Provider profile
North Idaho Flood and Fire
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Sandpoint-area homeowners dealing with mold tied to water damage, where the same crew can handle dryout, remediation, and rebuild under one roof.
Best for
- Homeowners in Sandpoint, Sagle, Hope, or Ponderay who need mold remediation as part of a broader water or fire damage restoration
- Property managers handling repeated tenant flood situations who want a single company for dryout through rebuild
- Commercial property owners needing fire, smoke, or water damage restoration with insurance coordination
- Older home buyers in North Idaho concerned about mold in attics or crawl spaces during construction or renovation
- Anyone who needs on-site storage during a restoration project without coordinating a separate vendor
About this company
North Idaho Flood and Fire is a restoration company based in Sagle, Idaho, serving Sandpoint and the surrounding Bonner County communities. Owner Sean Gavin comes from the custom home building industry, which shapes the company's identity: they frame themselves as rebuilders, not just cleanup crews. Mold remediation is one piece of a broader restoration operation that covers water damage, fire damage, wind damage, sewage cleanup, smoke remediation, and trauma cleanup.
What stands out is SteraMist, a handheld ionized hydrogen peroxide misting system they use for disinfection. It targets mold, bacteria, and viruses without leaving residue, and reaches areas conventional surface treatments miss. They also run their own portable storage pod service (branded as Sean's On-Site Storage Pods) in 16 and 20-foot sizes, so belongings can stay on-site during a restoration project. They offer asbestos testing with lab results in about five business days. The company is an IICRC firm, carries a Dri-Eaz badge, and holds EPA Lead-Safe firm status.
Sean Gavin is active in the Sandpoint community — he's a member of the Panhandle Building Contractors Association, Rotary Club of Ponderay Centennial, and the Greater Sandpoint Area Chamber of Commerce. The company won Best of Bonner County in 2024. Office hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm weekdays, but they offer 24-hour emergency response.
A 4.8-star rating across 39 Google reviews is strong. Only one review in the last 18 months falls below four stars, and most reviewers single out specific crew members by name — a pattern that suggests consistent staffing rather than a revolving door of subcontractors.
Services
Service area
Based in Sagle, Idaho, at 468211 US-95. Their listed service areas are Sandpoint, Schweitzer Mountain, Sagle, Hope, and Ponderay — all within Bonner County. Their blog references work in Bonners Ferry and Boundary County as well, and their asbestos testing page mentions serving surrounding Bonner County areas.
Review consensus
Cliff Jensen is the most frequently named staff member, appearing in at least six reviews spanning 2024 through 2026. Property managers and homeowners praise his responsiveness, insurance coordination, and communication. Bob Irwin draws similar praise from condo owners and property managers for hands-on restoration work. Auggie (also spelled Augie or Augee) appears in older reviews as someone who took charge of flood situations with strong documentation and follow-through. Reviewers consistently highlight fast response times — multiple reviewers mention same-day arrival — and the crew's respect for the property during work.
1 found across 39 total reviews at 4.8★. The single recent complaint comes from a rental property owner whose water damage bill reached approximately $13,000 against $10,000 in insurance coverage. The reviewer says the company would not provide a clear cost estimate before starting work, describing the pricing as price-gouging. The owner responded with an apology and said they had made multiple attempts to contact the reviewer to discuss the invoice and find a solution. The gap between insurance payouts and restoration bills is common industry-wide, but the inability to get a ballpark number before work starts is a real concern for cost-conscious property owners.
This is a small, owner-operated restoration company where the same project managers (Cliff, Bob, Auggie) show up repeatedly across years of reviews. That consistency is unusual in restoration — an industry with high turnover. The tradeoff is that during busy storm seasons, a small team can get stretched thin. The single owner response is personalized and includes a specific request to resolve the billing dispute, not a template deflection.
Cliff Jensen (project manager — praised in 6+ reviews for responsiveness, insurance help, and communication). Bob Irwin (project manager/crew lead — praised for hands-on restoration work and reliability). Auggie/Augie (crew lead — praised for documentation, coordination, and professionalism). Sean Gavin (owner — praised for using strong subcontractors and overdelivering). Trapper (crew — praised for helpfulness during mold inspection). Gage (crew — praised for hard work during flood restoration). Justin G. (crew — praised for efficiency). Andrew (crew — praised for teamwork). Sean O. (crew — mentioned in flood restoration). Steven (delivery — praised for on-time storage pod delivery).
Ask for Cliff Jensen as your project manager — he has the longest track record of positive reviews and handles insurance coordination. Before work begins, push for a written estimate or at minimum a not-to-exceed number, since the company's time-and-materials approach left at least one customer with a significant gap between their insurance payout and the final bill. For mold work specifically, confirm whether Cliff or Trapper will handle your project, since both are named in mold-related reviews.
Keep in mind
- Their pricing model is time-and-materials, not flat-rate. The one negative review describes a $13,000 bill where insurance covered only $10,000, and the reviewer says they could not get a straight cost estimate before work began. Get a written scope and cost ceiling before authorizing work.
- Mold remediation is a secondary service here. The company's primary identity is water and fire damage restoration. If you need mold remediation without a preceding water event, confirm they treat standalone mold jobs with the same priority.
- Their listed service area covers Sandpoint, Sagle, Hope, Ponderay, and Schweitzer Mountain — all within about 20 miles of their Sagle office. This is a tightly focused footprint, which is a good sign for response times but means they may not reach locations farther into Boundary County quickly.
- Office hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. They advertise 24-hour emergency response, but after-hours calls route differently than daytime ones.