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CHIMNEY FIRES

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Indications of a chimney fire:
  • Loud cracking & popping noise
  • A lot of dense smoke
  • An intense, hot smell
  • Can burn explosively, they may be noisy & dramatic enough to be detected by neighbours or people passing by
  • Flames or dense smoke may shoot from top of chimney
  • Low rumbling sound that resembles a freight train or low flying airplane

What to do if you have a chimney fire:
  • Get everyone our of the house
  • Call the Fire Department by dialing 9-1-1



​Signs you have had a chimney fire:
  • 'Puffy' or 'honeycombed' cresote
  • Warped metal of damper, metal smoke chamber connector pipe or factory built metal chimney
  • Cracked or collapsed flue tiles or tiles with large chunks missing
  • Discoloured and/or distorted rain cap
  • Cresote flakes and pieces found on the roof or ground
  • Roofing material damaged from hot cresote
  • Cracks in exterior masonry
  • Evidence of smoke escaping through mortar joints of masonry or tile liners

Causes of chimney fires:
  • Dirty chimneys
  • Improper appliance sizing
  • Burning unseasoned wet wood
  • Infrequent sweeping & cleaning
  • Overnight burning or smoldering wood for long periods in wood stoves

Chimney Fire Facts:
  • Slow burning chimney fires don't get enough air or have fuel to be dramatic or visible, but the temperatures they reach are very high & cause as much damage to the chimney structure (and nearby combustible parts of the house).

Chimney Fire Prevention:
  • With proper chimney system care, chimney fires are entirely preventable
  • Clean chimneys don't catch fire
  • Have your chimney inspected & cleaned annually on a regular basis
  • Use seasoned wood only (dryness is more important than hard wood versus soft wood)
  • Build smaller, hotter fires that burn more completely and produce less smoke
  • Never burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, trash or Christmas trees; these can spark a chimney fire
  • Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures where wood stoves are in use

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