Fire officials are warning residents to have their chimneys cleaned after a fire caused minimal damage to a home in unincorporated Marengo on Monday.
The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts responded to the area of S. Route 23 and W. Coral Road in unincorporated Marengo after a passing citizen reported fire coming from the chimney of a residence at 5:38 p.m. Monday, said Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Public Information Officer Alex Vucha.
Crews arrived within minutes and located the home in question in the 21400 block of W. Coral Road, Vucha said.
Firefighters confirmed embers were actively discharging from the rooftop chimney.
The incident was upgraded to a working fire response due to smoke inside the home and the potential for fire extension beyond the chimney, Vucha said.
Firefighters accessed the roof to investigate the chimney and used a limited amount of water to extinguish residual buildup that had ignited inside the chimney.
Additional crews checked the interior of the home and confirmed the fire was contained to the chimney with no extension into the structure, Vucha said.
The residence was ventilated, and firefighters assisted with the cleanup of water near the fireplace before clearing the scene.
Vucha said no injuries were reported from the two elderly residents who occupied the home at the time of the incident.
The home remains habitable, Vucha said.
Vucha cautions that chimney fires commonly occur when creosote, a flammable byproduct of burning wood, accumulates inside a chimney and ignites.
This winter has been unseasonably cold, Vucha said, and many residents are using fireplaces and wood-burning stoves more frequently.
He said the risk of chimney fires occurs when systems are not properly maintained.
The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts strongly encourages residents to have chimneys cleaned and inspected regularly by a qualified professional, particularly before and during the heating season.
Only clean, seasoned firewood should be burned in fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, Vucha said.
Construction materials, treated lumber, and pine contain resins, sap, and adhesives that significantly increase creosote accumulation and elevate the risk of a chimney fire.
Warning signs of a chimney fire may include loud cracking or popping sounds, dense smoke, or sparks and embers exiting the chimney.
If a chimney fire is suspected, occupants should exit the home immediately and call 911.
Routine fireplace maintenance and safe burning practices play an important role in reducing fire risk and protecting homes during the winter months, Vucha said.