Crucial Steps to Take After a Chicago House Fire
Sam Simon
August 31, 2015If you’re the victim of a devastating house fire in the greater Chicago, IL area, there are some crucial steps you should to take to help ease the emotional and financial toll it can have on you and your family.
First, after you’ve accounted for your family members and pets and the fire fighters have extinguished the flames, contact your insurance agent. Next, reach out to the compassionate fire damage, smoke damage and water damage restoration professionals at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons. In addition to cleaning up after the fire, smoke, and the water used to put out the fire, securing a high-quality restoration company is a crucial step to take to halt further property damage from soot. That’s because the longer soot is allowed to remain in and on your property, the more damage it does.
Next, notify your mortgage lender about the fire. Additional steps to take include reaching out to family members, neighbors, and friends for support. Your local church or synagogue and disaster relief organizations, such as the American Red Cross, can also help meet your initial needs.
As the information above shows, there are many things you should do after a house fire. On the flipside, there are several things you should NOT do. To maintain your safety and that of your family members and to prevent any further damage, here’s an important checklist of things NOT TO DO after the firefighters have put out the fire:
- DO NOT use any canned or packaged food or beverages that were stored near the fire, heat, or water.
- DO NOT turn on the ceiling light fixtures or fans if the ceiling is wet. Turning them on could be dangerous, as the wiring may have been damaged during the fire or while it was being put out.
- DO NOT send special garments, such as a wedding dress or treasured baptismal gown, to any ordinary cleaner. Improper cleaning may further set stains. Ask the professionals at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons for assistance.
- DO NOT attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery. To prevent further damage, these jobs are best left to the highly trained technicians at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons.
- DO NOT clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to the fire, heat, or water. Instead, consult with ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons to see if they can be cleaned and restored or require replacement.
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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 under the name Sam Zabadneh, 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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