Chimney Fire Warning
A few days ago I experienced a house fire and I would like to tell you about it in the hope that it may help stop the same thing from happening to you.
I don’t want to put fear into anyone, just give a little advice.
I lit a fire in the open fireplace and had just sat down to eat dinner with my six year old daughter, when she spotted flames licking out from of the wooden ceiling near the chimney breast.
I managed to stay calm enough to keep my wits about me and do what had to be done without scaring my daughter any more that she was.
Luckily, the fire had only spread a little, making it manageable for me, so I grabbed a large saucepan of water from the kitchen (it was the nearest available recepticle) and ran back to the living room. The ceiling here is in a pretty high apex, so standing on the settee, I threw as hard as I could, and caught the flames. But they flared up again.
After four attempts, the flames were out, but I was still a little nervous in case there was still something smouldering up there, so I called a friend to come and assess it for me.
Just to be sure, we stuck a hosepipe up the hole that had burned through, and soaked it, and at 3.30 in the morning I felt comfortable enough that it was totally out, and slept.
The next day my friend called round to see how bad it looked. It turned out that above the wooden ceiling was more wood and the fire had in fact spread a lot further than what I could see on the ceiling. He also went onto the roof to check over the chimney. It was thickly coated with creosote from the pinecones that have been used here for some time.
Creosote is the name given to the residue left from smoke, water vapor, gases, unburned wood
particles, hydrocarbon volatile, tar fog and assorted minerals that are produced when burning pine, damp wood or unseasoned wood, as it flows up the cooler chimney and creates condensation.
Creosote is black or brown in appearance. It can be crusty and flaky, tar-like, drippy and sticky or
shiny and hardened. Often, all forms will occur in one chimney system. Whatever form it takes,
creosote is highly combustible. If it builds up in sufficient quantities and catches fire inside the chimney flue.
In my case, the creosote had ignited and apparently, due to not so great workmanship, the flames shot back down the flue and somehow out of the sides to catch the wood.
I’ve looked around on the internet and found quite a few articles recommending/warning not
to use pine and especially pinecones in wood burners and indoor fires. I back this up vehemently.
We were really lucky that we caught the fire so soon, and that it happened when it did and
not when we’d gone to bed, and we both came out unscathed. But it was a stark warning to be vigilant.
It’s a scary experience that can be avoided with a little information and a little work.
1. DON’T USE PINE
2. The wood you burn should be well seasoned, preferably hardwood. The wood should be kept
dry and well ventilated before use. Wet or green (unseasoned) wood will burn poorly causing
a buildup of creosote in the chimney.
3. Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean-
Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually or bi-annually depending
on the amount and type of wood you burn.
Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you
may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.
4. Safely Burn Fuels-
Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving
the house.
Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home.
I hope you find this helpful and never have to go through this frightening and potentially life threatening experience.
Enjoy the warmth and comfort of your fire safely.