Make sure your chimneys are cleaned regularly

Fire Service issues warning following fire

The Fire Service is recommending that chimneys be cleaned regularly, after two fire appliances were called out to an incident in Ramsey on Thursday night (5 October).

On arrival at the scene, the Incident Commander quickly ascertained that the chimney had been compromised which resulted in a build-up of smoke within the property.

Crews using breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using a high pressure hose reel.

A bailey ladder was used to access the roof as the chimney was also capped.

The Fire Service is recommending that chimneys be cleaned regularly, as a blocked or defective chimney can cause carbon monoxide poisoning from gas or solid wood fires.

For safety, we strongly recommend that chimneys are 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