Emergency Fire Board Up in Fowler, CA
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. Call Unify Fire Solutions and a dispatcher will connect you with an independent board-up crew near Fowler.
- Windows, doors and roof openings covered
- Free call, answered day and night
- Residential and commercial buildings
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.
Licensed and Insured Independents
Board-up means ladders, roof work and power saws at night, so insurance matters. Ask for proof of the contractor's liability and workers' comp coverage before anyone climbs.
Upfront Written Estimates
Before any plywood gets cut, expect a written estimate that lists each opening and the materials for it. Your adjuster will want that paper.
Dispatch Begins Right Away
The moment you call, a dispatcher starts contacting board-up crews close to Fowler. Timing depends on availability and distance; same-night securing is often possible.
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
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.
Broken Windows Covered Solid
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
Doors Rebuilt as Locked Access
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. One lockable entry saves your adjuster and future contractors from prying panels loose.
Covering Roof Vent Holes
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.
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. Some crews add warning signs and motion lights for extra security. Ask whether fencing is rented weekly so you know how it will show up on the estimate.
Storefronts and Commercial Glass
Large plate-glass storefronts need bigger sheet goods, more strongbacks and sometimes framing to span the opening. Crews can leave a lockable service door so you can pull inventory, records and the safe out.
Why Boarding Up Can't Wait Until Morning
Almost every property policy includes a duty to protect the property from further loss. 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. Boarding up is how you meet that duty, and the reasonable cost is usually part of the claim.
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.
What You Can Do Before the Crew Arrives
You don't need to climb a ladder or handle broken glass yourself. 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.
- Take photos and video of each opening, the roof from the street and glass on the ground.
- Move cars out of the driveway so the truck can park close and unload sheet goods.
- Grab medication, wallets, documents and phone chargers only if the fire department says it's safe.
- Tell a neighbor the house will be empty tonight and ask them to call if they see a flashlight inside.
- Keep dogs and cats out of the yard until the glass is cleaned up.
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. That's why securing the openings tonight matters more than how they look.
Doors and Windows Still Gone Tonight?
There's no need to sleep in the car to keep an eye on things. A dispatcher can start finding an independent board-up crew near Fowler the moment you call.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightFrom Open House to Locked Up
- 1
Call and Describe the Openings
Give a rough count of broken windows and forced doors, mention any roof opening and say whether it's one story or two. That tells the crew how much plywood and tarp to load.
- 2
The Board-Up Crew Arrives
You'll get a call from the contractor with a realistic window based on distance and workload. Lights go up first so they can see the openings and the glass on the ground.
- 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. Approve it, and they start cutting.
- 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
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.
Fire in the shop next door blew out our front glass. The crew boarded the front with braced OSB and gave us a locked door to get our stock and register out. 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?
A thief with a drill can remove exterior screws in a minute. 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. Screws are still used on some second-story openings where access is limited.
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. 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?
Request a lockable plywood access door on hinges. You keep the key, or put it in a lockbox so the adjuster and later contractors can let themselves in. Without one, every visit means unbolting panels and bolting them back.
How long can plywood and a roof tarp stay up?
A well-installed board-up can stay up for weeks or months while the claim and repairs move forward. 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. Drive by when you can, and tell the neighbors to call you if anything looks disturbed.
Securing Buildings in Fowler, CA
Our dispatchers send independent board-up contractors to homes and businesses throughout Fowler and surrounding areas. Houses, rental units, detached garages and commercial storefronts are all common calls.
- 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.
