Suffolk takes aim at predatory 'fire chasing' businesses that saddle victims with up to thousands of dollars in repairs

Brookhaven Town Chief Fire Marshal Chris Mehrman suspected something might be off when a homeowner got a call from someone identifying themselves as a fire commissioner after a minor fire.

Mehrman, who was investigating the fire, took the phone from the homeowner and determined the caller's identity: a so-called board-up business.

In his three decades as a fire marshal, Mehrman said he has witnessed intense competition at the scene of a fire, particularly a larger one, with three or four board-up companies arriving on the hunt for the homeowner and a potentially lucrative contract.

“I’ve actually seen fistfights start between companies fighting over the job,” Mehrman said in an interview.

While board-up companies, also known as fire remediation services or "fire chasers," play a role in protecting property by securing broken doors and windows, fire officials say they sometimes deploy deceptive practices that prey on homeowners facing an unimaginable loss.

Suffolk lawmakers are now trying to tighten regulations against the obscure sector  by expanding a 2015 law to require any member of a board-up service to provide a statement to the consumer that clearly states their purpose. Under the proposal, the company must declare it is not a government service and the homeowner is not required to contract with the business. The consumer must sign the statement and acknowledge reading and understanding it, according to the bill.

The legislation also sets new boundaries for vehicles parked in close proximity to fire vehicles in an attempt to keep out the board-up businesses that sometimes arrive as fast as first responders.

“There are great companies that do a good job and get dispatched by their insurance company,” said Legis. Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), the bill’s lead sponsor. “But these are folks that are out there just misrepresenting who they are.”

The proposed bill increases civil penalties from a maximum of $1,000 to $5,000. In addition to civil penalties, a first conviction of a violation is punishable by a fine of $1,000 or 15 days in jail. A second conviction within 18 months would be classified as a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year in jail, according to the bill.

The legislation, which has bipartisan support, also expands enforcement from the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs to also include the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, the county attorney, district attorney and fire marshal or code enforcement officer, according to the bill.

While current code already requires anyone employed by a board-up business to stay behind fire lines until granted access by police, fire chief or fire marshal, the legislation adds additional setbacks of 1,000 feet of where a fire vehicle is stopped to respond to an emergency.

Lawmakers on Aug. 5 held a public hearing on the bill, which now goes back to committee later this month and could be voted on by the full legislature in September.

'Uptick' in incidents

Dan Brooks, vice president of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, said he’s heard of an “uptick” in incidents involving board-up services and more companies vying for business.

He said the bill clarifies for a homeowner that the fire department or another government-entity did not send the remediation service. 

“We really want to make sure the scene is safe,” he said.

The uptick comes even after lawmakers first attempted to crack down on the industry in 2015 by passing legislation that required board-up businesses to register with the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs and to “comply with minimal protection measures.”

In a letter written in support of the bill, Gerard Turza Jr., chairman of the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Commission, described how the commission "has been bombarded with complaints" in recent months related to "aggressive behavior" and "unprofessional manner" in representing services.

Mike Barry, president of the Fire Chiefs' Council of Suffolk County, said during the Aug. 5 legislature meeting that it’s “critical” for companies to act appropriately and “not take advantage of people seeing their worst day right in front of them.”

Thorne said homeowners can unknowingly get stuck with a bill of $4,000 to $8,000.

“Meanwhile the insurance company would have sent somebody out that they’re in contract with,” he said.

 In 2024, Suffolk County FRES reported receiving more than 5,000 calls of possible structure fires — the types of calls that could trigger a board-up company to respond — according to a report presented at a legislature committee meeting in April. 

Fire departments and fire marshal offices do not perform board-up services, which can be critical for securing the property by preventing further damage and keeping outsiders from rummaging through the interior. A fire marshal will require the homeowner to secure the property in most cases, which is where the private board-up businesses are needed, Mehrman said.

Most companies offer additional services beyond board-up to assess smoke and water damage, debris removal and can also aid in storm recovery such as removing fallen trees or fixing damaged roofs.

Fire officials recommend homeowners facing a residential fire, once they’re safe, to call their insurance companies to begin the claim process. The insurance companies can often coordinate with the board-up company and ensure the work will be covered under a homeowners insurance policy, officials said.

Mehrman said while many businesses "do great work and are very ethical," the legislation will "help protect the public" and "help us do our job."

Behind the line

Chris Carangi, director of emergency services at 1-800-BoardUp in Ronkonkoma, supported the bill during the Aug. 5 meeting “to prevent predatory board-up and restoration practices.”

He said some companies pressure property owners to sign contracts while performing “substandard and unsafe work.” He said his company, which is part of the larger Belfor Property Restoration, only responds when requested.

The Restoration Industry Association based in New Jersey, which represents 1,650 members, according to its most recent annual report, adopted a code of ethics in 2006 that requires members to provide customers “with accurate information concerning the scope of work” and to disclose connections to an insurer or other third parties.

George La Grange, president of La Grange Inc., an insurance agency in Melville, said in an interview it’s common for fire remediation services to show up to a scene. But he was unsure why a homeowner would think the company was part of a government entity, as the legislation aims to prevent.

“I don’t think that’s very common,” he said. “They’re showing up and the homeowners need to go through the insurance companies and the remediation company will often do that for them. They’ll file the claim and then they’ll work with the insurance company to have the repairs done.”

Thorne, who joined the North Patchogue Fire Department in 1990 as an EMT, said someone from a board-up business in the past year approached him and asked for his signature on a document.

“I said, ‘You’re not with the fire department, you’re a board-up service, and you need to get back behind the fire line,’” he said.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

---