As the first cold snap of the season arrives, local fire officials said chimney inspections and the annual maintenance of your wood burning appliances are critical.
Piney Volunteer Fire Department Public Information Officer Tiwanna Bricker said older units should be inspected by a professional. Bricker said it is important that all chimney owners receive a yearly professional cleaning of the flue, the vertical pipe from the fireplace to the chimney.
“We don’t want to see anybody’s home burned,” Bricker said. “So we would always recommend get your chimney or flue properly and professionally inspected and cleaned. We also recommend you keep smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home.”
Bricker said creosote, a flammable, black chemical that coats the chimney flue over time, is a byproduct of burning wood. Bricker said not cleaning the creosote off of a chimney can lead to a house fire.
Bricker said homeowners should stay away from green woods and use dry, well-seasoned wood. Bricker said dry wood burns cleaner, creating less creosote.
Bricker said poor chimney cleanings can also lead to house fires, as part of the flue can knock loose or break. Bricker said fires are not guaranteed to be closed off to the flue or the fire box, so professional cleanings are important to the safety of a home.
“And then when it catches fire, it just continues to burn. And if it finds a way through the chimney or flue, if there’s a weak spot or something that got knocked loose, during improper cleaning, then it can lead to a fire outside the chimney or flue, which would lead to the house burning,” Bricker said.
Bricker said homeowners should keep a working fire extinguisher near fireplaces and wood burning stoves.
