There’s an increased use of fireplaces, wood stoves and wood-fired furnaces in the wintertime.
The question is, have you had your chimney cleaned?
Moncton Fire Deputy Chief Keith Guptill says creosote can build up in the flue, “It really can create a lot of issues. If enough wood-burning product is placed inside your stove, furnace or fireplace, the creosote can catch fire because of the heat that’s building up behind it. Smoke is actually heat. So, as the smoke isn’t able to dissipate properly and it collects in those areas, it’ll do a couple of things. It’ll push smoke back down in the home, which, of course, could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. It can also retain heat and create issues, which can set a house on fire.”
Guptill adds that the fire department responded to at least two chimney fires this week alone.
“If a homeowner suspects a chimney or a flue fire, they need to call 911 right away. You need to make sure you rectify that as soon as possible,” Guptill adds.
Some of the signs of a possible chimney fire include smoke coming back down into the home, or ashes and sparks flying from the flue or the chimney on the outside of the home or business.
He asks that if you are driving by a home and notice sparks or embers coming from the chimney, to call 911.
“You should also pause and take a moment and go knock on the door of the residence and express to them the same thing, because we wouldn’t want them to stay in the home and not know what was going on.”
Guptill says autumn is when most homeowners look into getting their chimneys cleaned. Online sources state it should be done at least once a year.
