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Last night Oct 14th Canby Fire responded to a chimney fire on Castro rd in rural Canby. When firefighters arrived there was not only a chimney fire but the cedar shake roof had also caught on fire causing substantial damage.  

Please read the following tips to know when you have a chimney fire and how to avoid one 

One question we often get from homeowners concerned about chimney fires is “How can I tell if my chimney is on fire.” We normally respond with these important indicators provided by the Chimney Safety Institute of America: 

Loud cracking and popping noise 
Flames shooting from your chimney 
Low, loud rumbling noise that sounds like a freight train or airplane overhead 
A lot of dense smoke 
An intense, hot smell 

If you’re in doubt about whether your chimney is on fire, dial 911 immediately. There are products on the market that claim to help extinguish a chimney fire by sucking out oxygen. 

We can’t vouch for the effectiveness of these products, nor do we think a fire raging in your chimney is the time to test them out. Dialing 911 is always your safest move. 

Preventing a Chimney Fire 

Now that we’ve explained some of the warning signs of a chimney fire, here are a few simple tips you can use to prevent one from starting in your home. 

Hire a professional and certified chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney annually. 

Cleaning your chimney is not a DIY job. There is little margin for error with the consequences putting you and your family at risk. 

Only burn dry or cured wood. Burning wet or uncured wood leads to more creosote buildup in your flue. It’s that creosote buildup that usually leads to the ignition of a chimney fire. 

Don’t burn garbage in your fireplace. Not only does garbage contain chemicals that are dangerous to inhale, it can also lead to more dangerous buildup of combustible materials in your chimney. 

Keep your fireplace clean. Never start a fire on top of a bed of coals or ash for a previous fire. Doing so can cause the fire to burn even hotter than normal, sparking a chimney fire. 

Install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector close to your fireplace.