Once that happens, the fire within the flue can spread horizontally out of the chimney. The danger from a chimney fire is that the typical flue is not designed to withstand such high temperatures, and when severely heated they may crack. So when you get a sufficient amount of creosote build up, then add the right amount of heat to the inside of the chimney's flue - you have a chimney fire. Often, all forms will occur in one chimney system.Ĭreosote, regardless of its physical form, is highly combustible. It can be crusty and flaky, tar-like, drippy and sticky, or shiny and hardened. This condensation creates a residue that sticks to the inner walls of the chimney, a material called creosote.Ĭreosote is black or brown in appearance.
Those byproducts - as we learned in Firefighter I class - include unburned carbon particles (visible as smoke), water vapor, gases, hydrocarbons, tar fog and assorted minerals.Īs these substances leave their source, they flow up into the relatively cooler chimney and condensation occurs. Whether is serves a fireplace, wood stove or fireplace insert, the primary function of the chimney is to expel the byproducts of combustion. These slow-burners can cause just as much damage to the chimney structure - and nearby combustible parts of the house - as their more spectacular cousins. However, don't be misled and think that a chimney fire is not in progress just because the homeowner doesn't describe the situation in those terms.Ī slow-burning chimney fire doesn't get enough air or have fuel to light up the sky, but the temperatures they reach are very high nonetheless. If they are at home, homeowners report being startled by a low rumbling sound that reminds them of a freight train or a low-flying airplane. When those second parties call 911 to report the chimney fire, they usually describe the scenario as, "flames and heavy smoke shooting out of the chimney." I am too good at the non-thinking part.In many cases – because chimney fires can burn explosively – their noise and visual "performance" can attract the attention of neighbors or passers-by even before the homeowner is aware of the situation. IN case of emergency I know I have at least 15 pound fire extinguishers at the ready and I know where they are so there will be no thinking required. For me it is under every sink and in every closet in the house on the left side, just inside the door. Get a big extinguisher and put them throughout your house in places that are easy to remember where they are so you do not have to think when the time to get them is at hand. Also, make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector in the house perferably near your furnace if you have one, or near your woodstove if you have one.įinally, get good fire extinguishers, big ones, not the whimpy girly ones that are sold for cheap.
It is time for a good reminder to folks as we get into fire season check your smoke detectors now before you start any fires.
Chimex fire extinguisher crack#
The stove or the glass could crack and lead to a bigger problem with a fire not being contained. It bears repeating to never put water on a metal or glass woodstove fire to put it out unless you are ready to deal with a potentially bigger mess.
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