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Don't Give Chimney Sweeping the Brush Off

Stay safe from the dangers of fire...

16 Sep 2007

Every year Hampshire firefighters respond to many preventable chimney fires. Following the recent drop in overnight temperatures and the onset of Autumn, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has again started to respond to this type of incident and is reminding residents how to stay safe from the dangers of fire.

At 08.27 am today [Saturday, 15 September] control operators at Hampshire Fire and Rescue mobilised crews from Droxford, Waterlooville, and Cosham to a chimney fire incident at a house in Hambledon.

On arrival at the scene, the fourteen firefighters discovered a chimney fire in the ground floor of a detached two-storey property. Crews successfully brought the fire under control using eight sets of breathing apparatus, one high pressure hose reel, a thermal imaging camera, and a stirrup pump.

Group Manager Pete Watson of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“As summer comes to an end, people start to turn to different ways of keeping warm and will be looking to heat their homes and light open fires for the first time. Now is a good time to have your chimney swept by a competent chimney sweep, preferably before you light the fire for the first time before the cooler weather moves in. We recommend that you have your chimney swept at least once a year and if you regularly burn wood, we recommend that the chimney is swept twice a year. We want people to stay warm, but safe."

As a predominantly rural county, many homes in Hampshire have open fires or stoves. Regular inspection and cleaning of chimney flues will prevent fires and help to make the county safer. Hampshire Fire and Rescue offers the following advice for householders who will be using open fires this Autumn:

• Always use a fire guard on an open fire
• Only burn suitable fuels
• Inspect your chimney breast, particularly in the roof space
• Make sure that sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks
• Get your chimney swept regularly

In the event of a chimney fire

• Dial 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service
• If possible, arrange for someone to wait outside to meet/direct the fire crews
• If you have a solid fuel appliance, close down the ventilation as much as possible
• Move furniture and rugs away from the fireplace, and remove any nearby ornaments and objects
• Feel the chimney breast in other rooms for signs of heat. If the wall is becoming hot, move furniture away.
• Ensure that access to your attic or roof space is available for the Fire and Rescue Service, as they will want to check for possible signs of fire spread
• Remember - without proper maintenance, any flue from a fire or stove can cause a dangerous build up of carbon monoxide gas. A carbon monoxide detector can help protect you
• Fit and maintain smoke alarms. In some circumstances, we will provide and fit smoke alarms free of charge for high-risk groups of our communities

For further Winter Safety advice, please contact:

Community Fire Safety Department
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters
Leigh Road
Eastleigh
SO50 9SJ

Telephone: 023 8062 6809
Email: community.firesafety@hantsfire.gov.uk

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