Rise in chimney fires sparks warning from firefighters

Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) firefighters are urging homeowners with chimneys to make sure they are swept regularly.

It follows a sharp rise in the number of chimney fires attended by (AF&RS) in February 2012. Between Wednesday 1 and Wednesday 15 February 2012 AF&RS dealt with 13 chimney fires across the area – almost one a day.

That compares to February 2011 when there were 12 chimney fires for the entire month.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service Community Safety Officer, Lee Wright, said: “One of the main reasons a chimney catches fire is because of a build up of debris inside. Chimneys where fires are burning smokeless fuels, bituminous coal, oil or gas should be swept at least once a year. Those burning wood need to be swept every three months when in use.”

How to prevent a chimney fire:

• Don’t use flammable liquids such as petrol or paraffin to light your fire.
• Don’t burn paper or rubbish.
• Do not overload the fire with fuel.
• Go into the loft occasionally when the fire is alight to check for smoke from cracks, defective brickwork or mortar joints.

If you do have a chimney fire:

• Dial 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service.
• Alert everyone in the house.
• Leave the property, closing the door to the room where the fire is behind you, and wait for the fire and rescue service to arrive.

Lee said: “One of the best things you can do to protect your home and family is to ensure you have a working smoke alarm fitted. Smoke alarms provide an early warning sign that a fire has broken out, giving the occupants vital minutes to escape and dial 999 – but only if they are working properly. Just two or three breaths of toxic smoke is enough to render a person unconscious so the quicker you leave the premises the better.”