CHIMNEY FIRES

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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