Help with water, fire and mold damage in Martha Lake

Martha Lake is a census-designated place in unincorporated Snohomish County, named for the lake it surrounds and located west of Mill Creek and northeast of Lynnwood. The area grew quickly: Wikipedia lists 4,808 housing units in 2000 and 7,940 by 2020, which means a large share of today's homes were built in the last two decades.

Fire & Water Energy doesn't send crews of its own; it is a referral service. When you call (866) 937-3230, we'll try to connect you with an independent restoration contractor who works in this part of south Snohomish County. Whether a provider is free depends on the independent firms in the area at that moment. The how it works page and our referral disclosure explain the arrangement in full.

Storm history across south Snohomish County

Snohomish County has been included in 16 FEMA major disaster declarations since 2000. The list reads like a catalog of Puget Sound winters: severe storms with flooding, landslides and mudslides in 2007 (DR-1734), a 2009 winter storm with flooding (DR-1817) followed by record and near-record snow the same year (DR-1825), a 2012 winter storm (DR-4056), the 2015 severe windstorm (DR-4242), and further winter storm declarations in 2019, 2021 and 2023. The most recent, DR-4906 in 2026, covered severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides.

Those declarations cover the whole county, so they don't mean any particular street here flooded. What they do show is that heavy rain, wind, snow and saturated slopes are the recurring threats to houses in this area.

Leaks, burst lines and wet crawlspaces

Most indoor water problems in the area trace back to everyday failures: a washing machine hose that splits, a water heater that rusts through, a toilet supply line that lets go, or a roof valley that starts dripping after weeks of rain. Cold snaps like the record snow of 2009 can freeze pipes in garages, exterior walls and crawlspaces, and the break often isn't noticed until the thaw.

For water damage restoration in Martha Lake, a typical contractor stops the source, extracts standing water, takes moisture readings in walls and subfloors, and runs dehumidifiers and air movers until materials are dry. Water damage repair then replaces drywall, flooring or trim that couldn't be saved. See also burst pipe water damage and structural drying.

Federal disaster declarations that included Snohomish County

FEMA records show Snohomish County was included in 16 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (12 severe storm, 3 flood, 1 mudslide/landslide, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Martha Lake was affected. The most recent:

• 2026 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4906)
• 2023 – Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4682)
• 2021 – Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4593)
• 2020 – Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4539)
• 2019 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, Tornado (DR-4418)
• 2016 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4249)

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.

When a fire leaves soot behind

In a dense suburb where houses sit close together, a fire in one home can push smoke into attics, vents and wall cavities that weren't touched by flames. Soot is acidic and keeps etching finishes, and the smell lingers in carpet, insulation and ductwork long after the fire is out.

Restoration contractors commonly board up openings, haul out charred material, clean soot with methods matched to each surface, and run air scrubbers to deal with odor. Water used to fight the fire also has to be dried. The steps are laid out on the fire damage restoration and smoke odor removal pages.

Runoff, windstorms and downed trees

None of the pages we reviewed tie this community to river flooding, so storm problems here tend to be runoff from heavy rain, clogged drains, water entering low garages or crawlspaces, and trees falling on roofs during windstorms such as the one declared in 2015. Snohomish County maintains a flood hazard areas page and a drainage inventory map if you want to check the mapping near your property.

Water that comes in from outside is treated as contaminated, so soaked carpet pad, insulation and lower drywall are usually removed rather than dried. Our storm damage cleanup and flood cleanup guides go step by step.

Keeping mold out of damp Puget Sound houses

Long stretches of cool, wet weather mean that wet materials rarely dry out on their own. Crawlspaces, bathrooms without good exhaust fans, and closets on north-facing walls are where growth usually appears first, often with a musty smell before anything is visible.

The EPA says a homeowner can usually clean a moldy patch smaller than about 10 square feet, provided the moisture source is fixed. Bigger areas, mold inside walls or ducts, or growth after sewage or floodwater are jobs for a professional who sets up containment and uses HEPA filtration. See mold remediation.

First steps for Martha Lake households

• Call 911 for a fire, an injury, a gas smell or a downed power line, and get out if ceilings sag or the structure looks unsafe.
• Close the main water shutoff for a broken pipe and keep away from water near outlets or the electrical panel.
• Sign up for SnoCoAlerts, the county's emergency notification system, and check the county's emergency information page for flood and snow updates.
• Photograph and video the damage before anything is moved, and keep receipts for fans, tarps or hotel stays. What your policy covers depends on its terms; ask your insurer or agent.

Vetting a Washington contractor before work starts

Ask any company for a written scope of work, proof of insurance, and whether its staff hold IICRC certification. Check whether your state or county requires a license for the work being done, and confirm who will pull any building permits. Get the drying plan in writing so you can see how moisture will be measured and when equipment comes out.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Martha Lake):

• Mill Creek · 2 mi
• Mill Creek East · 3 mi
• Bothell West · 3 mi
• Silver Firs · 4 mi
• Lynnwood · 4 mi
• Eastmont · 4 mi

Restoration guides

• Water Damage Restoration
• Burst Pipe Water Damage
• Storm Damage Cleanup
• Structural Drying
• Mold Remediation
• Fire Damage Restoration

Local resources for Martha Lake residents

• Snohomish County Emergency Information
• SnoCoAlerts sign-up
• Snohomish County Flood Hazard Areas
• Martha Lake Park Improvement Project

Sources

• Wikipedia: Martha Lake, Washington
• Snohomish County: Emergency Information
• Snohomish County: Martha Lake Park Improvement Project

← More Washington cities