Smoke Migration in Townhomes, Rowhouses and Apartments
How smoke and water move through shared walls, attics and ducts in attached homes, and what neighbors should do after a fire next door.
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Tell the operator your city, what happened and whether the fire department has cleared the building. You will be connected with a local provider that covers your area.
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- Give your city and ZIP code
- Say what happened and whether the fire is out
- Ask the company about its license and insurance
Quick answer
In attached homes, smoke and water travel through shared walls, attics, plumbing chases and ducts. A unit that did not burn can still need cleaning. Document your own damage and notify your insurer or landlord. Call (833) 917-4160 to reach a local company that handles multi unit loss.
How smoke spreads
- Gaps around pipes, wires and vents
- Shared attic and roof spaces
- Ductwork and returns
- Wall cavities and floor joists
What to do if the fire was next door
- Follow fire department instructions about returning inside.
- Photograph smoke, soot and water in your unit.
- Notify your insurer, landlord or association.
- Do not run the HVAC if smoke reached the system.
- Ask about cleaning and odor treatment for your unit.
Common areas and firewalls
Hallways, stairwells and shared roofs need cleaning too. Fire resistant walls and assemblies may need repair to their original rating, and local officials may inspect before reoccupancy.
Rowhouses and shared walls
Rowhouse common wall fire damage often shows up as smoke and water in the neighboring home. Shared firewall smoke containment uses plastic barriers and filtration so cleaning one unit does not spread residue into the next. See multifamily fire restoration for duplexes, townhomes and zero lot line homes.
Sources and further reading
- NFPA Research: Home Structure Fires (2019), via the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office
- IICRC: ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
- American Red Cross: what to do after the fire department leaves
Related services
- Apartment and Multifamily Fire Restoration
- Fire Restoration for Property Managers and Facility Managers
- Smoke Odor Removal
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