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Late Night Chimney Fire
By Deputy Fire Chief Barry Messner
February 27, 2008
At 00:48 hrs. Honey Brook (33) and Martin's Corner (34) fire companies were dispatched to the 3000 block of Horseshoe Pike for a chimney fire. Deputy 33 (Messner) arrived on location to a 1 story single family dwelling with normal conditions from the exterior of the dwelling. Firefighter Tom Cowperthwaite from the Glen Moore Fire Company (48) met Deputy 33 to advise him there was a chimney fire that was now out. The responding units were returned with the exception of Engine 33-1. Upon arrival Engine 33-1's crew of 6 split up with a roof crew setting up a ladder and an interior crew inside placing tarps around the fireplace to protect the homeowner's property. The interior crew cleaned out the burning material inside the firebox of a fireplace insert and then the roof crew lowered a chain with a weighted end into the chimney to dislodge any material inside the flue. Soon afterwards it was determined to remove the fireplace insert from the fireplace to better access an shelf area above the damper that was holding a large amount of burning material. Using a fireplace poker, the interior crew was able to remove a majority of the material through the narrow damper opening. At that point the incident was deemed under control and the crews returned their equipment to the engine and were available for service at 02:17.
*Special thanks to Tom Cowperthwaite for his assistance*
