# Smoke damage cleanup in Marcy-Holmes buildings > Smoke damage cleanup in Marcy-Holmes, ZIP 55414: converted houses, shared halls, original woodwork, lead paint and rental inspections. URL: https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/smoke-damage-cleanup-marcy-holmes/ Section: Home > Service areas > Marcy-Holmes > Smoke Damage Cleanup in Marcy-Holmes 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. Smoke damage in Marcy-Holmes often covers several households at once: the unit where the fire started, the shared hall and stair, and the apartments above. Many of these buildings are among the oldest in Minneapolis, with original woodwork hidden under decades of paint. Our [smoke damage cleanup](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/services/smoke-damage-cleanup/) page describes the general steps. Call and you will reach an independent local contractor who can talk through the cleanup of your building with you on that same line. ## Key facts - IICRC S700 guides how fire and smoke damage is inspected and cleaned [2]. - Lead-based paint was still on the market until 1978, so older painted surfaces need lead-safe handling [3]. - Marcy-Holmes holds several historic districts, including St. Anthony Falls and Fifth Street Southeast [9]. ## Cleaning every unit, not just one A fire in one Marcy-Holmes apartment rarely stays there. Smoke climbs the original stair, slips around added walls and settles in units that never saw a flame. An inspection of every unit and common area is the starting point [2]. The owner or manager usually arranges access to each unit. Tenants should know when their unit will be entered and what will happen to their belongings. ## Victorian woodwork under the paint Older Marcy-Holmes houses still have carved stair rails, pocket doors, tall casings and decorative trim. Conversions often painted or boxed them in. Smoke residue on these surfaces is cleaned by hand. Paint layers in houses this old very likely include lead [3]. Cleaning does not usually disturb it, but scraping, sanding or removing painted trim should follow lead-safe methods with containment. ## Plaster walls and added partitions Original rooms usually have plaster. Walls added during conversions are often drywall. Plaster cleans well with dry sponges first. Drywall absorbs more and may need sealing or replacement near the fire. Where new walls meet old ceilings, gaps often let smoke through. These joints are cleaned and sealed during repairs. ## The order of a smoke cleanup in a Marcy-Holmes building A common approach. 1. **Inspect each unit and the common areas:** Residue, surfaces and contents are recorded [2]. 2. **Coordinate access with the owner and tenants:** Units are scheduled one at a time. 3. **Clean from the top of the building down:** Top units and the stair first, then lower floors. 4. **Clean heating and run deodorizing:** Radiators or ducts, then odor treatment. ## Permits, rental licenses and reinspection Repairs to structure, wiring, plumbing and heating in Minneapolis need city permits [6]. Rental properties also hold city rental licenses, and units may need inspection before tenants return. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry licenses residential contractors, and its site lets owners check a company before hiring [7]. Keep permit and inspection papers with the claim file. ## Kitchens in shared and student units Cooking is the leading cause of home fires [8]. In a building with several kitchens, a fire in one sends sticky residue into the hall and nearby units. Range hoods in converted units may not vent outdoors. Cabinets, ceilings and the hall outside the unit often need the heaviest cleaning. Appliances near the fire should be checked before anyone cooks again, and smoke alarms in every unit should be tested once cleanup is done. ## Winter and the shared boiler A damaged shared boiler can leave the whole building without heat. Pipes in every unit are at risk. Temporary heat or draining comes first [5]. Radiators collect residue and must be cleaned before the heat runs for long. Carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping rooms are required in Minnesota dwellings [10], and they matter most when a damaged boiler or temporary heater is running. ## Features worth protecting during cleanup Mention these on the call. - **Carved stair rails and newel posts:** Hand cleaning keeps the finish. - **Pocket doors:** Tracks and faces both collect soot. - **Leaded and stained glass:** Needs gentle cleaning. - **Original fireplaces and mantels:** Brick, tile and wood each need their own care. ## Common halls, entries and mail areas The front entry, mail area and shared hall are the parts of a Marcy-Holmes building everyone passes through. Smoke residue there is tracked into every unit on shoes and clothing. Cleaning these spaces early, and keeping them clean while work goes on, stops soot from spreading back into units that have already been done. Walk-off mats at each entry, covered stair treads and a set route for workers through the building help. Tenants still living in undamaged units should be told which routes to use and when the halls will be closed for cleaning. ## Tenants' contents Each tenant's belongings are cleaned, packed out or listed separately. The contractor can label items by unit and keep a sheet for each apartment, so nothing gets mixed up between roommates or neighbors. Items that cannot be saved are photographed and listed before disposal. Tenants should photograph their things and contact their insurer. The Minnesota Department of Commerce reminds homeowners they choose their contractor, and encourages good records [4]. See our guide on [what to do after a house fire](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/guides/what-to-do-after-a-house-fire/). ## Historic exteriors and soot outside Flames from a window can streak brick, stone or wood siding. In historic districts, exterior repairs may need review before work starts. Cleaning exterior soot is usually allowed, but replacing materials may need approval. Ask the contractor to note any exterior items that may need review so it can run alongside interior work. For neighborhood context, see the [Marcy-Holmes area page](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/areas/marcy-holmes/). ## Smoke Damage Cleanup in Marcy-Holmes: before and after Slide to see a Marcy-Holmes room before and after smoke damage cleanup work. ## Smoke Damage Cleanup in Marcy-Holmes: questions ### Does every unit need cleaning after a fire in one apartment? Usually every unit and common area should be inspected. Many need cleaning. ### Do repairs in a Marcy-Holmes rental need permits? Yes, for structural and system repairs. Units may also need inspection before tenants return. ### Can original woodwork be saved? Usually, with hand cleaning and lead-safe methods for any paint removal. ## Sources 1. [U.S. Fire Administration: After a fire](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/after-a-fire/) 2. [IICRC: S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration](https://iicrc.org/s700/) 3. [U.S. EPA: Protect your family from sources of lead](https://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-sources-lead) 4. [Minnesota Department of Commerce: Disaster Information Center](https://mn.gov/commerce/insurance/home/dic) 5. [National Weather Service: Twin Cities forecast office](https://www.weather.gov/mpx/) 6. [City of Minneapolis: Licenses, permits and inspections](https://www.minneapolismn.gov/business-services/licenses-permits-inspections/) 7. [Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry](https://www.dli.mn.gov/) 8. [NFPA: Home structure fires](https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/home-structure-fires) 9. [Wikipedia: Marcy-Holmes, Minneapolis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcy-Holmes,_Minneapolis) 10. [Minnesota Statutes 299F.51: Carbon monoxide alarms](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/299F.51) ## Talk to someone Call (612) 471-0995 (+16124710995). Your call connects to an independent local contractor who speaks with you on that call.