
Winter Safety Tips to Prevent Fire Damage in Lakeview, IL

Nasutsa Mabwa
March 9, 2016Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most renown weather forecaster, failed to see his shadow in early February. This means spring is right around the corner, or so the folklore says, according to
The Washington Post
. However, the furry little creature has only been right a mere 39% of the time, reports the StormFax Almanac, which means Chicagoans might be in for a lot more winter!
If that’s the case, there are plenty of cool days and cold nights remaining for folks to use their fireplaces and space heaters to help chase away the chill in Lakeview, IL. While it’s nice to use a fireplace or space heater to create a warm and cozy atmosphere, they’re responsible for several house fires every year that require extensive fire damage restoration.
If you find yourself in need of fire damage restoration in the greater Chicago area, look no further than the expert restoration professionals with ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons. We’ve got the tools, techniques, and expertise to return your precious home or business to its pre-loss condition as soon as possible.
To prevent having to make the call for fire damage restoration, carefully heed these winter safety tips to keep your family and property free from fire:
- Make sure your furnace is inspected and serviced at least once a year
- Never, ever leave a running space heater unattended
- Plug your space heater directly into an outlet vs. an extension cord, and position it at least 3 feet from any potential fire hazards
- If your space heater doesn’t have an automatic shut-off feature, buy one that does
- Never leave your home if your gas or wood-burning fireplace is operating
- Use only dry, seasoned wood in fireplaces, and make sure the chimney and vents are clean
- Make sure your wood fire is completely extinguished before leaving home or going to sleep
- Use a fire screen to catch flying embers
Call
ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons immediately at 773-376-1110 if you find yourself in need of expert
fire damage restoration
in the Lakeview, IL neighborhood. We’ll be on the scene within hours to survey the damage and to get to work at restoring your property in record time.
Nasutsa Mabwa is the CEO of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a nationally recognized, award-winning disaster restoration firm serving Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties. Under her leadership, the company has become one of Chicagoland’s most trusted providers of water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke damage cleanup, mold remediation, and specialty cleaning services for both residential and commercial clients.
A respected business and civic leader, Nasutsa has received numerous honors for her contributions to the industry and her community. Her accolades include:
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies - 2025 recipient
- Top 100 Women to KNOW in America (2024) by KNOW Women & JPMorgan Chase
- Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40
- SB100 Best of Small Business Award
- 2020 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
- Stevie® Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year
- 2020 Daily Herald Business Ledger C-Suite Award
- 2018 ServiceMaster® Achiever Award
She is IICRC-certified in both Water Damage Restoration (WRT) and Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSRT), combining technical expertise with visionary leadership. Nasutsa holds a Master’s in Urban Planning & Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA in Real Estate Development from Roosevelt University.
Beyond her business achievements, Nasutsa is an active community advocate. She is a Board Member of the Civic Federation, an Advisory Board Member, and Past President of the Executive Committee for the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. She is also a long-standing member of the Women Presidents Organization (WPO).
She is the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset, an essential guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water and fire disasters.
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