Emergency Fire Board Up in Apache, OK
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. Call Unify Fire Solutions and a dispatcher will connect you with an independent board-up crew near Apache.
- Every opening on the building closed up
- The referral line is free and open 24/7
- 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. These are the points our dispatchers weigh before sending anyone your way.
Licensed and Insured Independents
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.
A Written Quote First
Before any plywood gets cut, expect a written estimate that lists each opening and the materials for it. Your adjuster will want that paper.
Rapid Local Dispatch
The moment you call, a dispatcher starts contacting board-up crews close to Apache. Timing depends on availability and distance; same-night securing is often possible.
Tools Built for Securing
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.
How Crews Seal Up an Opened Building
Breaking glass, forcing doors and venting the roof are standard firefighting tactics that leave a building wide open. Here's the typical scope for an independent board-up contractor.
Window Openings Boarded Tight
The common method is a plywood or OSB panel, 1/2" or 5/8" thick, clamped from inside by 2x4 strongbacks and 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
Forced-entry doors rarely close properly afterward. The crew can seal it completely or frame a hinged plywood door 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. Large holes may get plywood over the joists first, then the tarp on top.
Glass and Debris Removal
Shattered glass on the porch, the sidewalk and the lawn is a hazard for you, the mail carrier and the neighbor's dog. Crews sweep and bag it, clear the walkways, and stack anything salvageable off to the side for the adjuster.
Temporary Fencing Around the Site
Rental fence panels go up when the site is unsafe to approach or when kids and scavengers keep wandering in. 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.
The Cost of Leaving It Open Overnight
Read your policy and you'll find a clause about protecting the property from further damage. 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. Those shots prove what the fire department had to do.
Safe Steps Until the Truck Pulls Up
Leave the ladders and the jagged glass to the crew. 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.
- 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.
- Retrieve medicines, IDs and important papers only when firefighters confirm you can.
- 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.
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?
Don't spend the night guarding the driveway. A dispatcher can start finding an independent board-up crew near Apache the moment you call.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightHow a Board-Up Call Goes
- 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
The contractor calls you directly with an arrival window, which depends on availability and how far they're coming. Work lights come out first so they can safely see the damage after dark.
- 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. 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. Get the access-door key and ask for after photos to send to your insurer.
Nights the Building Got Closed Up
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. 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?
In most cases, 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. 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?
Screws driven from outside can be backed out by anyone with a cordless drill. 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?
Yes, and do it before the first panel goes up. Photograph each broken window, the forced door, the roof hole from the ground and any glass in the yard. After the boards go on, the adjuster would have to pull them off to see what happened.
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. 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?
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 anything shifts, have the crew come back right away to resecure it.
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.
Board-Up Dispatch Across Apache
Our dispatchers send independent board-up contractors to homes and businesses throughout Apache 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. Make the call tonight; if the first contractor isn't the right fit, call back and we'll connect you with another one.
