CHIMNEY FIRESConventional Ways of

Extinguishing Chimney Fires

Options for extinguishment

Objectives Recognize the need to safely mitigate

Chimney Fires. Recognize the different types of chimneys

and there construction. Recognize the resources and equipment

needed to keep damage to a minimum. Recommend the owner contacts a

certified chimney repairman for inspection and cleaning prior to use.

Types of ChimneysMASONRY STEEL PIPE

Construction and Design

Relining a Chimney

Relining Materials

2013 Chimney Fires Only One listed as a Chimney Fire

Contained to flu $ 3,000 Damage Only One incinerator Fire Three Boiler and or Fuel Oil Fires

Damage $ 750,000 and $ 0 in Contents Need for accurate report writing and dollar

estimates.

Liability New installation of wood burns are

installed with a relining of the flu. This limits liability with the installation for the

contractor Roughly 60 % of masonry chimneys are not

properly constructed Combustibles are used to close to a heat

source, causing pyrolossis over time.

PyrolossisBURNING PROCESS THROUGH FIRE

INVESTIGATION

Causes of Chimney Fires CRACKS TO THE CHIMNEY

FLU OR LINER. Lack of Inspection

and Maintenance Should have an

Annual Inspection and Cleaning

Build up of Creosote in the liner

Lack of a cap Build up of nests or

resident animals

Properties of Creosote 1st stage creosote - Fine black dust

called soot, porous and crunchy 2nd stage - Tar-like: drippy and

sticky 3rd stage – Build Up that hardens

into a shiny glaze All three can be present in any Flu All three are highly flammable and

are the root cause of a volcanic chimney fire

Extension Most Chimney fires are contained to the

flu with no extension Extinguishment requires removing the

oxygen, fuel and or heat. Cleaning any fuel out of the fire box. Inspecting the chimney for extension Scraping the flu with a weight or chain to

knock all the creosote down Ensure proper extinguishment with dry

chem. or chimney bombs

Creosote Unseasoned or rain-

logged wood A restricted air supply to

the fire A flue too large for the

wood burning appliance, ( unlined insert)

Cooler-than-normal surface flue temperatures, causing gases to condense in the flu

HazardsFALLS BUILDING MATERIALS

Environmental Hazards

Snow Covered & Ice Covered Roofs

Steep Pitched Roofs Build Up Roofs, RainRoofs Steel Roofing Dilapidated Chimneys

Equipment Needed for Extinguishment

Thermal Imager Irons – Utilized for opening up and

emergency egress Chimney Kit – dry chem. Bombs, weight Metal pail & trowel Salvage Covers

Tools for InspectionTHERMAL IMAGER VISUAL INSPECTION

Light Box Mirrors

Make the flu inspection easier.

4044 Equipment Passenger Side

Rear Compartment Ash Can and

Trowel Plywood Cap with

handle.

4033 Equipment Driver Side over

the Rear Dual Tire. Tool Box

Containing – Dry Chem. Bombs and a weighted cable.

Metal Ash Can Masons Trowel

Commercial Products Marketed to destroy

Creosote - Contain Silica Copper Sulfate Trisodium Phosphate Ammonium Chloride Manganese Acetate Available in a tube or a

SprayDirections - Use multiple

times initially then once weekly as a maintenance

Demobilization Return Auto Aid Return Munson FD Units Fill Bottles Replace Used Extinguishers

Questions