I believe I had a chimney fire.

Ok brief background so you don't have to read my old threads... New to woodburning but have done extensive research. Installed a Drolet Escape 1800, and I installed a Selkirk Supervent chimney. Im certain it is installed correctly. Stove installed in basement level, chimney runs mostly straight (2 15-degree elbows used to get around joist) up through other living level, then attic, then out.

After about a month of burning, I did a chimney sweep, cleaned it really well top to bottom and only had a handful or two of creosote dust, so It seemed like it was burning really clean. Its been about another month and I have been thinking it is time to clean the chimney again to be on the safe side. I have been burning more in the last month than I did the first month, as I have been getting more comfortable sleeping and/or leaving the house during burns. Same wood being used, moisture meter shows it all under 20%.

3 days ago I started a fire and as usual left the air wide open. I was taking care of my sick kid upstairs and left the fire going wide open longer than usual. I heard just a slight "metal expanding" type noise coming from the chimney area. I went back to the fire to find it burning quite hot, slightly past 700 degrees stove top temp, so Im sure flue temp was really high. I turned the air all the way off, waited about 10-15 mins for the fire to die down. I have access to the chimney on the main level, so in the mean time, I listened intently, ear about an inch from pipe, for sounds of fire or anything odd. There was no noise. The temp on the outside of the chimney was normal, to where I could touch it for several seconds, before it gets a bit uncomfortable to hold my hand on it. Fire started to die down and I dialed it in for a nice burn, no problems...or so I thought. I have had a fire or two since then with no issues. I hadn't been out side in the daylight much since the really hot fire, but yesterday evening my wife pointed out she noticed many bits of soot or creosote spread over the snow in the front and back of my house she noticed earlier in the day.

I assume that must be a sign of a chimney fire? What else could it be? I have not burned since last eve and assume I at LEAST need to sweep it before any burns, but now does it need to be inspected first? Any thoughts, advice, scoldings?

Thanks!

Thanks for the quick reply! Yeah, It wasnt even a roar, just one or two little metal pings that was like it saying "hey dummy go check your fire". I just dont know where all the flakes of what I assumed were creosote or ash or whatever came from around the house in the snow. Some is brownish, some is black, but was all ash-like, if i tried to pick it up it is like powder. I am just assuming it came during the hot fire, could have been a different time I suppose but I havent noticed any issues.

Thinking about it more, before I did my first chimney sweep, I looked up the chimney, I saw what looked almost like flakes of greyish brown fine paper lining some of the smoke pipe and chimney, I suppose its possible it blew that out of there??? I guess I'm not sure. What I see in the snow is quite similar.

Thanks everyone!