Over the past five years, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) attended over 500 chimney fires and while locally the number of chimney fires has been steadily decreasing for the past few years, it’s important that people still ensure they take the necessary precautions.
With the Autumn chill just around the corner, the Fire Service has issued this important reminder during Chimney Fire Safety Week (1-7 September) advising people to take action for Autumn now and get their chimneys swept.
It’s crucial that people ensure they take precautions before they light their wood burning stoves or open fires, or any other appliance that uses a chimney for the first time this Autumn.
Stay safe and follow the Fire Service’s top tips to reduce the chances of a chimney fire in your home:
- Sweep the chimney before use if you haven’t used it for some time
- Ensure a fireguard is in front of the fire at all times
- Sparkguards can prevent a serious property fire
- Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house
- Never use petrol or paraffin to light your fire
- Make sure you have a working Carbon Monoxide Alarm
If you have a chimney fire dial 999 and ask for the fire service.
For further safety advice visit our Chimney safety page
