Chimney fires in England accounted for 3900 incidents dealt with by fire and rescue services between April 2015 and March 2016 last year. This year’s Chimney Fire Safety Week (5th – 9th September), part of the Government’s Fire Kills campaign, calls for homeowners to clean up their act and get their chimneys swept by a HETAS approved sweep to prevent chimney damage, and, in worse cases, household fires.
Bruce Allen, CEO of HETAS, comments: “Sweeping your chimney twice a year is the key to prevention. Not only does this remove soot and tar deposits, but also gives sweeps the opportunity to check for any problems with the chimney or liner. Homeowners using HETAS approved chimney sweeps can be confident that a sweep has obtained the necessary training to safely sweep their chimney and will be giving their home the very best care and attention.
“Using Woodsure quality assured fuel will also help reduce the build-up of soot and tar in the chimney. Seasoned logs where wood is dried to below 25% moisture content and kiln dried logs provide ‘clean burning,’ also ensuring the stove’s glass is kept clean.”
Peter Holland, Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser to the Government, says: “An open fire can be an ideal and pleasant way to keep warm in the winter, but without proper maintenance a chimney can become dangerous. Latest statistics show that there are almost 4000 chimney fires a year in England, but most of these are preventable.
“To keep you and your family safe from fire you should make sure you have your chimney swept regularly, depending on what fuel you burn, before the colder months set in and you begin to use your fire again. If the worst should happen, working smoke alarms can give you the early warning, and a fire-plan can help you ensure your family’s escape in a fire – make sure you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and test them monthly.”
Chris Smith, a firefighter with Fakenham Fire and Rescue Service in Norfolk, has witnessed 10 chimney fires in his small market town in the last year. He says: “The common issue around chimney fires is the build-up of carbon deposits in the flue which can of course be a result of irregular cleaning, but also the burning of unsuitable fuel.
“My message to homeowners is: know how to use your stove correctly. For example, many people mistakenly burn wood at a low level over a long period of time, thinking they are saving on fuel. However this can be a very inefficient way of heating your home and could increase tar build-up in the chimney. Maintain your flue by having it swept at the right intervals, ideally by a HETAS approved chimney sweep.”
