Tis The Season.... For Fire

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Not cleaning a chimney can cause devastation to a home.

Whether it's chestnuts roasting, or a turkey deep frying, or a Christmas tree light popping, this is the time of the year when house fires become more prevalent.  One of the most dangerous, is the fire that you don't always notice.

We get it, you want to embrace the holiday season and maybe have a cup of hot chocolate in front of the fireplace.  We do too!  But when was the last time that you had that chimney cleaned?  Typically you should have it cleaned once a year, or when the soot or creosote is over 1/8th of an inch thick.

So how do you identify a chimney fire?  Often times you wont notice, but there are some telltale signs that you can look out for.

First of all, if you experience any of the following, immediately leave the home and call 911.

• A loud, crackling or popping noise from the chimney flue (imagine the sound of a large bonfire)
• A lot of dense, thick smoke coming into the fireplace or out of the top of the chimney
• Flames or things that are on fire (pieces of flaming creosote) coming from the top of the chimney
• A strong, intensely hot smell
• A roaring sound, often described as being like a freight train or airplane

Signs that you may have had a fire, and need to get it inspected

These signs may indicate that your chimney has experienced a slow-burning chimney fire:

• Fluffy, gray, “ashy”, or “honeycombed” creosote (normally, creosote is a flat, black, often shiny substance)
• Warped or discolored (“annealed”) metal components — this indicates the metal structures have been damaged by intense heat
• Cracked or damaged flue tiles, or chunks missing from flue tiles (this can also be caused by water damage)
• Heat-damaged roof structures (such as television antennas, shingles, or vents) near the chimney
• Creosote chunks or pieces found outside the chimney, on the roof or ground, or in the fireplace (intense heat can drive these from the chimney)
• Cracks in the exterior masonry of the chimney (caused by intense heat from inside)
• Evidence of smoke escaping through the sides of the chimney (indicates cracks inside the chimney flue, possibly caused by heat)

SERVPRO of Blackfoot/Pocatello can assist you with cleaning up after a chimney fire, from the soot on the wall, stone, or rocks, to bringing in equipment to clean the air so it doesn't smell like a campfire.  Give us a call at (208) 242-3819 and we will help you stay cozy all winter long.