Chimney security tricks to forestall fires, expensive damages in colder Northwest Florida climate

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — The Chimney Safety Institute of America reports nearly 25,000 chimney fires happen each year.

And each year, about 10 people are killed in those fires.

Colder weather can mean putting those fireplaces to use, but there’s risks to be mindful of.

“You usually have a lot of damage from chimney fires,” said Christopher Brown, Walton County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief.

Brown says chimney fires can go unnoticed, which can cause more damage. That damage can be expensive.

“Depending on the size of the home or the extent of damage, you could be talking about thousands of dollars,” he said. “Or it could be the entire home.”

Brandon Maxwell is the co-owner of ARC Chimney Sweeps.

He says causes of chimney fires can include soot building from burning wood.

“As you continue to burn wood and use your fire place, that soot will accumulate on the inner walls and workings of the system up top,” Maxwell said. “So once you get so much build up to where that can overheat, that will actually be what will ignite. That is the fuel that starts most chimney fires.”

Maxwell says storms and hurricanes can also cause damage to chimney pipes.

“We want to make sure that’s properly connected so that all that heat and all the smoke is allowed to escape like it’s suppose to out of the top of that cap,” he said.

Brown has some advice to lower the risk of chimney fires.

“Before you actually do your first fire in a brand new home — or every year — you should get your chimney inspected by a certified chimney inspector to make sure it is safe before you start your burning season,” he said.

Brown advises to have a bird cage at the top of the chimney to keep bird nests out.

Those nests can catch fire in chimney stacks. The type of wood you use also matters.

Maxwell says it’s always better not to use pine because of the sap. It’s also safer to use dry wood and store it in a place to keep it dry.