Fire crews issue safety advice following chimney fire

We are reminding residents to take extra precautions when using chimneys following a fire in Burton-on-Trent.

Crews went to an address near Doveridge Road just before 11.30am on Saturday (6 April) and found a small fire in a chimney stack.

We extinguished the blaze and took out the fireplace whilst an investigation into what caused it was carried out.

We also used one of our new aerial ladder platform (ALP) vehicles to put the fire out. Both our new ALP vehicles hit the roads last month, with the vehicles designed to tackle difficult to reach fires.

Thankfully, no one was injured.

Station Manager Chris Craddock, who went to the scene, said: “Our crews commit numerous resources to chimney fires across Staffordshire each year.

“Residents can better ensure their chimneys are safe by having regular inspections, cleaning them quarterly when using dry wood and ensuring fire guards are used at all times.

“You can better protect yourself and others by ensuring wood is completely dried before use and stored away from naked flames. Chimneys can become blocked if poor quality fuel is used – leading to a build-up of carbon monoxide.

“And as carbon monoxide is odourless, always have a carbon monoxide alarm in the same room as the fire to alert you to any issues.”

For more information on chimney fire safety, visit: Chimney fire safety (staffordshirefire.gov.uk).