# Firefighting water damage in Nokomis houses > Drying firefighting water from Nokomis homes: finished basements, oak floors, plaster ceilings and frozen pipes after a winter fire. URL: https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/firefighting-water-damage-nokomis/ Section: Home > Service areas > Nokomis > Firefighting Water Damage in Nokomis Last updated: 2026-10-31 Disclosure: Fire Damage Restoration Minneapolis is a call-in referral service. Your call is connected to an independent, licensed local contractor who speaks with you on that call; we do not perform the work ourselves. Firefighters may use hundreds of gallons of water to put out a fire in a Nokomis house. That water soaks plaster ceilings and oak floors on its way down and ends up in the basement, where the furnace, laundry and often a finished family room sit. In winter, the same house may have lost its heat. Our [water damage from firefighting](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/services/water-damage-from-firefighting/) page has the full process. Make the call and an independent local contractor picks up to discuss drying your Nokomis home with you on that call. ## Key facts - The EPA advises drying wet building materials and furnishings within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold [1]. - The IICRC S500 standard guides how water is extracted and how a house is dried after a loss [2]. - Lake Nokomis gives its name to the eleven neighborhoods of the Nokomis community [7]. ## Where firefighting water goes in a Nokomis house Water sprayed on a fire upstairs runs through the floor, soaks the plaster ceiling below and drips down walls and stairways. It finds its way to the basement through floor openings, the stairway and the basement ceiling. In a story-and-a-half, that may mean wet plaster on two levels and standing water below. The contractor follows the water's path with moisture meters, checking each ceiling, wall and floor. Wet plaster ceilings are checked first, since a soaked ceiling can sag and fall. Only after that does the crew start removing water and setting up drying equipment. ## Finished basements in Nokomis Many Nokomis basements have been turned into family rooms, bedrooms or offices with carpet, drywall and furniture. Firefighting water ruins carpet pad and soaks the bottom of drywall. These materials usually have to come out. Carpet and pad are removed, and drywall is cut above the waterline so the framing behind it can dry. The concrete slab and the block or stone walls are dried with dehumidifiers and fans. This can take several days, especially in homes near the lakes and creek where basements already tend to be damp. The contractor checks moisture readings until the space is dry enough to rebuild. ## Drying a Nokomis house after a fire The usual order of work. 1. **Make the Nokomis house safe to enter:** Check power, gas, ceilings and floors before anyone works inside. 2. **Pump standing water from the basement:** Clear the floor drain and remove standing water first. 3. **Remove wet carpet, pad and drywall:** Cut out what will not dry and photograph it for the claim. 4. **Dry with dehumidifiers and air movers:** Run equipment and track moisture until materials are dry. ## Plaster ceilings and oak floors Plaster ceilings soaked by firefighting water can bulge or crack. Some dry in place and can be patched; others sag and need to come down. The contractor checks each one and keeps people out from under any ceiling that looks unstable. Oak floors swell and cup when they get wet. With careful drying, many flatten again and can be sanded and refinished. Drying too fast can crack the boards, so the crew controls the pace. Carpet laid over oak is usually removed so the wood can dry evenly. ## Frozen pipes when the heat goes out A fire in a Nokomis basement often takes out the furnace or the electrical service that runs it. In a Minnesota winter, that leaves the house without heat, and pipes along the outside walls and the basement rim joist can freeze within hours. A frozen pipe that bursts adds clean water to the fire water already in the house. The first step in cold weather is protecting the plumbing: setting up safe temporary heat or draining the system. The National Weather Service office for the Twin Cities posts cold-weather forecasts that help decide how urgent this is [5]. Tell the contractor at once if the heat is off. ## Mold risk in Nokomis basements Wet basements give mold a chance to grow, especially if they stay damp for more than a day or two. The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours where possible [1]. Finished basements are slow to dry, so removing wet carpet and drywall quickly is important. The Minnesota Department of Health explains that controlling moisture is the key to preventing mold [4]. If your basement had moisture problems before the fire, tell the contractor so they can plan for extra drying and check for mold that may already be there. ## What to tell the contractor about water in Nokomis Details that help plan the drying. - **Whether the Nokomis basement is finished:** Carpet and drywall change the plan. - **Whether the heat and power work:** This decides how fast pipes need protecting. - **Where water is standing:** Basement, stairway or main floor. - **Any earlier moisture problems:** Damp basements take longer to dry. ## Furnaces, water heaters and laundry Water in the basement can reach the furnace, water heater, washer, dryer and electrical panel. None of them should be used until they have been checked. Gas appliances that got wet need a heating or plumbing contractor to inspect them. The panel needs an electrician if water reached it. If the fire started at one of these appliances, keep it until the insurer has seen it or approves disposal. Photograph it in place before it is moved. ## Stored belongings in the basement Nokomis basements hold boxes of photos, papers, holiday decorations, tools and furniture. Water reaches the bottom boxes first. Hard items can be cleaned and dried. Cardboard, fabric and paper often cannot be saved, although wet photos and important papers can be frozen until a specialist dries them. Photograph items before you throw anything away, and list them for your insurer. The contractor can help sort what can be saved. ## Permits and repairs after drying Once the house is dry, rebuilding can start. Replacing drywall and carpet usually does not need a permit, but electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structural repairs inside Minneapolis do. Basement fires often need permits for the panel, dryer vent and furnace work. The [Nokomis area page](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/areas/nokomis/) explains more about permits for homes here. Ask the contractor which repairs will need a permit and who will apply for it. ## Keeping records of the drying Ask the contractor for daily moisture readings and photos of the drying equipment. These show the insurer that the house was dried properly. Keep a list of everything removed, with photos. The Minnesota Department of Commerce encourages homeowners to review their policy and keep records [6]. Our guide to [working with your insurance adjuster](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/guides/working-with-your-insurance-adjuster/) explains how to keep the claim organized. If you notice a musty smell after the work is done, ask the contractor to come back and check. ## Firefighting Water Damage in Nokomis: before and after Slide to see a Nokomis room before and after water damage from firefighting work. ## Firefighting Water Damage in Nokomis: questions ### How long does it take to dry a Nokomis basement after a fire? Usually several days with dehumidifiers and air movers. Finished basements and damp basements near the lakes may take longer. The contractor tracks moisture until it is dry. ### Will my finished basement have to be torn out? Usually only the wet parts: carpet, pad and the bottom of the drywall. The framing and slab are dried, then the room is rebuilt. ### What if pipes in my Nokomis house froze after the fire? Tell the contractor right away. Frozen pipes can burst and add more water. Temporary heat or draining the plumbing protects the house. ## Sources 1. [U.S. EPA: A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home](https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home) 2. [IICRC: S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration](https://iicrc.org/s500/) 3. [U.S. Fire Administration: After a fire](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/after-a-fire/) 4. [Minnesota Department of Health: Mold and moisture in homes](https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/mold/index.html) 5. [National Weather Service: Twin Cities forecast office](https://www.weather.gov/mpx/) 6. [Minnesota Department of Commerce: Disaster Information Center](https://mn.gov/commerce/insurance/home/dic) 7. [Wikipedia: Nokomis, Minneapolis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokomis,_Minneapolis) ## Talk to someone Call (612) 471-0995 (+16124710995). Your call connects to an independent local contractor who speaks with you on that call.