Herriman cleanup comes with scam warning

HERRIMAN — Staked among sleek signs touting political candidates lining Rosecrest Drive are handwritten ones offering smoke deodorization and carpet cleaning.

In the parking lot of the main shopping center, a gaggle of disaster cleanup companies with colorful can't-miss vehicles advertised their services. In the meantime, a bright yellow company pickup carrying rolled up carpet wound its way out of a neighborhood, while a white insurance agency car made its rounds.

In-state and out-of-state contractors of all sorts have descended on the fire-ravaged city. And state and local officials are urging homeowners to be smart about selecting a business or individual to rid their houses of smoke and ashes.

Disaster areas can be ripe for unscrupulous vendors trolling to take advantage of anxious residents.

"The scammers come out to play," said Francine Giani, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce, which includes the Division of Consumer Protection.

At the suggestion of the Utah National Guard, which is footing the bill for much of the cleanup, Herriman posted a caution on its city website with a link to the consumer protection division.

"Our collective concern is that residents have the tips needed to determine what vendors are credible," said Coralee Moser, Herriman emergency volunteer coordinator. "We would hate for this disaster to create more difficulty for our residents."

Neither the city nor the state consumer protection has received complaints about shady contractors. But Giani said it's just a matter of time.

Larry and Jeanene Buhler's 5,200 square-foot house at the base of the mountain sustained extensive smoke and soot damage. Everything — ducts, furniture, clothes, cars — needs a thorough scouring.

"There was a quarter-inch to a half-inch of ash in the garage," Larry Buhler said. "It's hard to get out."

The Buhlers responded to a flier on their door providing the number for a military hotline. An Army colonel came to their home to assess damage and connect them with a restoration company.

"They stepped up to the plate to do what they needed to do to fix the mistake," Jeanene Buhler said.

Cleanup companies setting up shop in the city are taking different tacks to attract potentially hundreds of clients.

Servepro commercial sales director Brandon Rohner said his firm is using a passive approach.