Restoration logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Restoration logo
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products & Technologies
    • Submit Your Product
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
  • EDUCATION
    • KnowHow.
    • Podcasts
    • Trade Shows & Expos
    • Training & Certification
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
  • TOPICS
    • Water Damage
    • Fire & Smoke Damage
    • Mold
    • Contamination
    • Odor
    • Contents
    • Architecture
    • Catastrophe
    • Cleaning
  • BUSINESS
    • Managing Your Business
    • Insurance/Legal Matters
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • VIDEOS
    • Ask Annissa
    • Ask the Expert
    • Ironclad Marketing Minute
    • TradeTalks
    • Video Channel
  • INFOCENTER
    • Mold and Mycotoxins
  • THE EXPERIENCE
    • Convention & Trade Show
    • R&R Special Issue
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

Case Study

The Sand Fire: Tackling Smoke Damage at a Home & Winery

By Michelle Blevins
Case-Study_The-Sand-Fire

(Photos courtesy of DALLASWHITE.)

Case-Study_The-Sand-Fire

(Photos courtesy of DALLASWHITE.)

Case-Study_winery

(Photos courtesy of DALLASWHITE.)

Case-Study_winery

(Photos courtesy of DALLASWHITE.)

Case-Study_The-Sand-Fire
Case-Study_The-Sand-Fire
Case-Study_winery
Case-Study_winery
October 8, 2016

Editor’s Note:

This case study was a runner up in this year’s second annual Case Study Contest. The winning entry was the cover story of the June 2016 issue of R&R. Be on the lookout for calls to enter the next Case Study Contest coming in the spring of 2017!

It was July of 2014 – a wildfire had erupted in Amador County, Calif. For days, the fire grew and spread with more than 2,000 firefighters working to get ahead of the flames and contain the blaze. Five days into the “The Sand Fire”, it reached a 209 acre vineyard, orchard, and winery owned by an Israeli couple. While firefighters were able to put out the flames before the entire property was destroyed, the fire still managed to do more than $1 million in smoke and fire damage to the winery.

It all happened just weeks before a sauvignon blanc grape crop arrived to be crushed into wine. Some wineries do not grow every variety of grape, so owners order grapes a year or two ahead of time – and prepare well in advance for the arrival of the crop. This meant the restoration work had to be done quickly or the winery and insurance company would be facing about $1 million in business interruption because the grapes could not be made into wine. Enter DALLASWHITE – a full service restoration and construction company based in Las Vegas, Nev. Founded in 2010, DALLASWHITE is licensed in 31 states, but focuses on the West Coast and have about 36 full time employees. They do a pretty even mix of residential and commercial work.

“We got a call from the insurance company that insured the property,” explained Brian Whiteway. “The large loss adjuster who was handling the claim knew it was a very challenging, complex job with the potential for a tremendous business interruption claim if the winery was not ready when the grapes arrived.”

Whiteway says DALLASWHITE has worked hard to build a solid reputation with clients and adjusters alike, and this particular adjuster knew the company had the ability to “move mountains.” As estimates and scopes were completed, crews got to work.

The Damage

The damage was mainly smoke-damage related. Both the winery itself and the owner’s home were filled with the noxious smoke of the fire, meaning everything had to be cleaned.

“The house was right next to the winery,” Whiteway said. “The owners had area rugs worth $150,000 – artifacts from the Holocaust, and other precious items so they were very particular about what we touched.”

For that reason, DALLASWHITE’s certified contents crew cleaned all the items on site, with the supervision of the owners.

Plus, the winery itself remained operational during the entire restoration process – but all the stainless steel equipment used to make wine had smoke damage – and was contaminated by the fire retardant. As those items were cleaned, a representative from the equipment manufacturer had to be brought in to certify that the equipment was cleaned properly and suitable for use again.

Along with the equipment, the winery building itself was also damaged by the fire retardant. Whiteway said his team did research on how to effectively clean that substance off the large, three-story building and metal roof, and got to work.

There was also physical fire damage. A large canopy used to host weddings and other events overlooking the winery was damaged, as were other exterior items. Many required repainting, but one damaged structure in particular took some additional TLC.

“Their custom-designed and built wood porch ceiling caught fire and had to be rebuilt. We also had to do some special refinishing of the wood beams that were charred.” said Whiteway.

The Challenges

Obviously, one of the main challenges of this fire damage restoration project was the timeline. But there was a whole lot more to it than just a time crunch. For starters, the winery was about an hour and a half away from Sacramento – the nearest city.

That meant trucking in enough equipment – like HEPA air scrubbers, ozone machines, extractors, and other typical equipment for a large-scale restoration job all the way up into the mountains.

“Everything had to be trucked in – the equipment, the manpower, everything,” Whiteway said. “We had two overtime shifts of approximately 30 to 40 people per shift. Some traveled back and forth to Sacramento; but we also basically rented out a small, local hotel.”

There were also some logistical challenges with doing all the necessary restoration work – both inside and outside the buildings – while the winery stayed in production, and the owners remained in their home.

Still, through all the obstacles DALLASWHITE crews had the winery back to full operation 24 hours before the precious sauvignon blanc crop arrived.

The Rewards

For Whiteway, one of the rewarding parts of this job was the impact it had on the local area. His company kept that small, remote hotel booked full for weeks. Plus, they rented some equipment from a local business – and hired some local help.

Whiteway also beamed when talking about the owner. He said the owner served in the Israeli army, and has a Ph.D. in food chemistry. Believe it or not, it was this man who invented Captain Crunch Berries and the pudding cup. And, it was thanks to those inventions that he and his wife were able to buy the beautiful vineyard so he could follow a dream of creating amazing wine.

“They are a wonderful couple,” Whiteway said. “They invested their fortune into their passion, and being able to work with some really neat, passionate people, and help them out in such a disastrous situation was very rewarding. It was just incredible.”

On top of making some new friends, The Sand Fire job helped the DALLASWHITE brand grow, and take on other big commercial projects.

KEYWORDS: case study deodorization smoke cleanup wildfire damage restoration

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Michelle blevins headshot 200px

Michelle Blevins is the former Editor-in-Chief of Restoration & Remediation. From April 2015 through July 2021, Michelle oversaw all of the editorial content and focused on multimedia efforts for the brand.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • mold remediation

    Fighting Mold and Bacteria Damage

    Successful mold remediation can be multidisciplinary,...
    Contamination Restoration & Remediation​
    By: Josh Woolen
  • certifications and licenses for restoration professionals

    Certifications and Licenses Every Restoration Company Needs

    Restoration companies need to make sure they have the...
    Restoration Training/Education
    By: Sharon Elzarat
  • a wall covered in moss and fungus

    Zero Tolerance for Toxic Molds: Essential Steps for Successful Remediation

    Understanding the importance of zero tolerance for toxic...
    Mold Remediation
    By: Michael A. Pinto CSP, SMS, CMP, RTPE, FLS, ERS and Kendra Seymour
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Popular Stories

bed bug

How Cutting-Edge Bed Bug Tech is Changing the Game for Restoration Pros

water on basement floor

How Much Water Causes Water Damage?

hurricane

To CAT or not to CAT? Who Should Stay Home

Submit Your New Product/Technology to R&R!

Would you like to promote a new restoration, remediation or cleaning product/technology with Restoration & Remediation? Fill out the question below to start your submission:

Events

September 3, 2025

The Experience Convention and Trade Show

The Experience Convention & Trade Show logoJoin us in Las Vegas for The Experience Convention & Trade Show, the leading event for cleaning, restoration, and remediation pros, packed with hands-on demos, expert speakers, and high-impact networking. Happening September 3–5, 2025 at Caesars Forum—this is where the industry comes to learn, connect, and grow!

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Doffing PPE

When you are doffing your PPE, do you sanitize between every step?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary.

See More Products
Prepare for CATASTROPHE with R&R!

Related Articles

  • sm fire 1

    Tackling Fire Damage & Odor Removal at Massive Indoor Sports Facility

    See More
  • fire damage restoration infocenter

    The Difference between Structure Fire Smoke and Wildfire Smoke

    See More
  • smoke damaged cathedral restoration

    Challenging New Heights: Fire Damage Restoration in a New York City Cathedral

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • After-The-Smoke-Clears.gif

    After The Smoke Clears...

  • fires out.jpg

    Fire’s Out, Now What? Vol. I & II

  • deoderantization.jpg

    Comprehensive Deodorization

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Rytech Restoration of the Midlands

    No one plans for the destruction caused by water, fire or mold, but when it happens, the team at Rytech Restoration of The Midlands is here to help. Our certified specialists provide 24/7 emergency service to get you and your Columbia SC home or business back to normal as quickly as possible. From residential homes to commercial buildings, we specialize in mold remediation, water damage restoration, and fire and smoke damage cleanup. Our live specialists are ready to answer your questions and dispatch a local specialist to your door. Schedule a free inspection and estimate today!
×

Stay ahead of the curve with our eNewsletters.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Submit a Press Release
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Reprints
    • Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing