Grease fire on the stovetop
A pan fire can scorch the cabinets and hood above the range and spray greasy soot across the room. We remove the burned parts and clean the rest with methods meant for oily residue.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Highland Park, IL
Stovetop fire or smoke damage in your Highland Park kitchen? We clean soot, remove smoke odor and rebuild what burned.
- Crews covering Highland Park ZIP 60035
- We stop the cause first, then dry, clean and rebuild
- Photos and notes you can share with your insurer
Fire and smoke damage we restore in Highland Park kitchens
Most kitchen fires start on the stovetop and stay small, but the soot and smoke travel much farther than the flames. In Highland Park we clean the residue off ceilings, cabinets and walls, deal with the odor and replace what actually burned.
Melted outlets, wiring or switches
Any electrical device near a fire gets checked. Damaged wiring is replaced by an electrician before rebuilding.
Burned or charred cabinets
Charring weakens wood and holds odor, so burned cabinets are replaced. Surrounding ones are judged one by one.
Discolored or scorched countertops
Laminate near the range may blister or scorch; stone and quartz may discolor or crack from heat. We clean what we can and replace what's damaged.
Water and extinguisher residue
If the fire department put the fire out, water may be under cabinets and floors too. We dry that along with the smoke cleanup.
Yellowed walls and protein residue
Burned food leaves a different kind of residue than a grease fire: less visible, stronger odor. We clean it and seal the surfaces.
Damaged range hood or microwave above the range
The hood or over-the-range microwave usually takes the worst of a stovetop fire. We remove it, clean or replace the duct and install a new unit.
Smoke smell that won't go away
If the kitchen still smells weeks later, residue is left somewhere, often inside cabinets, the hood ductwork or wall cavities. We find it and remove it.
What we handle after the damage
- AssessmentWe walk the kitchen and nearby rooms to separate burned materials from soot-covered ones.
- Electrical checkWe have heat-exposed wiring and outlets inspected before rebuilding.
- Removing burned materialsCharred cabinets, the hood, damaged drywall and countertop sections are removed.
- Soot cleaningCeilings, walls, cabinets and appliances are cleaned with methods suited to the type of soot.
- Cabinet interiors and contentsWe clean cabinet interiors, not just the fronts.
- Odor removalRemaining smoke odor is treated once the residue is gone.
- Sealing and paintingWalls and ceilings get a stain- and odor-blocking primer, then paint.
Methods and equipment
Degreasing cleanersCleaners suited to oily grease-fire residue on cabinets and walls.
Odor treatment equipmentDeodorization equipment used once residue has been removed.
Replacement cabinets and hoodMatching boxes and doors for the burned section and a new ventilation hood.
Dry soot spongesThe first pass on ceilings and walls, so residue isn't smeared.
Odor-sealing primerA primer coat that locks in what cleaning can't fully reach.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration before and after — Highland Park homes
Problem
Fixed
DetailKitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in a 1990s two-story colonial, Highland Park
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Highland Park. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and a brass chandelier over the nook. The reason for the call: a grease fire that scorched the upper cabinets. The result: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. Work included electrical check, soot cleaning, plus sealing and painting.
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen fire & smoke restoration
The site: a 1980s two-story near Techny. What we started with: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. The main complaint was smoke-blackened wood cabinets above the range. After: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. Work included removing burned materials, odor removal, plus sealing and painting.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Northbrook →
Before
AfterKitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Glenview
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Glenview. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: smoke-blackened wood cabinets above the range. Finished kitchen: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. On site this meant soot cleaning, odor removal, plus sealing and painting.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Glenview →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Highland Park
Finished: cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →
Before
AfterHighland Park kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen cabinet painting
The same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Highland Park →Step by step after damage
- Call us after the fire is outWhen it's safe to go back in, call; we'll give you a realistic arrival time.
- Assess and protectWe separate burned from smoke-damaged, check the electrical and contain the area.
- Clean and deodorizeWe remove residue from every surface and treat the remaining smell.
- RebuildNew cabinets, hood, paint and finishes put the kitchen back together.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration questions from Highland Park homeowners
How do I get a fire report in Highland Park?
Contact the fire department that responded; they can tell you how to request the incident report. Your insurer may ask for it.
Should cabinets be cleaned or replaced after a fire?
Burned means replace; soot-covered usually means clean. We go cabinet by cabinet.
Is it safe to use the kitchen after a small fire?
Have the electrical and gas checked before cooking again.
Do I need a board-up after a kitchen fire?
If no windows or doors were broken, generally no. We check when we arrive.
Can I clean smoke damage myself?
Light film on a small area can sometimes be cleaned. Wiping soot with a wet cloth can smear it, so start dry. For widespread residue or strong odor, call us.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
Kitchen Water Damage RestorationLeaks stopped, water extracted, cabinets and floors dried and rebuilt.
Kitchen Mold RemediationMoisture source fixed, mold contained and removed, kitchen rebuilt.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.