Fire · Fort Worth · DFW
Fire damage restoration in Fort Worth — what happens next
Water from the hoses, soot in places you can’t see, and an adjuster who may only make a short visit. That gap — between what the fire department leaves and what still needs documenting — is where PRC works.
Same-day board-up and stabilization across Fort Worth and DFW.
What you get with PRC after a fire
Independent contractor (you choose) · Document before cleanup · Measured drying · We don’t settle claims — Program contractors · Estimate review
Board-up first — then the building
Do not re-enter until the fire authority clears the scene. Clearance is not a green light to wander soft floors or open roof deck. Heat can weaken framing without a dramatic burn scar on the exterior.
Once cleared, secure the envelope. Broken windows, burned eaves, and roof openings invite weather and theft the same night. Emergency board-up and tarp protect the loss while the claim process starts. Temporary housing questions go to your carrier in writing — PRC does not invent coverage promises. Secure first; argue scope later.
Call us if the building is still open or unsecured.
Soot travels past the burn line
Smoke and combustion residue move into attic cavities, HVAC returns and supplies, wall voids, and rooms that never saw flame. A kitchen fire can still mean duct inspection and cleaning scope beyond the kitchen.
Industry practice for fire and smoke damage restoration is framed under IICRC S700. You do not need to recite the standard on the curb. You do need a contractor who maps soot path instead of only painting the burn room.
Odor that “comes back” after a quick spray is usually unfinished path work — HVAC, attic, or hidden surfaces — not a mystery. Consumer safety basics after a home fire are also summarized by Ready.gov — home fires. Your contractor owns the building-specific board-up, documentation, and drying plan.
Smoke path, odor, and what demo uncovers are what move the cost on a fire job. What drives restoration cost in Fort Worth.
Suppression water is still a water loss
Hose water saturates flooring, pad, insulation, drywall, and framing. Treat it like a water loss that also has soot: extract, map moisture, dry to readings — not to “it looks dry.” Fans in the driveway without meters are not a drying plan.
PRC runs structural drying to moisture targets after the building is secured. Same-day drying across Fort Worth and DFW when crews can start after board-up. Document wet assemblies before they come out — the photo path matters as much as the fans.
Document before anyone “refreshes” surfaces
Photos before cleanup. Wide shots of each affected room. Close-ups of char, soot lines, failed finishes, and wet assemblies from hose water. Contents you plan to discard — before they leave the property. Exterior openings that need board-up.
Once soot is wiped and wet drywall is in a dumpster, the file gets thinner. Adjusters and contractors argue about rooms that no longer exist in pictures. Document the path — flame area, smoke rooms, and wet zones — then mitigate. If a carrier estimate already feels thin against what you see, send it for estimate review. We don’t settle the claim. We document the house.
Protect. Reveal. Construct.
The fire path.
Protect
Board-up, tarp, stop active hazards when safe — emergency
Reveal
Soot path, photo file, moisture map on suppression water — S700 · drying
Construct
Rebuild from what the building showed — reconstruction
Insurance / preferred lists
Preferred vendor lists are optional in Texas — you choose the contractor (TDI B-0017-17). PRC documents the building and discusses the work with the adjuster. We do not settle the claim. Coverage follows the policy.
Walk through where you are right now
- 01 Is the fire department still on scene or just left? Don’t re-enter until cleared. Compromised joists and roof deck can exist with little exterior burn.
- 02 Has anyone documented before cleanup? Soot migrates through HVAC and cavities past the visible burn line. Clean or remove first and you lose the photo record.
- 03 Total loss or contained area? Contained fires still usually need smoke and soot work building-wide — smoke travels farther than flame.
- 04 Somewhere to stay? Loss of Use / ALE is a carrier conversation in writing. Read your policy.
- 05 Carrier contractor or adjuster already assigned? You’re not required to use a carrier-recommended contractor in Texas — program contractors.
The one thing most people don’t know
Soot residue is invisible on many surfaces until it’s tested. HVAC that ran during or after the fire can recirculate soot through the house — which is why a full system evaluation, not just a visible-room walkthrough, belongs in the scope.
★★★★★ · Fire · Hillary N · BBB
“After a devastating house fire, PRC Homes stepped in and completely changed the situation. Their fire damage restoration process was professional, organized, and transparent from start to finish.”
Fort Worth fire — the house
Board-up, soot path, then the structure.
Fort Worth — charred framing after a house fire Fort Worth — floor opening after a house fire Fort Worth — charred framing after a house fire Fort Worth — charred framing Fort Worth — charred ceiling cavity after a house fire Fort Worth — charred framing Fort Worth — charred joists Fort Worth — fire through the floor
Rhome fire — night staging
Night board-up and light plant after the fire. Rhome.
Rhome — night board-up Rhome — night aerial Rhome — night connex Rhome — night light plant Rhome — night aerial staging
Fire FAQs
Do you settle my insurance claim?
No. PRC is a restoration contractor, not a public adjuster. We document and restore the house. We do not settle the claim.
Can I stay in my house after a fire?
Depends on smoke concentration, structural clearance, and utility status — not just whether flames reached your room. We’ll tell you plainly on the walkthrough.
Will insurance cover smoke damage in rooms the fire didn’t reach?
Often yes when it’s documented as part of the same covered loss — and it’s the kind of scope item missed without a full inspection. Coverage still follows the policy.
How fast do you respond?
Same-day board-up and stabilization; documentation and drying begin after the building is secured. Call us for a live ETA.
Do I have to use the carrier’s preferred contractor?
Generally no in Texas — you choose. See program contractors and TDI: getting your claim paid.
Fire in a Fort Worth or Dallas condo?
Building structure and your contents are often two files. Who packs your belongings should answer to you, not default to the association’s list. Condo contents vs building.
Fire still active, or building unsecured?
Structural drying · Program contractors · Reconstruction · Facilities · Projects