right way. We’ve helped countless homeowners and businesses recover safely after fire, and we can do the same for you.

Bad Fire Cleanup Jobs in Montgomery County: When Soot Gets Left Behind

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When a fire breaks out in your home, the first priority is always safety and getting the flames under control. But what happens next—the cleanup—is just as critical. Unfortunately, many homeowners in Montgomery County are learning the hard way that not all fire restoration companies are created equal.

A True Story: What Went Wrong After a Dryer Fire

We recently helped a homeowner in Montgomery County who had experienced a small electrical fire caused by her dryer. Thankfully, the fire was quickly extinguished and didn’t require water to put out. But that didn’t mean her home was in the clear.

Shortly after the incident, a restoration company showed up at her door—likely tipped off by emergency scanner alerts used by companies that “fire chase.” They made big promises: quick turnaround, no headaches, and full smoke removal. What she got instead was a superficial cleaning, an overuse of air scrubbers, and sloppy paint jobs to cover up the damage.

At first glance, it might have seemed like the job was done. But the homeowner could still smell smoke—even months later.

That’s when she called MSI.

The Soot You Can’t See Is the Most Dangerous

When we arrived and conducted a proper inspection, it became clear the previous company had barely scratched the surface. Our team found soot residue throughout multiple areas of the home, including the HVAC system and ductwork—a huge red flag. Once soot settles into porous materials, the smell isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a sign that harmful particulates may still be lingering in your air and surfaces.

Worse yet, because the soot had now set into the building materials, full demolition and replacement of certain areas became necessary. Had the cleanup been done properly from the start, that extra damage—and extra cost—could have been avoided.

How Fire Damage Cleanup Should Be Done

At MSI, we don’t cut corners or rely on paint and promises. Here’s what proper fire and smoke remediation should include:

  • Detailed Inspection – Not just what’s visible. We test air quality, inspect hidden cavities, and evaluate HVAC systems for contamination.
  • HEPA Vacuuming and Chemical Cleaning – We use specialized cleaning agents that break down soot and smoke residues—not just cover them up.
  • Odor Neutralization – We deploy hydroxyl generators and proven deodorization methods that eliminate odors at the molecular level.
  • Clear Documentation – We photograph, document, and report every step of the process for insurance and peace of mind.
  • Honest Evaluation – If demo is needed, we’ll tell you. If it can be cleaned, we’ll show you. No scare tactics, just real solutions.

The Takeaway: Don’t Let a Bad Cleanup Become a Bigger Disaster

In the restoration world, what you don’t see can cost you the most—especially when it comes to soot and smoke. If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a fire, don’t settle for surface-level fixes. Make sure the company you hire has the experience, equipment, and ethics to do it right.

At MSI, we’ve been restoring fire-damaged properties since 1998. We don’t chase fires—we answer calls from people who need help. And we never cut corners that put your health or property at risk.