Midland is often described as the business side of the Permian Basin. The Handbook of Texas calls it the financial and administrative center of the region's oil and gas industry, and that shows in the skyline downtown, the office parks along the loop and the service yards on the edge of town. Around all of that are neighborhoods of single-family homes, newer subdivisions and a growing number of apartment communities.
A smoke loss in any of those settings leads to an insurance claim with its own questions. Smoke Damage Public Adjuster, the smoke and fire claim practice of Rise Public Adjusting LLC (Texas Department of Insurance License #3356839), represents policyholders in Midland and Midland County. We work remotely and arrange on-site inspections as needed. We do not have an office or staff based in Midland.
Midland's property mix
Homes and subdivisions
Midland's residential areas range from established neighborhoods with mature trees and older brick homes to newer subdivisions on the north and west sides. Many homes have forced-air HVAC systems, attic duct runs and open floor plans, all of which allow smoke from a single room to spread widely. Growth during oil booms has also brought a wide range of construction ages and builders, which affects how finishes are matched and repaired.
Office buildings
Energy companies, law firms, accounting practices and other professional offices occupy downtown towers and suburban office buildings. A fire in one suite, a mechanical room or a neighboring tenant space can push smoke through shared corridors, plenum spaces and ventilation. Office claims often involve both the building owner's policy and each tenant's policy for improvements, furniture, equipment and records.
Service yards, shops and warehouses
Oilfield service companies, equipment suppliers and trucking operations run shops and yards around Midland and toward Odessa. These buildings may contain vehicles, tools, parts inventory, and electronics that are sensitive to soot. Commercial property and inland marine policies may divide coverage between the building and the equipment.
Apartments and short-term housing
Multifamily properties and extended-stay lodging serve workers who come and go with drilling activity. In a multifamily fire, the owner, each tenant and sometimes a management company may all have separate claims.
Regional fire and smoke factors
Structure fires are the most familiar source of smoke claims in Midland: cooking, electrical issues, equipment, vehicles in attached garages and fires that spread from neighboring units. The region's open country adds another factor. The Texas A&M Forest Service notes that areas west of Interstate 35 carry grass loads that can support large fires under dry and windy conditions, especially during the dormant season in winter and spring when grasses are freeze-cured and dry cold fronts bring strong winds.
For properties on the edges of the city and in rural Midland County, grass and brush fires can bring smoke and ash into homes, shops and stored equipment. The damage may be limited to fine residue and odor, which is easy to overlook unless someone documents it.
Industrial fires at energy facilities are another source of smoke in the Permian Basin. Whether damage to a nearby property from that kind of event is handled under the owner's own policy, pursued against another party, or both, depends on the facts. We focus on the policyholder's own insurance claim and do not give legal advice; if another party's liability is involved, an attorney is the right person to consult.
Commercial claims deserve extra attention
Commercial smoke claims in Midland tend to be larger and more technical than residential ones. Common issues include:
- Business income. Many commercial policies include coverage for lost income and extra expense during a period of restoration. Documenting revenue history and the actual interruption is central.
- Equipment and electronics. Soot can affect computers, control systems, instruments and tools. Whether items are cleaned, tested or replaced is often a key discussion. See our electronics and contents page.
- Inventory. Parts, supplies and stock held in a warehouse or shop need a clear list with quantities and values.
- Tenant improvements. In leased office space, the lease and the policies involved determine who addresses which improvements.
- Coinsurance and limits. Commercial policies may include coinsurance provisions or specific limits that affect how a claim is calculated.
Our commercial smoke damage claims page goes into these in more detail.
How a Smoke Damage Public Adjuster helps
We are not a restoration contractor. We do not clean, remediate or rebuild. Our work is on the claim:
What we handle
- Review your policy and endorsements
- Inspect and document smoke, soot and odor across the property
- Build a detailed scope and contents or inventory list
- Compare the carrier's estimate against the documented damage
- Present the claim with organized support and request closer review
- Communicate with the insurance company for you
If you have already received a payment that seems incomplete, see underpaid smoke damage claims. For how the process usually unfolds, read the smoke damage claim process.
Communities we serve near Midland
We work with policyholders in Midland, Greenwood, Stanton, Big Spring, Andrews, Gardendale and throughout the Permian Basin, including neighboring Odessa. We also serve Lubbock and the South Plains to the north.
Do you handle claims for oilfield service businesses?
Yes. We represent commercial policyholders, including shops, yards and offices. The claim depends on how the business is insured, which may include property, business income and equipment coverages.
A fire in another office suite caused smoke damage to ours. Whose policy responds?
It depends on the lease and on the policies held by the building owner and each tenant. Usually each party looks to its own policy for its own property first. We can review your policy and help document your part of the loss.
Is smoke from an industrial fire covered by my homeowners policy?
Many homeowners policies address smoke damage, but coverage depends on the policy language and the facts. Liability questions involving another party are legal matters, and we recommend consulting an attorney for those.
Can you work with me if I am out of town for work?
Yes. Much of our work is done by phone, email and shared documents, and we schedule on-site inspections around access to the property.
Is there a fee to discuss my Midland claim?
No. Talking with us about your claim is free. If you choose to hire us, the terms are set out in a written contract before any work begins.
Nearby communities we serve
- Odessa
- Greenwood
- Stanton
- Big Spring
- Andrews
- Gardendale