Fire damage restoration is not just cleaning. It is a technical recovery process that addresses damage from flames, heat, smoke, soot, and the water used to extinguish the fire. Every layer of a structure—from drywall and insulation to HVAC systems and flooring—may be affected in ways that are not visible to the naked eye.

Because smoke and soot are acidic and carcinogenic, and because structural stability can be compromised—even when surfaces appear intact—fire restoration must be approached scientifically and with strict safety protocols.

At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, our work is performed under the guidance of an IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer and RIA-trained professionals who follow the industry’s highest standards, including the ANSI/IICRC S700 fire and smoke damage restoration standard.

Why DIY or General Contractors Can Make Damage Worse

Attempting to wipe, wash, or paint fire-affected areas without proper training can:

• Push soot deeper into walls and ceilings
• Lock in smoke odors permanently
• Spread contamination through your HVAC system
• Cause blotching, yellowing, and staining to reappear later
• Create future respiratory risks for occupants

Fire damage restoration is both a health issue and a structural safety issue. Professional intervention ensures your property is restored correctly, safely, and fully, not just cosmetically.

Fire damage doesn’t stop when the flames go out. Smoke residue remains chemically active, water from firefighting efforts begins absorbing into building materials, and openings in the structure can allow weather or unauthorized entry. The first 24–48 hours are critical to preventing secondary damage and protecting your property.

At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we provide immediate, on-site response from our Skokie-based operations—no call centers, no outsourcing, no waiting for a technician to “come from the city.” We are minutes away.

24/7 Emergency Response

Fires don’t follow business hours—and neither do we.
Our dispatch and certified restoration team are available day or night, weekends and holidays.

On-Site Damage Assessment

Upon arrival, we conduct a systematic evaluation of:

• Structural integrity and safety risks
• Fire, smoke, and soot migration patterns
• Water damage from firefighting efforts
• Air quality and contamination levels (including HVAC spread)

This informs a precise restoration plan—not guesswork.

Property Securing & Loss Prevention

To protect the home or business from further damage, we perform:

• Board-Up Services for windows, doors, and compromised exterior walls
• Roof Tarping to prevent weather intrusion
• Temporary Structural Stabilization if needed
• Containment Barriers to isolate damaged zones and prevent cross-contamination

This stops damage from progressing, preserves salvageable materials, and ensures the site is safe for the next phase of recovery.

In most fire losses, the water used to extinguish the flames causes as much damage as the fire itself. Water spreads quickly—into walls, flooring, insulation, electrical systems, and structural framing. If it is not removed immediately, it can lead to:

• Structural weakening and warping
• Swollen baseboards, doors, and cabinetry
• Bacterial growth and air quality concerns
• Mold growth within 24–72 hours

This is why water mitigation begins the same day we arrive.

Immediate Extraction

We remove standing water using high-volume extraction pumps and commercial wet vacuums. This prevents further absorption into subfloors, wall cavities, and framing.

Targeted Structural Drying

We place industrial air movers and desiccant or LGR dehumidifiers in strategic zones based on moisture mapping—not guesswork. We use:

• Infrared thermal imaging
• Non-invasive moisture meters
• In-wall cavity drying systems when needed

This ensures we are drying inside the structure, not just surfaces.

Preventing Mold Growth

Because Skokie homes are often finished basement homes and plaster/drywall construction, they can trap moisture. To prevent mold, we:

• Remove or dry wet insulation
• Open walls only where needed (controlled demo)
• Apply EPA-registered antimicrobial treatments
• Stabilize interior humidity to safe levels

Our process follows the ANSI/IICRC S500 Professional Water Damage Restoration Standard, ensuring the property is dry, safe, and structurally sound before reconstruction and soot removal continue.

Smoke and soot particles are acidic, corrosive, and incredibly invasive. If they’re not addressed quickly and correctly, they can permanently discolor surfaces, etch metals, damage electronics, and leave behind stubborn odors that linger for months. Our IICRC-certified fire restoration team uses technical, material-specific methods to remove soot safely and completely, without smearing or driving it deeper into porous surfaces.

Surface-Safe Soot Cleaning

Every surface reacts differently to soot. Using the wrong cleaning method can lock stains in permanently. Our technicians use:

• Dry Cleaning Sponges to lift soot from walls, ceilings, and trim without smearing
• HEPA-Filtration Vacuums to remove microscopic smoke particles from surfaces and air
• Targeted Cleaning Agents formulated for wood, drywall, plaster, brick, stone, glass, and textiles
• HVAC System Cleaning to prevent soot from recirculating into clean areas

This prevents secondary staining, corrosion, and odor absorption.

Professional Odor Elimination

Lingering smoke odor is not simply a smell — it is the presence of embedded smoke molecules within building materials. We eliminate odor at the molecular level using:

• Thermal Fogging to penetrate the same microscopic pathways smoke traveled through
• Hydroxyl Generators for safe, continuous deodorization in occupied spaces
• Ozone Treatment (when appropriate) for complete odor neutralization in unoccupied areas

Our process ensures the odor is neutralized, not covered up or masked.

Repainting & Surface Restoration (The Final Finish)

After soot is removed and surfaces are odor-free, many walls, ceilings, and trim require re-priming and repainting to fully restore a clean, uniform appearance.

We follow a restoration-grade repainting system:

1. Smoke Sealant Primer — We apply a specialized smoke-blocking primer that seals any microscopic smoke residue within the surface.
2. Finish Coat Matching — We match your original color, finish, and sheen — or assist you in choosing new finishes if you prefer.
3. Trim, Doors & Millwork Refinish — Damaged varnish or paint on woodwork is restored for a clean, like-new finish.

This ensures no bleed-through, no yellowing, and no returning smoke odor — even in humid conditions.

After a fire, the damage is not only to the building — it’s to the things that make a house a home. We treat your belongings with the same care we would our own, prioritizing what can be restored rather than replaced.

Detailed Pack-Out and Inventory

We start by:

• Photographing and cataloging every salvageable item
• Creating a digital inventory for insurance documentation
• Carefully packing and transporting items to our secure, climate-controlled contents facility

This maintains a clear chain of custody, which is important for both insurance claims and peace of mind.

Advanced Cleaning & Restoration Techniques

Different materials require different cleaning processes. Our IICRC-trained contents restoration team selects methods based on the item’s material, condition, and level of smoke or soot penetration.

Upholstery & Textiles
We remove embedded soot and odors using:

• HEPA-filtered extraction
• Fabric-safe wash and rinse processes
• Ozone or hydroxyl deodorization when necessary

Furniture & Wood Items
We restore wood finishes and surfaces through:

• Hand-detail soot removal
• Specialized wood-safe cleaning compounds
• Refinishing or touch-up repair if required

Electronics
Smoke and soot can cause corrosion inside electronic components. We:

• Safely de-energize and evaluate each device
• Remove soot to prevent internal damage
• Coordinate specialized electronics restoration where needed

Documents & Photographs
Important personal and historical items can often be recovered using:

• Freeze-drying to stabilize and dry delicate paper
• Deacidification and deodorization processes
• Digital preservation/scanning options when appropriate

Rugs & Soft Goods
We restore area rugs and textiles through:

• Submersion cleaning (when appropriate for fiber type)
• Controlled drying in a temperature-regulated environment
• Odor removal and fiber-conditioning treatment

This allows us to restore many items families assume are “lost.”

Secure Storage Until You’re Ready

Restored belongings are:

• Stored in labeled vaults in our secure Skokie-area facility
• Kept climate-controlled to prevent odor or deterioration
• Returned only when your property is fully restored and safe

When it’s time to bring your belongings home, we manage the return, placement, and walkthrough with you — ensuring everything is returned clean, odor-free, and in its proper place.

Once the property has been stabilized, dried, and cleared of soot and smoke residue, we begin restoring the structure itself. This phase ensures your home or business is fully safe, sound, and ready to live or work in again, not just cosmetically cleaned.

Structural Cleaning

We remove soot, smoke residue, and odor at the building-material level. This includes:

• Walls and ceilings (including plaster and drywall surfaces)
• Trim, doors, cabinetry, and millwork
• Floors and subfloors
• Masonry, brick, and stone
• HVAC systems and ductwork to prevent re-contamination

We use restoration-grade smoke sealers and odor-blocking primers where needed to ensure no bleed-through, staining, or odor return — even months later.

Selective Repair & Reconstruction

If fire or water has compromised framing, flooring, roofing, or finishes, our licensed restoration construction team completes the necessary repairs. This can range from targeted repairs to full-scale reconstruction depending on the extent of the damage.

Common reconstruction services include:

• Drywall and plaster replacement
• Flooring repair or replacement
• Cabinetry and trim restoration or rebuild
• Roofing and structural framing repair
• Interior painting and finishing

Your project is handled start to finish by one coordinated team — no juggling multiple contractors, no communication gaps, no delays.

Restoring Your Property to “Better Than Before”

We work with you to:

• Match original materials and finishes, or
• Update and improve the space during reconstruction if desired

The result is a home or business that is not only safe and structurally sound, but also clean, healthy, and fully restored to your standards.

After a fire, you need more than cleaning—you need a qualified, experienced restoration team that understands both the science of recovery and the emotional weight of the loss. Choosing the right company determines whether your home is fully restored or left with hidden damage, lingering odors, and long-term structural issues.

Certified Leadership & Proven Expertise

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is led by an IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer, the highest certification level in the restoration industry. Our team also maintains ongoing training under the Restoration Industry Association (RIA)—the national standard for ethical, safe, and technically correct disaster recovery.

This ensures every project is completed according to ANSI/IICRC S700 and S500 standards, not guesswork.

40+ Years Serving Skokie & the North Shore

We are not a call center or a franchise that rotates crews through different cities. Our Skokie location has serviced:

• Skokie brick bungalows
• Devonshire and East Prairie split-levels
• Timber Ridge and Old Orchard modern homes
• Multi-unit residential and commercial buildings

We know how local construction styles, insulation types, and HVAC layouts impact soot travel and drying patterns—so we restore your property the right way the first time.

Advanced Fire, Smoke & Odor Removal Technology

We use professional-grade restoration equipment, including:

• Thermal fogging systems
• Hydroxyl generators for safe in-place deodorization
• HEPA negative-air filtration
• Desiccant and LGR dehumidification systems
• Infrared thermal imaging for hidden moisture detection

This allows us to stop secondary damage, eliminate smoke odor at the molecular level, and restore the structure to a clean, safe, and healthy condition.

Insurance Claim Support & Documentation

Dealing with insurance after a fire can be one of the most stressful parts of recovery. We handle:

• Photo documentation and moisture/soot mapping
• Inventory and valuation of damaged contents
• Communication with your adjuster
• Scope-of-loss and reconstruction estimates

Our role is to advocate for your restoration needs, not the carrier’s cost-saving priorities.

“Our work is not just about restoring a structure—it’s about restoring stability, dignity, and peace of mind. We meet every fire loss in Skokie with urgency, expertise, and respect for the families and businesses we serve.”
— Nasutsa Mabwa, CEO, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

When you choose us, you're choosing a local Skokie-based partner dedicated to your complete recovery.

40+ YEARS OF LOCAL RESTORATION EXPERTISE

We’ve served Skokie and the North Shore for over four decades, restoring homes and businesses with IICRC Master-level expertise and trusted local care.

WOMAN-OWNED, AWARD-WINNING, COMMUNITY-ROOTED

Led by CEO Nasutsa Mabwa and Sam Simon, IICRC-certified Master Fire & Water Restorer, we’re recognized for excellence, integrity, and compassionate customer care throughout Skokie.

MASTER FIRE & WATER RESTORER ON EVERY PROJECT

Your restoration is overseen by a certified IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer — the highest technical credential in the industry.

RESTORATION & RECONSTRUCTION UNDER ONE TEAM

From emergency response to full rebuild, we handle everything start-to-finish — no subcontractor shuffle, no delays, no confusion.

IICRC & RIA MEMBER – ETHICAL & STANDARD-BASED PRACTICE

We follow national restoration standards (ANSI/IICRC S700 & S500) to ensure your property is restored correctly, safely, and permanently.

Your actions in the first few hours after a fire are critical for safety and can impact the restoration process. Follow these guidelines from safety experts like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).