Fire Prevention During the Holiday Season in Chicago
Sam Simon
December 17, 2014For a safe and fun Christmastime, follow these simple safety tips from ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons.
Holiday decorating is in full swing. Lights are going up everywhere, including some not so safe locations throughout your home. When hanging strands of lights, you need to make sure you are not creating a fire hazard. Every year, ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons professionals end-up answering calls about fire restoration because of incorrect placement of lighting. If you end up in this unfortunate situation, ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons is your complete solution for
fire restoration in Chicago, IL
. But let's dive in to a few things you can do to properly prevent a need for fire damage repair due to holiday lighting:
- Make sure you do not overload the circuit with too many strings of lights.
- Do not hang any decorations on or directly above lamps or hot bulbs.
- Do not wrap lights around a window that has curtains. Lights can get hot, and when they are pressing against curtains, they can potentially start a fire.
- Do not plug multiple power strips together to get more power outlets at one location. This can overload the circuit and cause a fire.
- Make sure all strings of lights are properly maintained. If a bulb is broken or burned out, replace it before using that string of lights.
- If you have a real tree, ensure it has plenty of water, and make sure no strings of lights are near the water.
- When attaching outside lights to you house, DO NOT staple or nail through the wires.
- Make sure all lights are approved for the proper areas. Most lights are marked outdoor, indoor, or both.
These are just a few guidelines to follow when decorating for the holidays. By following these suggestions, you are taking the necessary steps to prevent a need for fire damage repair, but there are still many other preventative measures you should observe. If you are in the unfortunate situation of experiencing a fire,
please call ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons
for all your fire restoration needs in Chicago, IL.
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.
→ 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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