Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging all property owners who use an open fire or wood burning stove to include their chimney on their spring cleaning list this year.

The weather may be warmer but the Service has seen no let up in chimney fires, having attended six in the last week.

Chimney fires can develop quickly. In thatch properties in particular, extreme temperatures in the chimney can result in thatch igniting causing rapid fire spread throughout the roof.

Community Safety Officer Paul Francis said: “Now that the weather is warmer a chimney fire may seem unlikely but these fires can have devastating effects.

“Chimney fires in all types of properties can usually be prevented. Our advice is to get your chimney inspected and checked regularly by a registered chimney sweep and this will help prevent a fire.”

The Service saw a number of devastating thatch property fires during the early spring months of last year – many of which could have been prevented had the property owners taken some simple preventative measures such as sweeping their chimney.

For further information regarding chimney safety or to request a copy of our Thatch Information Pack, please visit hantsfire.gov.uk/chimneyfire.

Did you know that recent analysis revealed the hidden toll, each year, from this dangerous invisible gas:

4,000 people go to A&E
200 people are hospitalised
there are around 50 deaths in England and Wales.

Please maintain your appliances and have chimneys and flues swept regularly by a recognised sweep.
Safer Chimneys is a member of the National Association of Chimney Sweeps.

Hampshire Firefighters are urging property owners to pay attention to the condition of their chimneys, especially those who often light open fires or woodburners.

Despite the recent warmer weather, there has been no lull in chimney fires, the service having attended six in the last week.

The service say chimney fires can develop quickly, and thatched properties are more susceptible.

The fire service saw a number of thatch fires last year, all of which the service say could have been prevented had the property owners taken preventative measures such as inspecting and sweeping their chimney.

Community safety officer, Paul Francis, said: ‘Chimney fires in all types of properties can be prevented.

‘Now that the weather is warmer a chimney fire may seem unlikely but they can have devastating effects.

‘Our advice is to get your chimney inspected and checked regularly by a registered chimney sweep and this will prevent a fire.’

Did you know, according to Fire Service latest statistics there are around 6000 chimney fires every year.