CHIMNEY SAFETY
CHIMNEY FIRES do not occur in a clean, intact, properly installed/constructed chimney.
A well built or correctly installed chimney is the first step to a chimney that performs its function of removing fumes from your home and containing flammable deposits so they don't penetrate into your home. But even the most efficient stoves and the best built chimneys need annual inspection and periodic cleaning. Older, more inefficient stoves produce more flammable creosote than newer models. Other factors can contribute to chimney fire dangers as well, including poor quality wood, bad burning habits and improper wood storage. A badly designed chimney or one that's been poorly maintained is a growing danger to your home and family.
DETECTING A CHIMNEY FIRE
Chimney fires are characterized by a loud, roaring noise that grows louder as the fire grows in strength. This is due to the increasing amounts of air being pulled in to feed the fire. Clouds of dark smoke exit the chimney, often accompanied by sparks or flames. If you're home when the fire occurs, you'll likely hear it. The sight of a chimney on fire is frightening.
WHAT TO DO
If you can safely do so, close the doors on the fireplace or the draft controls on the wood stove. Warn others to leave the house at once. Call the fire department from a neighbor's house or from your cell phone. If possible, wet down the roof surrounding the chimney, but don't get water on the hot chimney as this can cause greater damage.
THE NEXT DAY
After the fire has been put out and the surrounding surfaces have cooled down, call a certified chimney sweep to inspect the chimney. A chimney fire nearly always causes damage, so be prepared that repairs will likely be needed. Report the fire to your homeowners insurance company along with a copy of the inspection report and repair estimates. Do not use the chimney until a full inspection and, if necessary, completion of the repairs. Failure to complete the repairs leaves the chimney more susceptible to subsequent chimney fires with increasingly greater chance of the fire spreading to the rest of the home.
