Fire Damage Restoration Chicago IL

Full-service, 24 hour emergency restoration services. We bill your insurance directly.
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Do you have fire or smoke damage at your Chicago property? We can help.

fire smoke damage team chicagoFor the past 85 years, ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba has offered professional fire damage restoration for Chicago and the suburbs provided by IICRC certified experts that regularly undergo training and education in this field.

We service all residential and commercial properties, including single-family homes, condominiums, multi-unit properties, schools, offices, warehouses, hotels, high-rises, offices and more. Our highly-experienced team handles all types of emergencies including fires caused by protein and electrical fires.

We service all of Chicagoland including the Gold Coast, Magnificent Mile, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, West Loop, Chicago Loop, Millennium Park and more, as well as all the suburbs.

If you have fire or smoke damage on your property, don’t attempt to resolve it alone: call our skilled, local experts, instead.

Request a fire damage inspection.

Dealing with any of these emergency situations? We can help

electrical fire at a chicago house

Home Fires

Whether you’re dealing with a kitchen fire or extensive property damage, you can count on us for complete house fire damage repair. We take on every job regardless of size for all types of properties including single family homes, condos, apartments, and more. We know how devastating a home fire can be, so you can rely on our hard work to make everything right again and get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.

fire damage at a retail location in chicago

Business Fires

When fire and smoke damage your business, you need a professional company with the ability to scale. We know that every hour we spend on repairs represents an hour of lost revenue and productivity for your business. You can trust us to stay on the job around the clock. Because our experience covers business parks, warehouses, high rises, hospitals and more, we understand that your situation is unique. We’ve established a solid reputation with local business owners and facility managers, and we’re always happy to provide references.

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soot removal

Smoke Damage

A fire leaves dark stains, oily soot and lingering odors throughout your property, and it contaminates everything. When you face smoke damage, you have us on your side. We specialize in this type of work with years of industry experience all across Chicago and the suburbs. Our certified technicians use the latest equipment and techniques to restore your property, furnishings and personal belongings.

kitchen fire damage

Kitchen & Protein Fires

When fire strikes the heart of your home, the damage is rarely confined to just the one room. The aftermath of a kitchen fire is different from other types of home fires. Flames melt plastics and synthetics producing an oily smoke that spreads an unpleasant odor throughout the house. Protein fires start when food items in the oven or stove ignite. These fires leave a strong burnt food odor and heavy smoke residue.

apartment fire damage

Multi Family

As a landlord or property manager, your heart skips a beat when your apartments or condos are struck by fire. Tenants’ personal safety is at the top of your list, and you also have to address damages that threaten your building’s structural integrity. For many years, we’ve taken care of multi-family properties across Chicago and the suburbs with certified fire damage restoration services. We’re proud of our outstanding reputation, and we’re happy to share references.

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complex fires

Complex Fires

Complex fires involve natural and synthetic items inside a structure. These items let off heavy, toxic black smoke that can corrode at-risk surfaces like glass and metal.

natural fire

Natural Fires

Natural fires involve trees, shrubs, or bushes. During these fires, smoke penetrates the structure from the outside and leaves a persistent residue and odor.

furnace fire

Furnace Malfunction Fires

When heating appliances like furnaces malfunction, they can cause smoke and flames to spread throughout a property, often following the vent lines of the furnace system.

chimney fire

Chimney Fires

When creosote builds up inside a chimney it can catch fire. These fires burn hot and fast and are very dangerous.

cigarette fire

Cigarette Fires

Discarded cigarette butts, either indoors or outside, are a major cause of fires. These fires can threaten property and cause natural fires.

puffback cleanup

Puffback

Facing a puffback caused by a furnace, fireplace or chimney? Soot can spread everywhere, mimicking dust or leaving a heavy residue. Don’t risk DIY cleaning; it can worsen the damage. Call ServiceMaster by Zaba immediately. Our expertise ensures thorough cleanup, preventing soot return and restoring your home swiftly. Trust us for prompt, efficient service.

electrical fire

Electrical Fires

Electrical fires, classified as Class C, are common in both homes and business settings. These fires can start as a result of faulty wiring, overheating appliances, or sparks from power tools. At ServiceMaster by Zaba, we understand how to mitigate and restore properties damaged by electrical fires.

metallic fires

Metallic Fires

Class D fires, or metallic fires, arise in environments with combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, or sodium. These fires are challenging due to the high temperatures and reactions with conventional extinguishing methods like water. Specialized knowledge and fire suppression techniques are essential for safely managing these incidents. Our team provides expert solutions tailored to handle the unique risks posed by metallic fires, ensuring safety and minimizing damage in industrial settings.

chemical fires

Chemical Fires

Chemical fires involve substances like solvents, fuels, and industrial chemicals, requiring specialized response due to their high combustibility and potential for toxic fumes. They are fueled by chemical reactions, necessitating expert handling and suppression methods. Our services include tailored solutions to manage these complex fires.. We address the unique challenges of chemical fires in diverse environments, ensuring your facility’s safety and compliance.

Our 7-Step Fire Damage Restoration Process for Chicago Residents

1. Emergency Response and Pre-Cleaning

With headquarters in both Chicago and Skokie, our teams respond to emergencies 24/7.

Our fully stocked fleet vans arrive on the scene within 90 minutes of your call, after the Chicago fire department teams have left, and we get to work immediately — fine-tuning our fire damage restoration process to your property.

Our immediate services include emergency pre-cleaning, which helps us clear a space to work and set the stage for a comprehensive restoration.

2. Detailed Fire Damage Assessmentfire damage technician inspecting property with customers

We perform a thorough inspection of all damage to determine your home or business’s structural integrity and the condition of your belongings.

Our technicians identify the fire source, classify its type, and report our detailed assessment and estimated repair costs to you and your insurance agent. These things combine to help you understand how the fire started and to ensure the building is safe before you enter it.

3. Immediate Property Security

Fire damage often makes it impossible to close windows and doors, and it compromises the strength and stability of walls and roofs. Our fire restoration process addresses these problems with secure board-up services that ensure the physical safety of your Chicago property and everyone in it.

4. Content Cleaning and Pack-out

Next, our team will begin content cleaning. We will provide thorough, comprehensive cleaning for all textiles, surfaces, and items that can be saved. We will also pack out the things that are beyond repair. We will seek your involvement with any pack-out recommendations we make. On every restoration job, we strive to restore rather than replace items as much as possible.

5. Water Damage Restorationdrying out home after fire damage

Water left over from extinguishing a fire permeates infrastructure and saturates furniture and belongings.

Our technicians use industry-proven equipment to take care of water damage cleanup and restoration, and then we finish up with state-of-the-art drying and dehumidifying techniques.  This prevents future mold and mildew growth and keeps your property fresh.

6. Smoke & Soot Removal

smoke soot removal chicago

Our teams tackle smoke and soot cleanup from every damaged surface in your Chicago property. This includes walls and ceilings, as well as all furnishings and personal belongings. We carefully clean and thoroughly sanitize everything with specialized smoke and soot mitigation products and techniques. This protects your health and prevents ongoing soot exposure. Our property-wide smoke mitigation begins with thoroughly washing all surfaces.

We use chemical sponges and wet-wash techniques that penetrate deep into structural materials and clean away smoke stains. We follow up with deodorizing processes that utilize air scrubbers as well as state-of-the-art equipment for carpet and air duct cleaning. Smoke odors don’t stand a chance against our industry-proven methods.

We also clean furnishings and personal belongings affected by smoke damage and odors. Using advanced techniques, we can salvage upholstery, drapes, electronic devices and more. As we restore your belongings, we return everything to its original placement and position in each room. We understand and respect the value you place on personal belongings. We work hard to restore everything to its original condition using the safest, most thorough techniques.

7. Complete Property Restorationreconstructing property after fire damage

We finish your fire damage recovery process by restoring your property to its original condition – from minor plumbing repairs to wall reconstruction.

Our teams replace the flooring, deep clean tile, repair baseboards, and repaint ceilings.
We handle all aspects of the project with industry-established fire damage restoration procedures and standards, and we restore your property with the highest quality materials and workmanship.

To get rid of the lingering fire smell, we use a proprietary deodorization process – complete with air foggers and industrial-strength fans. This reduces the chances that any smoke odor will linger in the air and helps make your home healthy once more.

Before & Afters

Why Choose ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba?

  • 85+ years of combined fire damage restoration experience
  • Guaranteed response time of under 90 minutes
  • We manage your insurance claims
  • Licensed, bonded, insured, IICRC certified
  • We answer your call the first time
  • Friendliest customer service in Chicago

Our Advanced Fire Damage Cleanup Services for Chicago, IL

Emergency Services 

fire damage inspection chicago

  • Rapid response mobilization.
  • Fire damage assessment.
  • Emergency board up and tarping services.
  • Water damage cleanup, drying, and restoration.
  • Smoke and soot removal and cleaning.
  • Smoke odor removal and deodorization.
  • Deep cleaning.
  • Mold removal and remediation.
  • Carpet and upholstery cleaning.
  • Demolition and debris removal.
  • Complete property reconstruction.

Structural Cleaning

fire damage equipment

  • During structural cleaning, we’ll clean the entire property. We pay special attention to removing soot from the walls, ceilings, and other structural elements, including crown molding and baseboards. Depending on the extent of the damage, we may use a soft detergent to clean the ceilings and walls.
  • We will clean the floors, doors, windows, and other flat surfaces, including windowsills and countertops.
  • We will restore fire-damaged area rugs and carpets, and remove and replace affected carpet pads when necessary.
  • We will clean the ventilation and duct systems or your HVAC unit.

Content Cleaning & Pack-out Services

upholstery fire damage cleanup

  • Our cleaning and pack-out services include cleaning all the home’s soft goods, including drapes, bedding, garments, carpet, and upholstery.
  • Cleaning of all appliances and electronics.
  • Restoration and drying of documents.
  • Restoration of art.
  • Cleaning of shelving, furnishings, bookshelves, and light fixtures.
  • Packing out home content that cannot be restored.

What Chicagoland Customers are Saying

This is the second time I've used ServiceMaster. I needed the walls and ceiling in my kitchen to be removed due to a water leak from the unit above me. They were super cautious of my furniture and covered everything with plastic. I hired them to do my reconstruction as well and am extremely happy with my new cabinets!
Jorge Daniel castro
Jorge Daniel C.
16:07 21 Mar 24
I had 4 inches of standing water in my basement. ServiceMaster was able to pump all the water out of the basement and cleaned and sanitized my floors and walls. I’m extremely impressed by how quick they worked and how clean they left my basement!
Barney Cruz
Barney C.
16:03 21 Mar 24
I used ServiceMaster for a recent water damage issue. They helped me with my insurance claim and handled all aspects from packing out my home, mitigating and repairs. Thank you ServiceMaster by Zaba, I highly recommend them !!!
madeline kim
madeline K.
00:20 12 Mar 24
Service Master Restoration work was excellent on time professional very clean respectful Employees and very detail in the service that they provide for you. They answer any questions you have And are very helpful And willing to assist you. And their services Was wonderful.
Edwin Munoz
Edwin M.
21:09 18 Jan 24
After a fire, that caused a lot of smoke damage, Fernando the GM, went above and beyond helping us navigate not only the clean up process,but all questions we had. The crew is professional and thorough cleaners. I highly Service Master.
sondra graton
sondra G.
11:56 28 Dec 23
While we were out of town our vanity mirror fell and turned on our sink faucet. Water was running for days, we're not sure when it happened, the fire department was alerted when the house sensors got wet and set off the alarms. our neighbor came over when she saw the fire department. We were called immediately. Our agent highly recommended neil at service master. He came out with a huge team and a general manager. I felt very comfortable with him and all office staff to get the job done while we were still out of town. My neighbor checked in on them until we returned. 80% of my entire house was gutted. I have a lot of custom wall paneling, crown molding and trim. They were able to save it all. They also did my packout and duct work cleaning. Everyone at service master was extremely knowledgeable and professionaland very helpful.
Andres Ortiz
Andres O.
21:15 17 Dec 23
I had a burst pipe in the middle of the night and one of my guest rooms was damaged. Service Master was able to get a crew to me first thing in the morning. Everyone was super helpful and treated my home as if it was their own while doing the necessary work.
Maurice Williams
Maurice W.
21:53 09 Dec 23

Helpful Fire Damage Resources for Chicago Residents

Home Fires – Ready.gov

What to do After a Fire

Chicago Fire Prevention

How much does fire damage restoration in Chicago cost?

You can expect costs to run between $5,000 and $60,000. These are the typical costs for Chicago fire damage restoration. It’s important to understand that these figures represent averages. No two fires are ever alike and neither are the damages.

How long will restoration take?

There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for restoration timelines. Because there are so many variables involved, it can be challenging to predict how long the restoration will take. The best idea is to consult with your ServiceMaster Restoration By Zaba restoration technician to get an idea about your restoration project’s estimated dates and phases.

What factors affect the final cost of fire damage restoration?

Factors include the size of the home, business or facility, as well as the amount of content and personal property that needs to be cleaned and restored. 

Does homeowners insurance cover fire damage?

Most property insurance covers 100 percent of your fire damage cost, but you’re responsible for paying a set deductible. Your agent is your best resource for coverage information.

How can I make sure that my claim goes through quickly?

Don’t remove furnishings or belongings from damaged areas until your carrier gives you the OK. Your insurance company has to establish the fire’s origin and cause, and you don’t want to slow down the adjuster’s work.

What items should I keep in my possession?

If possible, keep the following items in your possession while restoration takes place:
• Cash
• Checkbooks
• Medications
• Personal Documents
• Pets and Pet Supplies
• Stamp/Coin Collections
• Valuable Jewelry
• Valuable Art

Can I clean smoke and soot myself?

No. Smoke and soot cleaning exposes you to harmful toxins and can be quite dangerous. The process requires special training and skill. Fortunately, the techs at ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba are IICRC-certified and equipped to provide safe smoke and soot cleaning and restore your home to its former glory.

How do you handle safety concerns?

At ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba, safety is our top priority. The first time we inspect your home, we will identify and address safety hazards. We will remove debris, identify electrical hazards, separate burnt electrical cords and appliances, and manage any other dangers to keep everyone on the site safe.

What equipment do you use?

The aftermath of a fire leaves behind pervasive smoke odors and toxic soot contamination. We solve both problems with industry expertise and advanced technology, including:
Thermal Foggers
Our thermal foggers perform dual duties. The equipment deodorizes fire-damaged interiors and loosens ash and soot from surfaces. The heated fog produced by the machine spreads much like the smoke from a fire.
As it travels throughout the property, the deodorizing fog penetrates porous surfaces and clears away residual smoke odor. The fogger is effective on damages from all fire types, including wood, electrical and chemical fires.
Negative Air Machines
Negative air machines mitigate fire damage by controlling the spread of smoke and soot contamination. The equipment’s internal operating system maintains a negative air pressure in affected areas.
As the system exhausts to the outside, it removes gases and chemicals from interior air. During the process, microscopic soot particles are trapped by large HEPA filters. Odors are neutralized by the equipment’s carbon filters.
Soot Sponges
These cleaning tools are made with vulcanized rubber. They’re also known as dry cleaning sponges or chem sponges. Their unique texture and composition make the sponges ideal for removing soot particles from fire-damaged surfaces.
Soot sponges don’t leave behind any residue, so they’re safe for cleaning painted and papered walls, wood paneling and ceramic tile. Our technicians use the large sponges to remove soot from all types of content, such as lamp shades, window blinds and even television screens.
Ozone Machines
An ozone machine electronically generates ozone from oxygen in the air. These new molecules are reactive, attaching to the source molecules responsible for post-fire odors. The process reduces the source molecules to odorless compounds.
Our ozone machines are especially effective in eliminating smoke and soot odors from large areas. We use them to clean the air in fire-damaged homes with high ceilings and open floor plans. The equipment is also part of our arsenal for addressing fire damage in commercial sites and multi-unit properties.
Hydroxyl Generators
Hydroxyl generators are one of the latest additions to restoration technology. A generator inside the equipment creates conditions that produce hydroxyls. The organic compounds disperse throughout affected areas, neutralizing smoke odors and soot contamination.
The process has a cascading effect, decontaminating fire-damaged surfaces and contents. The hydroxyls radiate upwards, removing fire damage odors from high ceilings and tight corners. The equipment is safe for use in occupied properties, such as homes, apartments and offices.