Fire in March prompts warning to keep chimneys swept

Householders are being warned to keep their chimneys cleaned after a fire at a home in March.

A crew from March was called to the fire on Fishermans Drive in the town on Saturday 27 at 12.20pm.

Firefighters arrived to find a fire involving a chimney in a house that was spreading to the roof. They extinguished the fire using hose reels and returned to base at 2.20pm. The cause of the fire was accidental.

A fire service spokesman said: “Although the weather is starting to warm up, there are still cold days forecast in the coming weeks, so it is tempting to have a fire to keep the chill off.

“It is very important to keep your chimney maintained and clear fireplaces and woodburners of any debris to help prevent a fire in your home. You should also have the chimney swept and brickwork inspected, at least once a year, to ensure the flue is clear of any soot or other material buildup.

“It’s also vitally important that you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. They will alert you to a fire and give you precious minutes to escape to safety.”

Chimneys should be swept by a competent contractor. To find your nearest local HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep visit: https://www.hetas.co.uk/find-chimney-sweep/