Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging the public to prepare their chimney for winter.
This week marks the National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s Chimney Fire Safety Week (Monday 30 August), and although the weather is warm now, the colder months will soon be approaching. Therefore, there is no better time to ensure your chimney is swept, clear and ready to use when the temperatures drop again.
Last year we attended 86 chimney fires in homes across Shropshire since August 2020. These blazes can be extremely dangerous and in some cases life threatening. Incidents like this are easily avoidable if you follow this simple advice:
- Have your chimney cleared and swept by a professional
- Ensure you use the correct fuel for your fireplace
- Keep a secure fire guard in place
- Always take care when lighting a fireplace and do not use accelerants
- Keep children and pets away from the chimney
We strongly recommend that the chimney is cleaned regularly and in line with the below guidelines:
- Wood - Quarterly when in use
- Smokeless fuels - at least once a year
- Bitumous Coal - at least twice a year
- Oil - at least twice a year
- Gas - at least twice a year
- Biomass - at least once a year
Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Dan Quinn, Director of Prevention and Protection, said:
“We know no one wants to think about the cold winter months when enjoying the summer but now is the time to get you chimney ready.
“It only takes a small blockage to cause a fire in your chimney and this is easily avoidable with the proper care and maintenance.
“Chimney fires can cause a significant amount of damage to your home so please invest the time to maintain your chimney and hopefully we will only see you at our community events and not in an emergency.”
For more information on chimney safety please visit www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/chimney-fire-safety.
Alternatively, you can contact the Prevention Team below:
Call: 01743 260 200
Email: safeandwell@shropshirefire.gov.uk
Or follow us on Twitter @SFRS_Prevention
