Emergency Fire Board Up in Gresham, OR
Firefighters had to break the front window, force the back door and cut a hole in the roof to vent the smoke. 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 Gresham.
- Every opening on the building closed up
- Free call, answered day and night
- Residential and commercial buildings
What to Expect From the Crew You Get
We're a free referral line, and every crew we dispatch is an independent local company. 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 the independent crew for proof of liability and workers' comp before they set a ladder.
Upfront Written Estimates
The crew should count the openings, measure them and write a line-item estimate before cutting a single sheet. Your adjuster will want that paper.
Rapid Local Dispatch
A dispatcher starts calling independent crews near Gresham 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.
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.
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. Unlike screws driven from outside, through-bolts can't be unscrewed by a passerby.
- 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. The crew can seal it completely or frame a hinged plywood door 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. Crews sweep and bag it, clear the walkways, and stack anything salvageable off to the side for the adjuster.
Temporary Fencing Around the Site
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.
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.
The Cost of Leaving It Open Overnight
Almost every property policy includes a duty to protect the property from further loss. Rain through an untarped roof or a looted house can be treated as a separate, avoidable loss. Securing the building is how you meet that obligation, and the reasonable cost is typically covered.
Before any plywood goes up, photograph every broken window, the forced door and the roof hole from the ground. 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.
- 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.
- Tell a neighbor the house will be empty tonight and ask them to call if they see a flashlight inside.
- Keep pets away from the yard, where glass and nails are scattered.
Scrappers and burglars look for empty burnt-out homes, where copper, wiring and tools sit unguarded. 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.
Is the House Open Right Now?
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 Gresham right away.
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. The crew uses those numbers to stock the truck.
- 2
Mobile Crew on the Way
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
The crew walks the exterior, measures each opening, checks the roof from a ladder and writes up the estimate. Once you sign off, the saws come out.
- 4
Building Secured, Final Walk
When the last panel is bolted and the tarp is battened down, walk the perimeter with the crew. Get the access-door key and ask for after photos to send to your insurer.
Nights the Building Got Closed Up
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.
The back slider was shattered and the front door was splintered from the forced entry. 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. 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?
Usually, 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. 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. 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. Tarps wear out faster under sun and wind, so check the roof cover after every storm. 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 properly secured shell is your strongest defense. 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 Gresham, OR
Our dispatchers send independent board-up contractors to homes and businesses throughout Gresham 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.
