Who Can Homeowners Trust for Chicago Fire Cleanup?

1/21/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and soot damage should be left to the professionals. Call SERVPRO with their IICRTC certified technicians for the job.

Chicago fire mitigation and remediation is a SERVPRO focus. 

Most people recognize references to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Many would be surprised to learn that other fires also had significant impacts on the Windy City area over the past 150 to 200 years. A noteworthy fire even took place at the site of the city's predecessor, Fort Dearborn, during the War of 1812. 

What Happened During the Great Chicago Fire?

Tradition blames a clumsy cow, which has since been exonerated, but the fire of 1871 did ignite on October 8 in a barn on Chicago's southwest side. The wooden structures making up the residential and commercial housing stock of the period burned swiftly. Flames also spread because of:

• Recent drought conditions
• Fierce fanning by southwest winds
• Tired firefighters due to a significant blaze fought the previous day

The fire burned from Sunday night until Tuesday, causing roughly 300 deaths and razing 18,000 properties in the vicinity of the central business district.

How Did the People and Businesses of Chicago Respond After the Fire?

As happened many times over the decades, Chicago rebuilt. Changes in technologies support the construction of properties better able to withstand the heat, flames, and smoke. Unfortunately, advances in fire-proofing buildings proved not foolproof. On December 30, 1903, the Iroquois Theatre burned, killing more than 600 people during a well-attended performance of "Mr. Blue Beard." The fire started when a lighting fixture shorted, setting fire to a curtain. Tragically the configuration caused the most deaths ever of both a theater and any single building in United States history. Risks to theatergoers heightened for many reasons, including:

• Building plans provided only one entrance and inadequate exits for the three viewing levels within
• Failure to build an intake, or stage draft shaft
• Exposed flammable reinforcement of the proscenium arch
• Excessive use of wood trim on everything 
• Complete lack of proactive protections, of note:
• Lack of sprinklers
• Zero alarms or telephones
• No water connections

Are Any Other Chicago Fires in the History Books?

A heartbreaking incident occurred on December 1, 1958, in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood. Before the end of the school day, a blaze trapped staff and students on Our Lady of the Angels School's stairway. Although the fire department responded swiftly, 92 children and three nuns lost their lives in the crisis. Others were injured as they jumped from windows to avoid the fire and smoke.

Where Can Current Chicago Homeowners Find Reputable Fire Recovery Services?

Obtaining reliable fire cleanup for Chicago residences today requires reaching out to our highly qualified team of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT).

We offer customers:

• Thorough safety hazard assessment and recommended controls
• Emergency services, including
• Firefighting water removal
• Clearing of charred debris
• Evaluation of residues followed by professional matching with effective products, tools, cleaning methods
• Implementation of the residue removal plan
• Deodorization, the ultimate fire aftermath cleaning

Rely on SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville for top-notch smoke and soot cleanup. Call (312) 509-5000 to set recovery in motion.