Statewide Emergency Fire Damage Removal in Massachusetts, MA
The fire is out, the trucks have left, and now you are standing in the driveway wondering what happens next. One free call to Unify Fire Solutions connects you with a licensed and insured independent restoration contractor who works in your part of Massachusetts, MA. We answer around the clock, and dispatch starts while you are still on the phone.
- A free referral line that answers 24/7, holidays included
- Independent local crews serving every corner of Massachusetts, MA
- Written, line-item estimates before any work begins
- Guidance on the records your adjuster will want to see
One phone number for fire calls across Massachusetts, MA
Unify Fire Solutions does not do restoration work. We run the dispatch desk that gets a qualified independent contractor headed your way.
Almost nobody has been through a house fire before, so the sequence of decisions is a mystery. Who do you call first, the insurance company or a contractor? Can you go back inside? Who turns the power back on? Our dispatchers field these questions every day, from every part of Massachusetts, MA, and we can usually point you in the right direction in a few minutes.
Calling +1-833-336-1630 puts you through to a live dispatcher who asks a handful of questions: what kind of property it is, whether firefighters have released the scene, whether hose water is still standing, and whether the roof or windows are open. Those answers decide which independent crew in our network is the best match and how urgent the first visit is.
Every contractor we refer is a licensed and insured independent business that works locally. They own their equipment, employ their own crews, write their own estimates and answer for their own work. We handle the connection, so at 2 a.m. you are talking with a qualified local pro instead of scrolling through search results on your phone in the dark.
The line is free to call, and it stays open 24/7, weekends and holidays included. From a single-family home to a rented duplex, a condo unit or a storefront, the routing works the same way anywhere in Massachusetts, MA.
It helps to have a few details ready: the property address, your insurer's name, a claim number if you have one, and the fire department's incident number. If you don't have any of that yet, that's fine. Plenty of people call from a neighbor's porch with nothing but a phone, and the dispatcher will help you figure out what to gather next.
What independent Fire Damage Removal crews in Massachusetts, MA do
A fire leaves three separate problems behind: charred materials, smoke residue that spreads through the whole building, and the water used to knock the fire down. Below is how the independent contractors in our network handle each piece.
Emergency mitigation and stabilization
Mitigation is the work of keeping the damage from spreading, and with fire it is a race against time. Soot is acidic. Within a few hours it starts to yellow plastics and vinyl, and within a couple of days it can etch glass, pit chrome fixtures and stain grout for good. Wet drywall and insulation from the hose lines can begin growing mold in 24 to 48 hours.
The contractor who arrives typically begins with a safety walk and then secures the structure. That often means boarding broken windows and doors with plywood, tarping holes in the roof, and setting temporary fencing if the property sits close to a sidewalk. Next comes water: truck-mounted or portable extraction units pull standing water out of carpet and subfloors, and wet pad is usually cut out and bagged.
Once the structure is stable, crews set up air scrubbers with HEPA filtration to capture airborne soot, and they may place the work area under negative air pressure so particles don't drift into clean rooms. Dehumidifiers and air movers go in where moisture meters show wet framing or drywall.
- Boarding of windows, doors and openings in walls
- Roof tarping to keep rain off exposed framing
- Water extraction and tear-out of soaked materials
- HEPA air scrubbing plus moisture readings
Homes, condos and townhouses
A house fire rarely stays in one room, even when the flames did. Smoke follows air pressure and temperature, which is why you find black rings around outlets in a bedroom at the far end of the hall, or soot lines on the carpet along the baseboards. A residential crew starts by mapping how far the residue traveled, room by room, before anything gets wiped.
Dry soot from a fast, hot fire is powdery and comes off with dry chemical sponges and HEPA vacuums. Wet smoke from a slow, smoldering fire is greasy and calls for alkaline detergents and far more hand work. Kitchen fires leave protein residue, a nearly invisible film that smells terrible and turns surfaces sticky. Every residue needs its own chemistry, and the wrong product can push the stain further into paint and wood.
Burned materials come out until the crew reaches sound framing. Framing that is only blackened, not structurally weakened, is often cleaned with soda or dry ice blasting and then sealed with a shellac-based or pigmented sealing primer to lock in odor before new drywall goes up. Ask the contractor to show you which studs they plan to keep and which they plan to replace, and to note it on the estimate.
- Residue mapping and spot tests before any cleaning
- Targeted tear-out of burned drywall, insulation and trim
- Framing cleaned by blasting, then sealed
Commercial property, rentals and apartment buildings
When the property is a business or a rental, the questions multiply. A restaurant owner needs to know when the hood system can be inspected and the health inspector called back. A landlord needs to know which units are habitable and which tenants need temporary housing. A property manager with a fire in one unit of a fourplex has to stop smoke from moving through the shared attic and ducts.
Contractors who handle commercial work often phase the job so part of the space can keep operating. They build temporary poly containment walls with zip-door access, run negative air machines, and schedule the loudest demolition for nights or weekends. For a retail space, that might mean the sales floor reopens while the stockroom is still under containment.
Inventory is its own problem. Smoke-exposed food, medication, cosmetics and anything in permeable packaging usually has to be discarded and documented for the claim. Ask the crew to photograph and list disposed inventory with quantities so your business interruption and property claims line up.
- Phased work plans that keep part of the space open
- Containment between occupied and damaged units
- Inventory disposal lists for the claim file
Multi-unit buildings add a building code question. Fire-rated assemblies, such as the drywall between units or around a stairwell, have to be rebuilt to the same rating, and damaged fire alarm or sprinkler components need a licensed trade to restore them. Ask the crew if those items are part of their estimate or will go to a separate trade.
Landlords and property managers: ask the contractor for a short written status note on each unit, habitable or not, so you can send it to tenants and your insurer the same day.
Contents, odor, HVAC and firefighting water
Ask any fire survivor and they mention the smell. It gets into clothes, mattresses, the couch, the kids' stuffed animals, and the inside of every closed drawer. Contents specialists pack out salvageable belongings, inventory them box by box, and clean them off site using ultrasonic tanks for hard goods and specialty laundering or dry cleaning for textiles. Electronics often go to a separate vendor who can clean the circuit boards before soot corrodes them.
Deodorization comes after the cleaning, not as a substitute for it. Crews may use thermal fogging, which mimics the heat of the fire to carry deodorizer into the same pores the smoke reached, or hydroxyl generators that can run while people are present. Ozone works well but the building has to be empty of people, pets and plants, so ask about it first.
An HVAC system that was running during the fire pushed smoke into every room on that system. A duct cleaning crew will inspect the air handler, coil and duct runs, clean or replace flex duct, and swap filters. Ask whether the contractor follows IICRC guidance, such as the S700 standard for fire and smoke and the S500 standard for the water side of the job.
- Contents pack-out with an itemized inventory
- Odor treatment by thermal fog, hydroxyl or ozone
- Air handler, coil and duct inspection and cleaning
The water from the hoses is what most people underestimate. An engine can put hundreds of gallons into a building in a few minutes, and it runs down into wall cavities, under cabinets and through ceilings to the floor below. Mixed with soot and ash, it is dirty water, so wet carpet, pad and insulation are usually removed rather than dried in place. Crews pull baseboards or drill small vent holes to dry wall cavities, and they log moisture readings until the framing is back to a normal dry level.
- Structural drying after the firefighting water
- Electronics sent to a specialist vendor
Standing in front of a burned house right now?
Call the free line, and a dispatcher will talk you through the next hour while lining up an independent crew close by.
Call +1-833-336-1630What a referral through Unify Fire Solutions looks like
Nobody can promise the cost of a fire job or the length of a rebuild. These are the things we can say plainly.
Written estimates up front
Before any work begins, the contractor should hand you a written estimate broken out line by line, so ask for it. Most crews in Massachusetts, MA write estimates in the same software insurance adjusters use, which makes comparing the two much easier.
Fast dispatch, any hour
The phone is answered 24/7 and dispatch starts the moment you call. Arrival depends on crew availability and how far the nearest crew is from you; often it is the same day.
Local crews across the state
The network reaches cities, suburbs and rural communities throughout Massachusetts, MA. You are matched with a crew that works near you and knows how the local building office and utilities run.
Licensed, insured independent pros
We refer callers only to licensed and insured independent contractors. Still, verify the license and the certificate of insurance yourself before signing, and ask whether the crew follows IICRC S700 guidance.
Another contractor if the first isn't right
If the first contractor isn't the right fit, for any reason, call back and we'll connect you with another one. It might be scheduling, a second estimate your adjuster asked for, or just a bad fit in personality. Any of those is a fine reason.
Getting two estimates is common on larger fire jobs, and many adjusters welcome it. Just make sure both contractors are pricing the same scope, item for item, so you are comparing like with like.
A step-by-step guide after a fire
No two fires are alike, yet the sequence of decisions is remarkably similar anywhere in Massachusetts, MA. Work through this list while a crew is on the way.
- 1
Get safe, then call
Stay out until the fire department tells you it's safe to return. Then call +1-833-336-1630. A dispatcher will ask about the scene, the water, and any open roof or windows, and will start looking for a crew right away.
- 2
Arrival and site security
The independent contractor walks the property with you, photographs everything, and boards or tarps any openings. If water is standing, extraction often starts on the first visit.
- 3
Scope of work in writing
You receive a written estimate, line by line, with mitigation split out from rebuild work. It goes to your adjuster, and only emergency stabilization should proceed before you sign.
- 4
Clean-up, drying and odor work
Crews remove charred materials, dry the structure, clean soot from every affected surface, and treat odor. Moisture readings and photos are logged daily so the adjuster can see the progress.
- 5
Repairs and final walkthrough
Permitted repairs follow, from framing and electrical to drywall, paint and flooring. Before paying the final bill, walk through with the contractor and write down anything still unfinished.
In the first hour, before a crew gets there: get everyone out and accounted for, including pets. Do not re-enter until the fire department releases the scene, and never switch breakers on or off yourself after a fire. Ask the firefighters for the incident number and write it down, because your insurer will need it. If you can safely do so from outside, take wide photos and video of every side of the building.
When the fire department releases the scene
Until the fire department formally hands the property back, it's their scene. If investigators are still working out the cause, you may be kept out for hours or, occasionally, a couple of days.
After release, a local building official may post a placard on the door. Green usually means occupancy is allowed, yellow means restricted entry, and red means no one enters until an engineer or official evaluates it. Placard systems vary by jurisdiction across Massachusetts, MA, so read the notice carefully and call the number printed on it.
A red tag doesn't stop mitigation from the outside. Crews can still board, tarp and fence, and many work with a structural engineer to get the red tag lifted.
Power, gas and water shutoffs
During the fire, crews often pull the electric meter and shut the gas. After a fire shutoff, the utility typically won't turn service back on until an inspection, and in some cases a licensed electrician or plumber has to sign off first.
For that reason, restoration crews usually arrive with generators to power the scrubbers and dehumidifiers. Contact your power, gas and water companies directly, report the fire, and ask what they require before restoring service.
If water service is still live and a line ruptured in the heat, close the main shutoff. It is usually near the meter or where the line enters the house.
How crews coordinate with adjusters
Call your insurance company the same day and get a claim number. Nearly every policy expects you to prevent additional damage, and that is the purpose of emergency mitigation. You do not need to wait for the adjuster before boarding, tarping and drying, but keep every receipt.
Independent contractors across Massachusetts, MA usually produce two separate invoices: one for mitigation (board-up, extraction, drying, soot cleanup) and one for restoration (rebuilding). Adjusters handle the two differently, so separating them keeps the claim moving. Ask the crew for time-stamped photos, daily drying logs and a contents list, and get a copy of whatever goes to the insurer.
When the home can't be lived in, many policies cover additional living expenses, also called loss of use, for things like a hotel and meals. Coverage limits differ, so ask your agent what yours includes and save every receipt.
Building permits for fire repairs
Cleaning and mitigation usually don't need a permit. Structural repair, electrical rewiring, new framing, roof replacement and HVAC replacement almost always do. In Massachusetts, MA, local city and county building departments issue permits, which means forms, fees and inspection timing differ by location.
A local contractor who knows the nearby office will usually pull the permit under their own license. Confirm the permit is posted and inspections are passed before anyone closes the walls. Your insurer may ask for the final inspection record before releasing the last payment.
Older homes can raise extra questions once walls are open. When the house is old enough to have asbestos in ceiling texture, flooring or duct wrap, or lead paint, testing may be needed before tear-out. Repairs may also have to meet the current code rather than the code the house was built under, which some policies cover as ordinance or law coverage, so ask your agent.
Landlord and tenant responsibilities
With a rental property, the structure and the renter's belongings typically fall under different policies. Usually the owner's policy covers the building and fixtures, and the renter's policy covers the tenant's furniture, clothes and temporary housing.
Owners should put access, timelines and habitability decisions in writing for tenants. Tenants should photograph their own belongings before the pack-out and get a copy of the contractor's contents inventory. Landlord and tenant obligations after a fire are set by Massachusetts, MA law and your lease, so check the lease and ask a local attorney or housing office if anything is unclear.
Either party can call the line. We usually suggest the property owner authorize the structural work and the tenant handle their own contents claim, with the same crew doing both if everyone agrees.
Reopening a small business after a fire
For a business, every closed day costs money, so speed of mitigation matters even more. Call your commercial insurer about business interruption coverage and document lost revenue from the first day.
Food service, salons, clinics and grocers usually need a health or fire inspection before they can reopen. Ask the contractor for a phased schedule and a written list of what must be finished before each inspection.
Back up the point-of-sale system, payroll records and customer files before anyone moves the computers. Then tell your landlord, if you lease the space, because the lease usually spells out who pays for which repairs.
Why 24 to 72 hours is the window: soot continues to etch finishes, wet building materials begin to grow mold, and smoke odor sinks further into porous surfaces every day. Getting mitigation going early is often the biggest factor in how much can be cleaned instead of thrown out.
What callers across Massachusetts, MA told us afterward
Shared with permission. Names shortened for privacy.
The dryer vent caught at about eleven at night. By the time the fire department cleared us, I couldn't think straight. The dispatcher asked a few plain questions and reminded me to grab the incident number before the engine pulled away. The contractor was there the next morning, boarded the laundry room, and had extraction going before my adjuster even called back.
I have two duplexes I rent out, and one of my tenants had a stovetop fire. What helped most was the contractor keeping the mitigation bill separate from the rebuild estimate. The adjuster signed off on the first invoice in a week, and the neighboring tenant stayed put because the crew sealed off the shared wall and attic.
We were renters, and the fire began in the apartment under ours. I had no idea my renter's insurance covered a hotel until the dispatcher told me to ask my agent about it. The crew packed out our clothes and the kids' things and gave me a typed inventory, which made the claim a lot easier.
A grease fire shut down my restaurant on a Friday. The contractor set up plastic walls so we could get the dining room cleaned and inspected while they kept working on the kitchen. They wrote out exactly what needed finishing before the health inspection, and we passed on the first try.
The first contractor I talked to couldn't begin for close to a week. I called the line again, explained the delay, and the dispatcher put me in touch with another crew that started the next day. No argument, no hassle. That is all I wanted.
Fire damage questions from Massachusetts, MA callers
How fast can a Fire Damage Removal technician arrive in Massachusetts, MA?
Dispatch starts the moment you call, and the phone is answered 24/7. Arrival depends on which independent crews are free and how far they have to drive to reach your property. In most of Massachusetts, MA it is often the same day, and the dispatcher will tell you what to expect before you hang up.
Do you provide upfront pricing?
We don't set prices, since Unify Fire Solutions is a referral line and not the contractor. The independent crew writes a line-item estimate before work begins, and you should have it in hand before you sign. Emergency board-up or extraction may start immediately to limit damage, so ask the crew to put those charges in writing as well.
What emergency services are available?
The crews we refer usually cover board-up, tarping, extraction of firefighting water, drying, soot removal, air scrubbing and deodorization. Many also offer contents pack-out and storage, HVAC and duct cleaning, and full rebuilding after the cleanup. Tell the dispatcher what you're seeing and we'll match you with a crew that does that work.
Do contractors in MA work directly with my insurance company?
Most independent crews in MA deal with adjusters every week. They build a file with photos, moisture logs and a line-item estimate, and with your OK they'll send it to the adjuster. Keep in mind the policy is between you and your insurer, so you make the final decisions and should keep copies of everything.
Do I need a permit for fire damage repairs in Massachusetts, MA?
Cleaning and mitigation usually don't, but structural, electrical, roofing and HVAC repairs almost always do. Permits in Massachusetts, MA are issued by your local city or county building department, and requirements vary by location. In most cases the local contractor pulls the permit and books the inspections.
Can I stay in my house after a fire?
It depends on the fire department's release, any building placard, and whether utilities can be safely turned back on. Even with a small fire, smoke residue and odor can make sleeping in the home unhealthy, especially for kids, older adults and anyone with asthma. Ask your insurer whether your policy includes additional living expenses for temporary housing.
Should I call my insurance company or a contractor first?
Call both on the same day, in whatever order works. Your policy almost certainly requires you to prevent further damage, so you don't have to wait for the adjuster before boarding up or removing water. Get a claim number, keep every receipt, and let the contractor know your claim number so their paperwork matches.
What should I throw away after a fire?
Throw out food, medicine and cosmetics that were exposed to heat, smoke or firefighting water. Before you toss anything else, photograph it and list it for the claim; the contractor can help decide what is salvageable. Many items that look ruined, like clothes, dishes and hard furniture, can often be cleaned.
Is it safe to clean up soot myself?
Wiping soot with a wet rag usually smears it deeper into paint and fabric, and some residue contains acids and fine particles you don't want to breathe. If you go inside to grab essentials, wear an N95 mask and gloves and don't run fans or the HVAC. Let the crew handle cleanup, since they'll test the residue and pick the correct products.
Does Unify Fire Solutions serve every part of Massachusetts, MA?
Our network reaches cities, suburbs and rural communities throughout Massachusetts, MA. Out in remote areas the closest crew may have a longer drive, and the dispatcher will tell you that up front. Call +1-833-336-1630 with the property address and we'll let you know who can reach it.
Fire Damage Removal coverage throughout Massachusetts, MA
A single number connects you with independent crews anywhere in Massachusetts, MA, from crowded metro blocks to farmhouses on long rural roads.
Around the larger metros, several contractors are often within reach, which lets the dispatcher match on a specialty like commercial kitchens or condo towers. Suburban crews see plenty of attached garage fires, dryer vent fires and kitchen fires in single-family houses. In rural parts of Massachusetts, MA, the nearest crew may travel farther, and they often arrive with generators and trailers because utility restoration can take longer.
- Single-family homes
- Condos and townhouses
- Apartment buildings
- Rental duplexes
- Mobile and manufactured homes
- Restaurants
- Retail stores
- Offices
- Warehouses
- Churches and schools
- Detached garages
- Barns and outbuildings
Common causes we hear about include kitchen fires, dryer vents, space heaters, electrical faults, candles, lightning strikes, grills, garage fires, furnace puff-backs and fire spreading from a neighbor's property. No matter how it started, the first call is the same.
You can call even if you live elsewhere and the fire is at a rental you own or a relative's house. The dispatcher can work with a neighbor, tenant or manager who is on site, and the contractor can email you photos and the written estimate before anything past emergency stabilization starts.
