In 2020 the Ocotillo Fire destroyed 20 structures in Cave Creek, including eight homes, and some 500 homes were evacuated. Whether smoke comes from a brush fire or from a fire inside the house, DRR secures the property, cleans with IICRC S700 methods, removes odor at its source and rebuilds what was lost.
Fire and smoke restoration for Cave Creek's desert foothills
After a devastating set of fires in 2020, Cave Creek entered an agreement with Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical that took effect on 3 January 2022, with no subscription or additional fees for residents, and a new fire station opened in late 2024. The Town keeps Stage 1 fire restrictions from 1 October through 1 May and Stage 2 from 1 May, and a Town representative offers free defensible-space evaluations. Most homes here are single-family houses, and we assess every building on the property before choosing how to clean.
DRR has handled more than a dozen projects in Cave Creek since 2023, dispatched from our shop at 977 W 23rd St in Tempe.
Cave Creek · Local Fire Risks
Wildfire and house-fire risks in Cave Creek
The 2020 fires
The Ocotillo Fire, which began on 30 May 2020, destroyed 20 structures including eight homes, and some 500 homes with about 1,000 residents were evacuated. Earlier that month the East Desert Fire burned nearly 1,500 acres of brush.
Spur Cross and the open desert
Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area covers 2,154 acres in northern Cave Creek and is operated by Maricopa County Parks. Homes near open desert benefit from the Town's fire restrictions and its free defensible-space evaluations.
The Cave Creek Complex Fire
In 2005 the Cave Creek Complex Fire burned about 248,000 acres; the Arizona Republic ranks it as the third-largest fire in recorded Arizona history. It burned 11 homes in Camp Creek, a populated area in the Tonto National Forest.
Casitas, garages and workshops
If your property has a casita, detached garage or workshop, each building is assessed and cleaned on its own terms. All of them are listed in the same claim file, so nothing on the property is left out.
Firewise neighborhoods
Whispering Hills was the first community in town to become a certified Firewise community. That work lowers the risk to structures; when smoke still gets inside, we clean it with methods suited to each surface.
Contents and documentation
Damaged belongings are photographed, inventoried and sorted before cleaning or pack-out. Your adjuster gets that contents record alongside the structural file.
Step by Step
Our Cave Creek Fire Damage Response Process
Board-up & stabilization
Openings in roofs, windows and doors are secured to protect the structure from weather, entry and further loss.
Soot & smoke assessment
Soot type and smoke migration are identified room by room — dry, wet and protein residues each need a different cleaning method.
Structural cleaning
HEPA vacuuming, dry-chemical sponging and wet cleaning matched to each surface, working top to bottom.
Odor removal
Odor sources are removed first, then treated with methods matched to the material and the occupancy of the home.
Contents & rebuild
Contents are inventoried, and reconstruction is handled under one contractor, AZ ROC #349012.
Local Context
Cave Creek Fire Damage: What You Need to Know
Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical provides fire service under an agreement with the Town that took effect 3 January 2022; there are no subscription or additional fees for residents or local businesses.
Cave Creek keeps Stage 1 fire restrictions from 1 October through 1 May, then moves to Stage 2 on 1 May.
A Town representative offers free defensible-space evaluations of homes and property.
In 2020 the Ocotillo Fire destroyed 20 structures including eight homes; some 500 homes and about 1,000 residents were evacuated.
Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area covers 2,154 acres in northern Cave Creek.
FAQ
Fire damage restoration Cave Creek — FAQ
Does DRR work in Cave Creek?
Yes. DRR has handled more than a dozen projects in Cave Creek since 2023. A live person answers 24/7, and a crew is dispatched from our Tempe shop as soon as you call.
Can the Town check my defensible space?
Yes. The Town says a representative can do a free defensible-space evaluation of your home or property. Clearing fuel around the home won't keep all smoke out, but it lowers the chance of fire reaching the structure.
Smoke from a brush fire came into our house. Is that part of a fire claim?
Smoke damage from a nearby fire can be part of a homeowners claim, depending on your policy. We document what we find, including residue on surfaces and in the HVAC, so your adjuster can review it.
Do you rebuild after the cleanup?
Yes. DRR is a licensed Arizona contractor (AZ ROC #349012), so cleaning, repairs and reconstruction can be handled under one contractor.
Do you work with my insurance company?
Yes. DRR has worked claims with State Farm, Farmers, Allstate, USAA, Liberty Mutual, American Family and others across the Phoenix metro, and documents fire losses the way adjusters need them.
Fire damage in Cave Creek?
Live answer 24/7, crew dispatched as soon as you call. IICRC Certified Firm, licensed Arizona contractor.
(602) 228-949424/7 · All of Cave Creek · AZ ROC #349012