
Learn These Fire Characteristics to Help Prevent Fire Damage Restoration in Chicago’s Bucktown Neighborhood

Sam Simon
February 13, 2016In as little as 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control in your Bucktown, IL office, hotel, retail space, or other commercial building. According to the National Fire Protection Association’s Education Division, in addition to being incredibly fast and hot, fire also produces intense darkness as well as smoke and toxic gases that can be fatal to humans and animals.
If a tiny flame has gotten out of control and caused fire damage in your commercial facility, you can turn to ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons for high-quality and all-encompassing
fire damage restoration
after the fire department has done its job. Our emergency fire restoration services are available 24/7, even on weekends and holidays.
Fortunately, fire damage and fire fatalities can be reduced by teaching the basic facts about fire:
FIRE IS FAST.
If you see fire, feel heat, smell smoke, or hear the fire alarm go off in your Bucktown, IL clinic, hotel, school, office, or commercial building, drop what you’re doing and follow the company’s exit plan. Please do not stop and take time to save what you’re working on at your computer or grab the personal belongings you have stored in your cubicle or office.
FIRE IS HOT
. If a fire erupts in your workplace, keep in mind that heat is more threatening than flames. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. If the fire in your workplace has reached this severity, drop to your knees and crawl to the nearest exit or predesignated safe meeting area. Moving quickly is essential! In five minutes, a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once. This is called flashover.
FIRE IS DARK.
A fire at your workplace will start bright, but then quickly produce black smoke and complete darkness. These conditions may blind or disorient you quickly. This is why regular fire safety drills for your company and co-workers are so important.
FIRE IS DEADLY.
Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire uses up the oxygen you need and produces smoke and poisonous gases that kill.
While the above fire facts are very sobering, it’s good to know that proper preparation and fire drills can save lives and property.
If you find yourself in need of fast and dependable fire damage restoration in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood, call ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons immediately at 773-376-1110. We’re a highly reputable and expertly trained fire damage restoration company and we will work tirelessly to return your property to its pre-loss condition as soon as possible.
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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