Flue Fires

For a few years we have seen a remarkable drop in the number of flue fires annually. Now with the change to our economy and money being tight I imagine folks will go back to using their wood stoves and less of other types of heating processes (Electric, heat pumps, gas). With a large amount of retired/elderly citizens in my community I worry about these folks staying warm but also anticipate the flue fires to show up again. Any comments and or discussion?

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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on March 22, 2009 at 10:54pm
Lets hear it?
Permalink Reply by Chad Furr on March 22, 2009 at 10:59pm
I am in a rural community and we get a hand full of flue fires at the begining of the cold season Around December. I am like you though with these hard times I expect the numbers to double if not triple next year. If they cannot afford gas/electric heat they sure as heck are not gonna fork out the money to have there flues inspected and cleaned. TCSS and Buckle up.
Permalink Reply by Deanna on March 22, 2009 at 11:02pm
I agree with you Chief. Unfortunatley our economy has gotten so bad that people are going to have to use traditional methods for heat. I would have to look into the numbers, but in our area a lot of folks still use wood heat. We have flue fires regularly. We make sure to be equipped with flue bombs.
Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on March 22, 2009 at 11:14pm
allot of the problem is with the type of flue or chimney. If it is metalbestos I dont worry about the flue fires much. Usually the cap gets plugged. If it masonry you have to be concerned with cracks in the morter or attic fires. The other bad things is people not being able to afford garbage service and burning their garbage in the wood stove.
Permalink Reply by Deanna on March 22, 2009 at 11:20pm
Very true. Around here the problem lies in inappropriate materials being used. I love this neck of the woods, but sometimes people hillbilly it.
Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on March 22, 2009 at 11:24pm
yes, like I said. People are getting to the point where they just cant afford stuff. Something has to go and saving money ends up being priority.
Permalink Reply by Jeff Pearson on March 22, 2009 at 11:31pm
We just had one this morning. Most of are calls are the result of people burning green wood. They start burning anything they can get a hold of this time of year. Even if they checked their chimney last fall, its in bad shape 5 months later. This was only our 3rd chimney fire this season, buts its already higher than last year.
Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on March 22, 2009 at 11:43pm
what I see happening is all the retired folk who have moved here in the last 10 years, who had heat pumps put in rather then use the wood stoves or fire places, will start using wood again and most if not all are city people who have no concept about wood stoves or what kind of wood to burn. When you see all the guys out there selling wood you know its not seasoned or dry. These people have no idea what their getting.
Smoke EaterPermalink Reply by Smoke Eater on March 23, 2009 at 4:50pm
Well Chief, we haven't had any out of the ordinary this past winter. I think we had maybe 2 or 3 but that's about it. Now our field fires have really started to take off this spring.
Permalink Reply by FETC on March 23, 2009 at 5:42pm


Chief you are right, with the economy what I am seeing is people who have not used the chimney for years are now going and cutting down trees to offset the oil bill. Problem is they cannot afford the maintenance and cleaning costs associated with wood burning appliances. Secondly, everyone is now on the pellet stove kick and these are being installed in droves by the average joe homeowner. Are they done right, installed to code and do they pose any concern to the brothers???

So I have prepared the brothers for the latest alternative fuels and different chimney design / lining systems to include insulated/non insulated metalbestos flue pipe, poured-in-place chimney linings, traditional concrete/clay tile and the remote controlled dampners so when we have a chimney fire the brothers are able to understand how it was designed, built, and where the common plugs/fires occur.

TCSS
FETC
Permalink Reply by Cliff Utt on March 23, 2009 at 6:05pm
I DIFFENTLY AGREE CHIEF, WITH THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS IN MY AREA ALOT OF RESIDENCE ARE STARTING TO USE WOOD BURNS AND FIREPLACES . WE DID NOT HAVE MANY FLUE FIRES THIS YEAR BUT WITH THE INCREES IN THE USE OF THIS TYPE OF HEAT I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BEGIN TO SEE AN INCREES IN THESE TYPES OF FIRES IN THE FUTURE. EXPECIALY IF THEY DONT DO ANNUAL MAINTANCE ON THEM BEFORE THEY START THEM UP.
Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on March 25, 2009 at 1:33am
FF!, we use a Chimney Snuffer. Its a nozzle like appliance that is blunt nosed with a large amount of small nozzles that put out a very small mist of water. This is run down the Chimney. It pushes through the creosote and creates steam to put out the fire. Works very efficiently. Obviously this suffer is attached to a 1 3/4 line.

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