Cleaning out your chimney is a critical way to prevent fires, warns Peterborough’s Deputy Fire Chief Brian Wall.
On Jan.16 at around 6:30 p.m., the Peterborough Fire Department was called to a Greenfield Road residence when a homeowner noticed that the stove pipe to his woodstove was glowing red hot.
A fire was located in the curve of the pipe, said Wall, which caused some smoke to enter the house. The fire was ultimately contained within the pipe and didn’t do any damage to the house, although a section of the stove pipe will have to be replaced.
The Fire Department used a fan to clear the residence of smoke and carbon monoxide. There was no injuries or damages from the smoke that escaped the chimney. Crews were able to clear the scene in about an hour.
Wall said blockages in the curved part of stove pipe chimneys are common, and that to prevent chimney fires, home owners should ensure that their fireplace and wood stove chimneys are in good condition by cleaning them at least once a year.