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Chicago Fire Restoration Tips: What To Do After the Fire

Chicago Fire Restoration Tips: What To Do After the Fire

Sam Simon

September 24, 2013

Chicago Restoration Tips from ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons


The firefighters are winding the hoses and packing up their equipment.

The fire damage

is done. What do you do next?

It’s time for the fire and

smoke damage cleanup

 and

fire restoration

to begin.

First, find out if it’s safe to re-enter the building. The fire department or fire marshal should be able to tell you. Next, remove any necessities and valuables from the house or business if it cannot be secured or inhabited. That includes any legal documents and receipts or lists of property that you may have made, as well as contracts, passports, bank books, birth certificates, diplomas, etc. You are responsible for securing the property. If possible pack a bag with clothing, toiletries, medications, etc., to sustain you for a few days. After that, contact your insurance agent as soon as possible. You will also need to contact your mortgage company if you don’t own the deed to the property.

Next, to limit damage from smoke odors and residue, call

ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons

. Here’s why:

You’ve probably got fire and smoke damage, but also water damage from fire hoses or chemical residue if fire extinguishers were used. It’s important to keep these factors from causing further damage by removing as much smoke and moisture as soon as you can.

We usually arrive within 2-4 hours. Before we arrive on the scene, start moving any remaining smoke outside and begin the drying process of the interior and salvageable contents. That means renting and deploying large fans. They can usually be obtained from a rental outlet, home or hardware store. The fire department may have already used exhaust fans, but some smoke and odors may remain.

Preliminary fire damage cleanup


If you decide to clear out your own debris, you may want to rent a dumpster for the purpose. Make sure you wear clothes that protect you and your skin, as well as an appropriate face mask to protect from inhaled fumes or particles. Don’t forget work boots. There may be corrosive chemicals on the floor, sharp materials, glass shards, or slippery surfaces. It’s best not to work alone in case of mishaps.

Beware of perishables


Get rid of anything that is perishable and may have been contaminated by fire, smoke, or fumes. To be safe, that may include everything in the refrigerator and cupboards. Canned or glass sealed foods can be spoiled if the heat has reached them. Look for bulges or cracks in cans or lids. If a freezer has been without power for more than a few hours or if it’s clearly suffered damage, everything in it may be suspect. If you have any doubt about food after a fire, don’t risk it—just get rid of it. One category people don’t always think of is medicines, or crèmes or other cosmetics such as lipstick. Even if these weren’t directly damaged by flame, fumes or heat could have contaminated them or altered their chemical formula, making them ineffective or toxic.

Allergies 


If anyone in your family or business is sensitive to chemicals or has other allergies, be aware that there are now different airborne chemicals and particles in the building than there were before the fire.

These are just some of the basic things to remember about fire restoration. There’s one other: Let the pros do it for you. Call ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons for a fast response and quality fire and smoke damage restoration in Chicago. We have helped thousands of families and businesses with fire damage repair services. Our professional and courteous technicians can help you too. We are on call 24/7/365. Call us today.

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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.
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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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