Is this ok?

frankenyoter

frankenyoter

No Rain, No Rainbow
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Location
DARK CITY
No. Chimney fire bad!

Clean your chimneys people!
 

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Yeah my house. Been burning mostly oak. Finally tossed in a mostly locust fire. It got hot and started burning creosote. It kept falling down and piling up. Pulled all of the wood and tossed it in the barrel by the shop. Ladder to the roof and put out a small creosote fire inside the chimney cap.

I usually clean chimney mid season, but not yet.
 
Our family used insert woodstoves in a brick fireplace/chimney for heat while I grew up cause dad was upset over the rising price of natural gas after a few winters in the 70s. My brother and I were chucking wood since we were big enough to carry it. One day the chimney caught fire and it was like a jet engine, roaring loudly and shooting a flame 30' out the top of the chimney. The fire dept. came and had to set fans to blow backdraft smoke out of the house until the chimney fire burned out after an hour or so. Right after that dad bought the tools/brushes and we started doing sidework chimney sweeping and made some pretty good money for a while. Once a chimney fire starts theres no stoping it till the creosote is burned out.
 
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mommucked said:
Once a chimney fire starts theres no stoping it till the creosote is burned out.
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Yes there is. We keep ABC fire extinguisher powder in plastic bags on our engines. Shut the flue, drop them in from the top, fire melts the bag, fire goes out.

Duane
 
Back in the dark ages when I was on VFD, we carried the chimfex sticks. Only had to use one time. It worked (and you don't have to climb on the roof barefoot at 3am...gives you something productive to do until the FD gets there). Anybody have experience with them?

Also carried a length of chain with a sash weight to knock out chunks of cresote. I guess that's against the rules now (lead). We got to have all the fun.
 
frankenyoter said:
Yeah my house. Been burning mostly oak. Finally tossed in a mostly locust fire. It got hot and started burning creosote. It kept falling down and piling up. Pulled all of the wood and tossed it in the barrel by the shop. Ladder to the roof and put out a small creosote fire inside the chimney cap.

I usually clean chimney mid season, but not yet.
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How old is the wood?
 
The oak was old when I cut and split it. Seasoned for almost a year. Locust about the same age but was dead standing.

My stove is an efficient non-cat type. It basically has been burning since October. We choke it down at night and during the day, so creosote builds up.
 
The wood needs to be better than a year old. You split wood this summer to use next winter. Also, don't choke down the flue damper. If your fire is burning hot enough, it won't generate much creosote. Creosote is basically wasted wood. It's not getting hot enough in the firebox to burn all the volatiles, so they rise and collect on the flue pipe.

Remember: Wood doesn't burn. Wood gets hot and off-gases flammable vapors. The more you do to ensure those vapors have every opportunity to burn, the better off you'll be, and the more heat that you'll get out of any given cord of wood.
 
mommucked said:
can't shut the flue w a very hot, 500lb insert woodstove in the fireplace.
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Most inserts Ive seen have a flu damper..add a welding glove and viola
 
Ron said:
Most inserts Ive seen have a flu damper..add a welding glove and viola
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yea all the woodstoves we had had dampers ontop, but none closed airtight. The hearth had a rustic,rough brick/morter surface and air was sucked inbetween the sheetmetal surround and brick that had only fireglass rope type gasket. The fire created a powerfull vacume and it roared and whistled like a rocket for a long while. If they had the firebags in 1972 they did'nt want to use them and decided the chimney was sound and they just let it burn out.
 
kaiser715 said:
Back in the dark ages when I was on VFD, we carried the chimfex sticks. Only had to use one time. It worked (and you don't have to climb on the roof barefoot at 3am...gives you something productive to do until the FD gets there). Anybody have experience with them?

Also carried a length of chain with a sash weight to knock out chunks of cresote. I guess that's against the rules now (lead). We got to have all the fun.
Click to expand...

I was in a different County, we didn't have much luck with chimfex sticks[might have been different brand]. In most cases we throw about a pint of water in the stove/insert, slamming the door behind it. The Steam would either put it out, or get it under control. Another dose might be needed. Don't ever put a hose down the Top, of chimney! You'll have a hell of a mess in the floor, & probably crack the liner!
 
rodney eppes said:
I was in a different County, we didn't have much luck with chimfex sticks[might have been different brand]. In most cases we throw about a pint of water in the stove/insert, slamming the door behind it. The Steam would either put it out, or get it under control. Another dose might be needed. Don't ever put a hose down the Top, of chimney! You'll have a hell of a mess in the floor, & probably crack the liner!
Click to expand...

This was back in 81-85ish. Sticks were probably made out of everything thats been banned since then...asbestos, lead, cigarettes, non-ethanol gas, etc. Probably made from bunny farts and rainbows now.

This was down at the beach....not much wood burning down there....i remember 1 real chimney fire in 4 years.
 
I have a real inefficient woodstove and a chimney that's probably 25-30' tall--it had never been used previously. I've never heard of cleaning a chimney more than once a year, but I've also never known anyone that's had a chimney fire and most people I know never clean their chimney. What is the standard? This is clay pipe surrounded by brick.
 
I've been to more chimney fires this year than last year. But most of the time it's the same people year to year
 
braxton357 said:
I have a real inefficient woodstove and a chimney that's probably 25-30' tall--it had never been used previously. I've never heard of cleaning a chimney more than once a year, but I've also never known anyone that's had a chimney fire and most people I know never clean their chimney. What is the standard? This is clay pipe surrounded by brick.
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Well.. Like I said, it makes a big difference what you're burning. I have heard people say things like... "My daddy always put a green log in with the rest, said it made the wood last longer, so I do it too"... So if you're into stupid ass old wives tales... You might have a substantially higher risk of a chimney fire.
 
Since I have shown my age....might was well go all the way. For you current VFD guys, you'll get a kick out of this. Yep, we did get to do cool things you can't do now, like ride on the tailboard. No question the equipment is WAY better now...and you got a heck of a lot more of it.

I was cleaning out at my mom's house today, and found my old FD notebooks from early 80's. Here is the inventory list of No. 2. Truck No. 1 was set up about the same, added some stuff like chainsaw, fans, etc. Be sure and notice the last two items. Yep, 2 on each truck. That's all.

Axe - 2 pick head
Adapters - double male 2 4-1/2-2-1/2, double female 3, Wilmington 2 (I forget if this was hose or hydrant, wilmington FD had different connectors for something)
Applicator - Navy 1 6'1-1/2"
Brooms - 1 push, 3 sweep
Buckets - 2
Chains - 1 set - tire
Cord, reel, 1@ 200'
Covers, salvage 1 12'x16'
Crowbar 1 3'
Cutters, wire 1-12"
Deluge 1 - 3" inlet
Extinguishers CO2 1-20lbs, ABC 1-20lbs
First aid kit 1
Flappers 3
Flares 0
Fuse pullers 0
Gas can 1 - 2-1/2 gallon
Gloves, electrical 1 pair (yep, we pulled meters back then)
Grease gun 1
Hammer, rubber mallet 1
Hand lights 4
Hose clamp 1
Hose, booster 2 @ 200' 1"
Hose/ladder straps 7
Hose plugs 3
Hose bed cover 1
Hose suction 2@ 10' x 4-1/2" Hard suction 1- 2-1/2 x2-1/2 dbl female
Huxbar 1@ 3' (think halligan, but useless)
Hydrant gate 1@ 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"
Hydrant wrenches 2
Ladders - Attic 1@ 10', Roof 1@ 12', extension 1@ 35'
Mops 1
Nozzles 1@ 500gal. Black Widow, Fog 5, 1-1/2 straight
N.A.B. nozzles - 1@ 1-1/2", 2@ 1", 1@ 2-1/2"
Pike poles 1@6' short, 1@10' long
Spare tips 1 stack 1", 1-1/8",1-1/4" 3 stack tips 1-3/8", 1-1/2", 1-3/4"
MSA's - 2
Spare bottles - 2

IIRC, All i kept in my pockets was a flashlight, gloves, folding spanner. Of course, our turnouts then only had two pockets.
 
Speaking of such things, anyone know a reputable chimney sweep in Cabarrus? I know I can find one but I'd prefer it to be a good one.....
 
kaiser715 said:
Since I have shown my age....might was well go all the way. For you current VFD guys, you'll get a kick out of this. Yep, we did get to do cool things you can't do now, like ride on the tailboard. No question the equipment is WAY better now...and you got a heck of a lot more of it.

I was cleaning out at my mom's house today, and found my old FD notebooks from early 80's. Here is the inventory list of No. 2. Truck No. 1 was set up about the same, added some stuff like chainsaw, fans, etc. Be sure and notice the last two items. Yep, 2 on each truck. That's all.

Axe - 2 pick head
Adapters - double male 2 4-1/2-2-1/2, double female 3, Wilmington 2 (I forget if this was hose or hydrant, wilmington FD had different connectors for something)
Applicator - Navy 1 6'1-1/2"
Brooms - 1 push, 3 sweep
Buckets - 2
Chains - 1 set - tire
Cord, reel, 1@ 200'
Covers, salvage 1 12'x16'
Crowbar 1 3'
Cutters, wire 1-12"
Deluge 1 - 3" inlet
Extinguishers CO2 1-20lbs, ABC 1-20lbs
First aid kit 1
Flappers 3
Flares 0
Fuse pullers 0
Gas can 1 - 2-1/2 gallon
Gloves, electrical 1 pair (yep, we pulled meters back then)
Grease gun 1
Hammer, rubber mallet 1
Hand lights 4
Hose clamp 1
Hose, booster 2 @ 200' 1"
Hose/ladder straps 7
Hose plugs 3
Hose bed cover 1
Hose suction 2@ 10' x 4-1/2" Hard suction 1- 2-1/2 x2-1/2 dbl female
Huxbar 1@ 3' (think halligan, but useless)
Hydrant gate 1@ 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"
Hydrant wrenches 2
Ladders - Attic 1@ 10', Roof 1@ 12', extension 1@ 35'
Mops 1
Nozzles 1@ 500gal. Black Widow, Fog 5, 1-1/2 straight
N.A.B. nozzles - 1@ 1-1/2", 2@ 1", 1@ 2-1/2"
Pike poles 1@6' short, 1@10' long
Spare tips 1 stack 1", 1-1/8",1-1/4" 3 stack tips 1-3/8", 1-1/2", 1-3/4"
MSA's - 2
Spare bottles - 2

IIRC, All i kept in my pockets was a flashlight, gloves, folding spanner. Of course, our turnouts then only had two pockets.
Click to expand...

lol wow. we still pull meters.
 
Clean your chimney old school style.

Drop a live adult goose down it!


Matt
 
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