Most chimney fires can be prevented with regular inspections and cleaning. To help avoid these fires, we arrange for all our homes with chimneys to be swept once a year. If you have a chimney and notice any issues with it, please contact us and we'll investigate.
Here are some chimney safety tips to follow:
- Always use a spark or fireguard in front of the fire
- Make sure to put out your fire before going to bed or leaving the house
- Never use petrol or paraffin to light your fire
- Avoid burning cardboard boxes or wastepaper
- Don't overload the grate or appliance
- Ensure you have a working smoke alarm and test it regularly
- Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector (CO) installed
Read our Chimney Fire Safety leaflet
In the event of a chimney fire:
- Call 999 and ask for the Fire Service. If possible, have someone meet them outside
- If you have an open fire, gently splash water onto it to extinguish the flames
- For solid fuel appliances, close down the ventilation as much as you can
- Move furniture and rugs away from the fireplace and remove any nearby ornaments
- Place a fire or spark guard in front of the fire
- Feel the chimney breast in other rooms for signs of heat
- If a wall feels hot, move furniture away from it
- Make sure the Fire Service can easily access your attic or roof space to check for any fire spread
A CO detector will help protect you from the risk of CO poisoning. For more details, visit the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service safety page
