Emergency Fire Board Up in Pendleton, OR
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 Pendleton.
- 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
Unify Fire Solutions is a free referral service; the board-up crew is an independent local business. Here's what our dispatchers look for when they line one up.
Independent, Licensed and Insured
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
Before any plywood gets cut, expect a written estimate that lists each opening and the materials for it. That document goes straight into your claim file.
Dispatch Begins Right Away
A dispatcher starts calling independent crews near Pendleton as soon as you hang up. Timing depends on availability and distance; same-night securing is often possible.
The Right Board-Up Gear
Expect a truck with sheet goods, 2x4s, carriage bolts, a circular saw, an impact driver, reinforced tarps and portable lights. Everything needed to close the building in one visit.
How Crews Seal Up an Opened Building
Ventilation and forced entry are how firefighters save a building, and they leave it full of holes. These are the jobs a board-up crew in our network usually handles.
Window Openings Boarded Tight
Most crews cut 1/2" or 5/8" plywood or OSB to overlap the frame and hold it with 2x4 strongbacks inside, tied through with 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
Forced Doors and Access Panels
A door that was kicked or pried open usually won't latch again. Crews either bolt a solid panel over it or build a plywood access door on hinges 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. A heavy poly tarp gets rolled onto 2x4 battens at the edges, then the battens are fastened down so the wind can't lift it. Big openings sometimes get a plywood deck patch before tarping.
Clearing Glass and Hazards
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.
Fence Panels and Site Security
When a structure has collapsed sections or the whole lot is a hazard, temporary chain-link fence panels keep people out. Signage and battery motion lights are common add-ons. Fence panels are usually rented by the week, so ask how that's listed on the estimate.
Securing a Business Storefront
Wide storefront glass calls for framed panels and extra bracing to cover the span. Crews can leave a lockable service door so you can pull inventory, records and the safe out.
The Cost of Leaving It Open Overnight
Read your policy and you'll find a clause about protecting the property from further damage. If rain pours through an open roof or someone walks off with the copper wire, the insurer may say that loss wasn't caused by the fire. Securing the building is how you meet that obligation, and the reasonable cost is typically covered.
Take photos of every opening before it's covered, since the adjuster may not see the house until it's boarded. They document exactly what the firefighters opened up.
Safe Steps Until the Truck Pulls Up
You don't need to climb a ladder or handle broken glass yourself. A few simple things from the ground make the board-up go faster and protect your claim.
- Circle the building and make a list of each opening the fire crews left.
- Film each damaged opening, the roof from across the street and the debris in the yard.
- Clear the driveway so the crew can park near the house with their plywood.
- Grab medication, wallets, documents and phone chargers only if the fire department says it's safe.
- 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. An open attic invites raccoons and birds almost immediately, and an open door invites squatters. Getting it closed tonight matters far more than making it pretty.
Doors and Windows Still Gone Tonight?
There's no need to sleep in the car to keep an eye on things. Call and dispatch starts looking for an independent crew in Pendleton right away.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightHow a Board-Up Call Goes
- 1
Phone the Dispatch Line
Tell the dispatcher how many windows are broken, which doors were forced, whether there's a roof hole and how many stories the building has. 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. Lights go up first so they can see the openings and the glass on the ground.
- 3
Measurements and Written Quote
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.
How Other Callers Got Secured
Our roof had a hole you could stand in after the firefighters vented it, and rain was forecast for the morning. 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.
Common Board-Up Questions
Does homeowners insurance pay for emergency board-up after a fire?
In most cases, yes. Because nearly every policy includes a duty to prevent further loss, reasonable board-up and tarp costs are typically covered under the claim. Keep the written estimate, the invoice and before and after photos together for your adjuster.
Why do board-up crews use carriage bolts instead of screws?
A thief with a drill can remove exterior screws in a minute. Carriage bolts pass through the panel and a 2x4 strongback inside the opening, with the smooth round head facing out, so there's nothing to grab or unscrew from the street. Some crews still use screws on upper windows that no one can reach.
Should I take pictures before the house gets boarded up?
Absolutely, and before any plywood covers the damage. Photograph each broken window, the forced door, the roof hole from the ground and any glass in the yard. Once everything is covered, your adjuster can't see the original damage without removing panels.
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. Keep the key yourself or use a lockbox so your adjuster and future crews can get in without you. 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. Roof tarps break down quicker than plywood, so look at it after heavy wind or rain. 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 Pendleton, OR
The line connects property owners in Pendleton 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 unsecured house invites trouble by morning. Make the call tonight; if the first contractor isn't the right fit, call back and we'll connect you with another one.
