Fire Damage Board-Up in Riverton, UT

A Herriman homeowner in Rosecrest called at 4:12 a.m. on a March Tuesday. A dryer lint fire had ignited around 2:30 a.m. in the laundry room off the kitchen. The Unified Fire Authority engine from station 118 on 12300 South arrived within 9 minutes and had the fire knocked down inside 40 minutes, but not before firefighters had made vertical ventilation cuts through the roof deck and had broken out two double-pane windows on the north wall to relieve heat and smoke pressure. At 3:45 a.m. when the fire marshal released the scene, the homeowner was standing in her driveway in the 24°F March overnight cold looking at a house with two 4×4-foot roof holes, two shattered ground-floor windows, and no way to secure the property before daybreak. We were on site at 4:38 a.m. with 5/8-inch OSB, tapping screws, a scissor lift for roof access, and 6-mil reinforced polyethylene tarp material for the roof cuts. Board-up completed on both broken window openings by 5:15 a.m.: OSB cut to fit each opening with a 3-inch overlap, secured with #10 x 3-inch construction screws into the framing at 8-inch intervals around the perimeter, sealed with expanding foam at the top edge to prevent air infiltration during the pending restoration work. Roof tarping completed by 6:00 a.m.: 24×30-foot 6-mil reinforced poly cut to overlay both ventilation holes plus 24 inches of intact roof deck on all sides, secured with 1×4 furring strip battens screwed through the tarp into the roof deck along the leading edges. Total board-up and stabilization: $2,340. The insurance carrier’s structural cleanup crew was on site by 9:30 a.m. that morning. Fire board-up isn’t glamorous work. It’s the difference between a structure that stays weather-tight and secure while restoration proceeds — and one that develops secondary water damage, theft losses, or vandalism during the two to eight weeks it takes to complete full restoration.

Why Board-Up Matters

Fire-damaged structures face three specific threats during the window between fire extinguishment and full restoration completion:

• Weather intrusion — open roof ventilation cuts, broken windows, and firefighter-forced doors allow rain, snowmelt, and wind-driven precipitation into the structure. Salt Lake Valley receives approximately 16 inches of annual precipitation and 55 inches of annual snowfall; a mid-restoration weather event through an unsecured opening produces secondary water damage that frequently exceeds the original fire damage in dollar terms.
• Theft and vandalism — unsecured fire-damaged properties are frequent targets for theft of copper piping, electrical wire, HVAC condensers, appliances, and any salvageable contents the homeowner has not yet packed out. Vacant fire-damaged properties in the older housing grid of Riverton, West Jordan, and northern South Jordan face particular exposure because scrap-metal thieves specifically target fire-damaged structures.
• Structural stabilization — fire-damaged framing, especially compromised roof structures and load-bearing walls, may require temporary shoring or bracing before restoration crews can safely enter for cleanup. Board-up is often paired with initial structural stabilization on more severe fires.

Every major insurance carrier operating in Utah (State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, USAA, Progressive, American Family, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide) treats emergency board-up as a covered mitigation service under standard HO-3 policy provisions. Failure to secure a fire-damaged property in a timely manner can result in coverage denial for subsequent losses attributable to inadequate mitigation — making immediate professional board-up not just prudent but often required to protect the primary claim.

What Board-Up Actually Involves

Window and Door Boarding

Broken windows are boarded with 5/8-inch OSB (Oriented Strand Board) cut to fit each opening with a 3-inch overlap onto the surrounding trim or framing. Fastening uses #10 x 3-inch construction screws driven at 6 to 8-inch intervals around the perimeter into the underlying framing or stud material. Perimeter sealing uses expanding foam sealant at the top edge to prevent air infiltration and heat loss during heating-season restoration. Doors that were forced by firefighters or damaged by fire are similarly boarded with OSB cut to the door opening, with weatherstripping across the base to prevent air infiltration under the panel. Where the homeowner needs access during restoration, we install a hinged access door on one of the boarded openings with a padlock hasp for controlled entry.

OSB is the industry-standard boarding material because it provides adequate weather protection, mechanical security against casual entry, and cost-effective coverage. Plywood is used when specifically requested for structural stabilization applications or when the boarded opening will remain in place for more than 60 days.

Roof Tarping

Roof ventilation cuts (typically made in 4×4 to 8×8-foot sections by firefighters to relieve heat and smoke pressure during a working fire) and any roof damage from the fire itself require tarping to prevent water intrusion during the restoration window. Standard tarp material is 6-mil reinforced polyethylene sheeting rated for temporary exterior exposure; 8-mil to 12-mil material is used for longer-duration installations or high-wind exposure locations. Tarps are cut to overlay the damaged area plus a minimum 24-inch overlap onto intact roof deck on all four sides. Fastening uses 1×4 furring strip battens screwed through the tarp into the roof deck along the leading edges (uphill sides) to prevent wind uplift and water penetration under the tarp.

For flat-roof commercial properties, we use heavier 20-mil tarpaulin material with weighted perimeter anchoring. For steep-slope roofs above 8:12 pitch, we schedule tarping during daylight hours only and use fall-protection harnesses per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501.

Chimney and Vent Capping

Damaged or exposed chimney flues, HVAC vent terminations, and plumbing vents are temporarily capped with heavy-gauge poly sheeting secured with hose clamps or metal strapping to prevent rain intrusion and pest entry. This is a small line item but a frequently-missed one on non-professional board-ups — an unsecured chimney flue during a mid-restoration weather event can produce significant water damage to unaffected interior spaces.

Security Signage

Every boarded fire property receives our contact placard on the front boarding panel with our name, 24/7 phone number, and Utah DOPL license number. This serves two purposes: it provides emergency contact information for the property owner, insurance adjuster, or law enforcement responding to any subsequent event at the property; and it acts as a mild deterrent to theft and vandalism by demonstrating active management of the property.

The Board-Up Response Timeline

Board-up typically follows this sequence after a fire event:

• 0 to 4 hours after fire extinguishment — Unified Fire Authority (or the responding jurisdiction: Riverton Fire Department, Salt Lake County Fire District, etc.) completes fire control operations, conducts overhaul, and releases the scene. Fire marshal investigation may add additional time for suspected arson or other complex cases.
• 4 to 12 hours after extinguishment — we arrive on site with boarding materials, roof tarp inventory, and equipment. Assessment of all openings requiring securement. Property owner or insurance adjuster contact for scope confirmation.
• Same day — window and door boarding completed. Roof tarping completed unless active precipitation or high winds require delay to next daylight window. Property secured. Contact placard installed.
• Within 24 hours — documentation package delivered to property owner and insurance carrier: photos of each boarded opening, photos of tarp installation, materials used, and labor hours. This documentation supports the mitigation coverage claim under the standard fire policy provisions.

Structural stabilization work, when required for compromised load-bearing elements or severely damaged roof structures, coordinates with a licensed structural engineer and may add 24 to 72 hours to the initial response timeline.

Service Area

Emergency fire damage board-up coverage across the primary Salt Lake Valley service area, with response vehicles pre-staged with OSB inventory, tarp material, fastening hardware, and lift equipment for immediate deployment:

• Riverton — all neighborhoods, coordinated with Unified Fire Authority station 118 (12300 South) and station 121 (Bangerter Highway).
• Bluffdale — coordinated with UFA station 122 (14400 South Redwood Road) and municipal fire jurisdictions where applicable.
• Herriman — Rosecrest, Anthem, Sunrise Meadows, coordinated with UFA station 103 (Rose Canyon Road).
• South Jordan — Daybreak, Riverfront, coordinated with South Jordan Fire Department stations.
• Draper — bench neighborhoods, Corner Canyon, SunCrest, coordinated with Draper Fire Department stations.
• West Jordan — older housing grid, subdivisions around Copper Hills, coordinated with West Jordan Fire Department.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast do you respond to a fire board-up call?

We arrive on site typically within 4 to 8 hours of the initial call, coordinating with the responding fire jurisdiction to ensure the scene is released before we arrive. Board-up work completes same-day in most cases: window and door boarding within 2 to 4 hours of arrival, roof tarping within 4 to 8 hours depending on scope and weather conditions. Overnight fires that release the scene between midnight and 6 a.m. sometimes require board-up completion the following morning to allow safe daylight roof access; in those cases we deploy immediate window and door boarding for security and schedule roof tarping at first light. Response vehicles pre-stage with OSB, tarp material, and fastening hardware so we don’t lose time on supply runs after receiving the call.

Will insurance cover fire board-up in Utah?

Yes. Emergency board-up and mitigation is a standard covered service under every major Utah insurance carrier’s HO-3 policy provisions including State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, USAA, Progressive, American Family, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide. Coverage typically pays under the “mitigation of loss” or “emergency measures” provision of the fire peril, often without deductible application when the board-up is invoiced separately from the main structural claim. Failure to secure a fire-damaged property in a timely manner can result in coverage denial for subsequent losses attributable to inadequate mitigation, making prompt professional board-up not just prudent but often required to protect the primary claim.

How long does the boarding stay in place?

Typically the duration of the restoration work, which runs 2 to 8 weeks for most residential fires. Boarded openings are removed as the restoration sequence reaches each affected assembly — boarded windows come down when window replacement occurs, boarded doors come down when door replacement occurs, roof tarps come down when roofing repair or replacement is completed. In some cases where the homeowner is displaced under ALE coverage and the restoration is extensive, boarding stays in place for 8 to 16 weeks. OSB boarding is rated for temporary weather exposure but typically shows visible weathering after 90 days; boarding still in place beyond 120 days is inspected and replaced if condition warrants.

Can I do the board-up myself to save money?

Some homeowners do handle small-scale board-up themselves — a single broken window on a ground-floor opening, for example, boarded with plywood from a home improvement store. That approach can work when the scope is minimal, weather is not an immediate factor, and you have appropriate tools and lift equipment for the specific configuration. Where DIY board-up runs into problems: multiple openings requiring coordination, roof tarping requiring lift equipment and fall protection, chimney or vent capping that requires specific hardware, insurance documentation requiring photos and materials logs, and the general time pressure of getting the property secured before weather or theft becomes an issue. The insurance mitigation coverage typically pays for professional board-up as a covered service, so there’s often no out-of-pocket cost benefit to DIY.

What happens if there’s a snowstorm during restoration?

Properly installed roof tarps rated for the expected exposure duration handle typical Salt Lake Valley precipitation events without issue. Winter installations (December through February) use heavier tarp material (8-mil to 12-mil) rated for snow load, with additional battening at intermediate points across the tarp face to prevent wind uplift and snow accumulation deformation. Extreme events (heavy wet snow above 12 inches, sustained winds above 40 mph) may require post-storm inspection and, in rare cases, tarp repair or replacement. We include a 30-day post-installation warranty on tarp integrity for standard weather exposure; storm damage inspections are handled on same-day response during business hours or next-morning response for overnight events. Structural water damage from tarp failure during covered restoration is typically covered under the primary fire policy.

Contact Pure Flow Water Damage & Restoration — Riverton Fire Board-Up

Our Riverton office coordinates with Unified Fire Authority, Riverton Fire Department, South Jordan Fire, Draper Fire, West Jordan Fire, and other Salt Lake Valley fire jurisdictions for post-fire structural stabilization and emergency board-up. 24/7 response with response vehicles pre-staged with OSB, roof tarp, fastening hardware, and lift equipment. Every board-up documents materials used, labor hours, and photographic verification for insurance mitigation coverage.

• Emergency Line (24/7): (385) 289-3753
• Address: 5069 13400 S #400, Riverton, UT 84096
• Email: info@pureflowwaterdamagerestoration.xyz
• Utah DOPL Contractor License: #13845621-5501 (S220 Small Commercial & Residential)
• IICRC Certifications: WRT, ASD, AMRT, FSRT

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Office Hours

• Emergency Service: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Office Staff: Monday – Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Closed: Sundays and State/Federal Holidays (emergency line always active)