A kitchen is engulfed by soot and smoke odor after a fire

A Step-by-Step Guide on What to Do After a House Fire — Essential Advice for Chicago Homeowners

Sam Simon

July 14, 2025

House fires leave behind more than smoke and ash — they leave confusion, loss, and questions. This expert guide walks you through the five essential steps after a house fire to protect your home, your family, and your recovery.

What to Do After a House Fire: Step by Step

House fires are one of the most devastating events a homeowner can face — and they are more common than most people realize.

In the Chicago area alone, house fires occur daily, caused by everything from electrical issues to cooking accidents. While no one wants to imagine this happening, knowing what to do before disaster strikes can make all the difference when it comes to safety, recovery, and peace of mind.

At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we’ve spent over 40 years helping Chicago-area families navigate the aftermath of fires. Here’s our professional, step-by-step guide.

1. Ensure Safety and Get Permission to Re-enter

After firefighters extinguish the blaze, do not enter your home until you have official clearance.

Confirm with the fire department that the home is structurally safe.
Follow any established safety zones.
Prioritize retrieving critical documents (IDs, insurance papers) if it’s safe.

Above all, remember: your family’s safety comes first. Possessions can be replaced; lives cannot.

2. Contact Key People and Organizations

Family and friends: Let loved ones know you are safe.
Insurance company: Report the fire as soon as possible. Ask about temporary lodging, living expenses, and the claims process.
Professional restoration company: Contact a trusted local expert like ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons at (773) 376-1110 to assess damage and start emergency mitigation.
Landlord (if applicable): Notify them promptly if you are a tenant.

3. Secure the Property

Fire often leaves doors, windows, and roofs compromised.

Arrange for emergency board-up services to prevent theft, weather damage, or further risk.
ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons offers same-day board-up and tarping services to secure your home.

4. Address Water Damage

Water hoses save homes from flames but can cause secondary damage.

Hire IICRC-certified water damage restoration professionals (verify credentials at IICRC Certified Firm Lookup) to dry and clean affected areas.
Swift water removal helps prevent mold growth, structural weakening, and long-term issues.

5. Support Emotional Recovery

Fires impact not just property, but mental health.

Recognize signs of trauma in yourself and family members.
Seek support, whether through counseling, community resources, or simply giving each other time to grieve and heal.

Why Trust ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons?

Founded in Chicago in 1929, ServiceMaster is the nation’s oldest restoration company. Locally, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is a family-owned, MBE/WBE-certified business proudly serving Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, and the North Shore.

Co-owner Sam Simon, an IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer, leads our expert team with decades of experience in fire, water, and smoke restoration. Sam is also the co-author of the book RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home as Your Most Valuable Asset — an essential resource for homeowners seeking to protect and rebuild their most precious asset.

Our Services

We offer comprehensive residential and commercial restoration services, including:

Neighborhoods We Serve

Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Glenview, Skokie, Deerfield, Riverwoods, Bannockburn, Oak Park, River Forest, and the greater Chicagoland area.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What should I do first after a house fire?
A: Ensure everyone is safe, get medical attention if needed, and wait for fire department clearance before re-entering.

Q2: Does homeowners insurance cover fire damage?
A: Yes — most policies cover fire and smoke damage, but check with your insurer for details on structure, contents, and additional living expenses.

Q3: How soon should I contact a restoration company?
A: Immediately. A professional team can secure the site, prevent further damage, and guide you through the restoration and insurance process.

Q4: How do I prevent mold after a fire?
A: Hire certified water damage professionals to dry affected areas thoroughly; mold can begin forming within 24-48 hours if moisture remains.

Q5: Where can I get expert advice on protecting my home?
A: Download RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home as Your Most Valuable Asset for expert insights from Sam Simon, co-owner of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons.

Need Help After a Fire?

Call ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons at (773) 376-1110 — available 24/7. We’re here to help you recover, rebuild, and restore your home and peace of mind.

Sam Simon

Sam Simon is the Co-Owner and Managing Director of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a certified MBE/WBE disaster restoration and specialty cleaning firm proudly serving Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties in Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in restoration project management, field operations, and emergency response, Sam plays a vital leadership role in overseeing service execution, technician development, reconstruction, and subcontractor coordination.

He holds the IICRC’s highest technical designation as a Master Fire & Water Restorer, a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of professionals in the restoration industry. His technical scope includes water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke recovery, mold remediation, and post-disaster reconstruction across both residential and commercial sectors.

Sam has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to helping communities in crisis. He has participated in large-scale disaster recovery efforts across the U.S., providing boots-on-the-ground leadership during Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as catastrophic floods, wildfires, and deep freeze events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and beyond. His dedication to serving distressed families and businesses in the wake of national catastrophes reflects both his personal values and ServiceMaster’s mission of restoring peace of mind.

In 2019, Sam was selected for the HACIA Contractor Training Program, a competitive six-month construction management cohort offered by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. The program delivers intensive instruction in blueprint reading, estimating, project management, and construction law—skills that support the company’s continued growth in emergency build-back and general contracting services.

Before co-founding ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, Sam built a successful creative career, contributing to notable film and television productions including Chicago Fire (2012), Juvies (2007), and Image Union (1978). His media and videography background continues to shape ServiceMaster’s marketing strategy, digital training resources, and brand storytelling.
→ IMDb Profile

Sam is also the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water, fire, and mold damage.

Under the direction of majority owner and President & CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:

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