Volunteer firefighters from Gromadka
On 24 January 2022 at 7:29 a.m., we were dispatched to a chimney fire in the village of Osła, LSSE.
The fire was extinguished and no one was injured. Firefighters from Gromadka, Różyniec and Bolesławiec took part in the operation.
As reported by the District Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Bolesławiec:
In view of the increasing number of call-outs to burning chimneys during the heating season, we make an urgent appeal to all residents of Bolesławiec County to exercise increased caution and vigilance when operating all heating appliances, particularly those using solid fuels such as coal and wood.
Bolesławiec firefighters:
- Regular chimney cleaning is the foundation of prevention. Neglecting this duty causes soot to settle on the inner walls of the chimney and gradually clog it. A layer of soot only a few millimetres thick may already cause an unwanted fire.
- Let us choose good-quality fuel, both for the stove and the fireplace.
- Have the chimney inspected and cleaned before the start of the heating season and at least once every three months. This should be entrusted to an authorised person—a chimney sweep.
What should you do when a fire breaks out?
Uniformed officers:
- Remember that in the event of a chimney fire, you should immediately extinguish the fire in the hearth and call the fire service.
- Close the air supply to the stove and continuously monitor the entire length of the chimney. (These actions cause the soot to gradually burn out).
- Until the fire service arrives, it is advisable to provide access to all rooms containing the chimney flue.
- Restricting the air supply may also cause more carbon monoxide to form in the hearth, so the windows should be opened slightly.
It could end in tragedy
Uniformed officers warn:
A soot fire can result in a fire engulfing the entire house. If the chimney flue loses its airtightness during the fire, the flames will begin to spread to everything adjacent to it. The fire may then reach the attic and roof.
Hot air may push burning flakes of soot out of the chimney; carried by the wind, they may also reach other buildings.
They add: “If a soot fire is brought under control in time, it may end with only an inspection, cleaning or repair of the chimney flue by an authorised person. Nevertheless, until the damage has been assessed by a chimney sweep, heating appliances connected to the chimney in which the soot burned must not be used.”