When a resident fell asleep while smoking, a fire broke out inside a unit at this Wauconda senior living center in Lake County.
Management contacted ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba right away.
We arrived promptly and worked around the clock to stabilize the property and protect the residents.
What Caused the Damage
The fire began inside one residential unit when a lit cigarette ignited nearby materials.
Although the sprinkler system suppressed the flames, it released significant water into the unit and the surrounding areas.
How We Restored the Senior Center
Due to the size of the loss and the vulnerable population inside the building, we developed a coordinated mitigation plan.
We arrived on site within the hour and worked straight for seven days, ensuring seniors didn’t have to relocate to other facilities.
We worked in phases, isolating affected areas while maintaining clean, safe zones for occupants.
Fire Origin Unit
- Removed fire-damaged materials and debris.
- Performed selective demolition of smoke-saturated drywall and insulation.
- Extracted standing sprinkler water.
- Removed baseboards and completed necessary flood cuts.
- Cleaned, deodorized, and sanitized all structural surfaces.
- Set up commercial air movers and dehumidifiers for structural drying.
- Deployed HEPA air scrubbers to remove airborne soot and odor particles.
Neighboring Units (Above, Below, Adjacent)
- Performed detailed smoke damage assessments in each unit.
- Cleaned soot residue from ceilings, walls, flooring, and fixtures.
- Used HEPA vacuuming and specialized smoke-cleaning solutions.
- Installed air scrubbers to improve indoor air quality.
- Addressed minor sprinkler-related water damage where present.
- Applied deodorization treatments to eliminate persistent smoke odor.
Common Areas
- Installed containment barriers to prevent cross-contamination.
- Vacuumed and cleaned all flooring surfaces.
- Removed and replaced affected ceiling tiles.
- Cleaned light fixtures and HVAC registers.
- Ran commercial air scrubbers continuously during restoration.
- Sanitized high-touch surfaces to ensure resident safety.
Resident Coordination and Safety
This project required more than technical restoration.
We worked closely with facility management to:
- Relocate residents from the most impacted units to available units within the building.
- Maintain clear and safe walking paths at all times.
- Reduce noise and disruption during daytime hours.
- Communicate daily progress updates with staff and administration.
The Outcome
We completed fire debris removal, smoke remediation, water extraction, structural drying, and full sanitization across all 23 units and 3 common areas.
Because of our rapid response and coordinated mitigation plan, residents did not have to relocate to other facilities during the restoration.
The senior living center remained operational, safe, and ready for final reconstruction.
What to Do If You’re Dealing With Fire Damage in a Multi-Unit Property
Fires in apartment buildings can quickly spread to multiple units.
If your multi-unit property experiences a similar situation:
- Evacuate residents immediately and call emergency services.
- Shut down HVAC systems to limit smoke spread.
- Call ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba right away. Smoke and soot damage spreads fast and becomes more difficult to remove over time.
- Do not assume neighboring units are unaffected. Smoke travels through vents, wall cavities, and ceiling systems.
- Act quickly to prevent long-term odor, corrosion, and mold from sprinkler discharge.
If you’re dealing with fire and smoke damage in a senior living facility, apartment building, or multi-unit property in Chicago, Lake County, or the surrounding suburbs, we are ready to respond 24/7.
Call us at: (847) 459-3900
