Chimney fires

rustyboy21

Listening to the Jeremy Vine show on radio 2 yesterday.

Discussion was re Chimney fires. Had Devon and Cornwall Fire chief interviewed.

He stated that they have had 92 Chimney fires THIS MONTH !
Overall, Nationally last year there were over 10,000 Chimney fires last year. Devon and Cornwall fire service recommend you having your chimney swept 4 times a year, if not, at least at the start and end of each heating season.

The main reason for chimney fires is the burning of unseasoned wood, pallets,kitchen units, fences etc, which give off lots of tar and soot which sticks to the flue and then catches fire. He also stated that more and more insurance companies are not paying out on chimney fires, unless you can provide a certificate of flue check from an authorised and registered chimney sweep, which is current.

I know a lot of you ' Stovies' know what you are doing and burn the correct stuff, but the certain contributors to these threads, who say they will burn anything, don't really think of the consequences and pass on their dangerous ways to unsuspecting and new consumers.

You can listen to the interview on radio 2 website on Jeremy Vine podcast for 28th Feb.

muckybutt

Ahhhh at last someone with common sence. :T

Yes there are a certain few on here that say they'll burn anything, from a sweeps point of view and from experience I normally recommend to my customers that they sweep at least twice a year.

As for chimney fires where I live Humberside F & R last year attended just over 100 calls, the year before 120 ish. When asked what the best course of action to put a fire out I always say if safe to do so then a couple of mugs full of water sprinkled onto the fire to create steam this will help smother the fire. If there are more than two people present then the other should phone the fire brigade.
If not safe to tackle or you dont feel confident enough to tackle it, get every one out and phone 999 immediatley.

I can also say that going the same day and after fires the fire services keep mess to a minimun, they have hearth sheets and dont go charging in with high pressure hoses spraying water everywhere, they usually use chimney rods and a styrrup pump.

rustyboy21

Muckybutt, could you confirm something I have heard if possible.

I was told that the worst thing you can put on the fire to put it out is large amounts of water.

This , I have heard is likely to create an explosion and would also create a fire which speads like when you put water on a chip pan fire.

I am amazed that none of the pallet burning brigade have commented. They are normally the ones who spout out that the likes of you and the other experienced stove people like greenfire etc are talking a load of cobblers and they will do what they want and are always right.

Maybe given them food for thought.

Lippycow

I remember having a chimney fire years ago, my old neighbour came rushing in and scattered washing soda( i think) on my fire and he said would create a gas to put fire out in the chimney...and it did within minutes he saved the day:-)

alleycat`

Washing soda will have created CO2 (i'd guess), effectively starving the oxygen to the fire?

It also happens to contain quite a large amount of water by volume too (which may or may not help too).

--

Chucking cold water onto something hot can cause it to react violently (like oil in a chippan fire).

I wouldn't have thought it would make a fire worse, in a chimney, per se, but i'd imagine there was a good chance of a steam burn / scold and the possibility some of the stove contents itself could be ejected?

I would think sand would be the best thing to throw on it and the cut as much air flow off as possible.

abwsco

rustyboy21 wrote: »

He also stated that more and more insurance companies are not paying out on chimney fires, unless you can provide a certificate of flue check from an authorised and registered chimney sweep, which is current.

Any idea who they've to be registered with. I've used one who has been going for years and years but a certificate was never offered by him.

Absinthe_2

I used to get mine swept yearly when I used to burn wood. I used to get 1/2 a tipper load of firewood delivered for approx £50 which lasted all winter, so was very economical. So I can't see a need for burning other than firewood.

Perhaps some people are lackadaisical about keeping their chimney swept?

muckybutt

rustyboy21 wrote: »

Muckybutt, could you confirm something I have heard if possible.

I was told that the worst thing you can put on the fire to put it out is large amounts of water.

This , I have heard is likely to create an explosion and would also create a fire which speads like when you put water on a chip pan fire.

I dont personally know if it could cause an expolsion ?, all I can assume is that it would creat too much steam at once causing the fire to blow back, after all water is not combustable.

I have always said "sprinkle water on" or use a garden misting spray to create the steam, not throw a bucket on, another good idea is to use soapy water or foam, this again will create steam but wont spatter back at you.

If you are lucky enough to have a fire extinguisher then for a chimney fire I would recommend a dry powder extinguisher. One of these well aimed up the chimney will suffocate the fire very quickly, that coupled with the steam from the water on the fire will put a fire out very quickly.

Over all though the best and safest thing to do is call the fire service, they will not charge you for a chimney fire regardless of what you hear.

muckybutt

alleycat` wrote: »

I would think sand would be the best thing to throw on it and the cut as much air flow off as possible.

Sand will only put the fire out in the hearth not in the chimney

muckybutt

abwsco wrote: »

Any idea who they've to be registered with. I've used one who has been going for years and years but a certificate was never offered by him.

Its yet another money making scheme imo registering with a "body" it puts prices up and theres always added expence for the sweep and customer.

However there are bodies that issue certificates NACS are the main one then there is the Guild of Master Sweeps.

I am completely independant from any body and issue my own sweeping certification, that said the certificates issued state that they are not insurance certificates, basically think of them as a chimney mot.

john1

I called my insurance company on Monday pm and received the following email re radio show

>I double checked with our claims department after your call and they
> confirmed the following:
>
> A chimney fire will be treated as a FIRE PERIL regardless of whether it has
> been swept or not. There is no requirement for a chimney sweep to be
> affiliated to any particular body.
>
> kind regards

During my initial tel call the contact center operator said I have never heard of mandatory chimney sweep certification. As far as I know we don't require one, but will check with management. She also observed that it seem to be a scare tactic by some trade body.