We board up, tarp, and secure the building, then extract the water used to fight the fire. Duncan's early wood-frame downtown was lost to fires and storms over a century ago, which is part of why the downtown that stands today is brick. Brick and plaster hold smoke odor differently than modern drywall, and our cleaning plan accounts for that.
In Duncan's established neighborhoods, smoke travels through older ductwork and into attics and closets. We clean soot, address the HVAC system, treat odor at the source, and pack out contents when the house cannot be lived in.
For commercial fires, we work with the owner and property manager on access, timelines, and what has to be cleaned first to reopen. Equipment, files, and inventory are documented for the claim.
Once cleaning is done and the scope is approved, we rebuild on the same file, matching the original construction as closely as the approved scope allows.
Leave the HVAC off until it has been inspected, do not try to scrub soot yourself, and keep receipts for temporary housing and essentials. If you rent, call your landlord and your own renter's insurer; the landlord's policy covers the building, not your belongings.
Also in Duncan: water damage restoration, mold remediation, storm damage restoration, contents restoration, and reconstruction. See all of our Duncan services.
