Two hours to put out a Chimney fire ?

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Beer Belly

Beer Belly

Minister of Fire
Oct 26, 2011
2,232
Connecticut
Not the news EVER misprints or gets ANYTHING wrong...but...the fire chief probably said "we were on scene for 2 hours." Meaning it was put out quickly, but the time to set up mobile, hoses unreeled, blah blah blah...then pack it all back up took two hours.

Mind you, the reporter MIGHT know journalism. They don't know the ins and outs of wood burning, fighting fires, starting fires...unless it's in the newspaper.
 
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Kool_hand_Looke said:
Not the news EVER misprints or gets ANYTHING wrong...but...the fire chief probably said "we were on scene for 2 hours." Meaning it was put out quickly, but the time to set up mobile, hoses unreeled, blah blah blah...then pack it all back up took two hours.

Mind you, the reporter MIGHT know journalism. They don't know the ins and outs of wood burning, fighting fires, starting fires...unless it's in the newspaper.
Click to expand...

Guessing this is the case . . . on the scene for two hours . . . either that or it was one helluva chimney fire and they were not being very aggressive. Around here we'll maybe take the "soft" approach for the first 10 minutes or so -- fire extinguisher powder in baggies, dry powder fire extinguisher, using a small amount of water in the chimney to convert to steam . . . if that doesn't put out the fire then it's time to break out the chain and heavy weight . . . and if that doesn't cut it the hoses come into play . . . better to destroy a chimney than to take a chance on the fire spreading to the home and losing the home. I suspect this is similar in most communities . . . which is why I think the two hour time frame was time on scene.
 
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firefighterjake said:
Guessing this is the case . . . on the scene for two hours . . . either that or it was one helluva chimney fire and they were not being very aggressive. Around here we'll maybe take the "soft" approach for the first 10 minutes or so -- fire extinguisher powder in baggies, dry powder fire extinguisher, using a small amount of water in the chimney to convert to steam . . . if that doesn't put out the fire then it's time to break out the chain and heavy weight . . . and if that doesn't cut it the hoses come into play . . . better to destroy a chimney than to take a chance on the fire spreading to the home and losing the home. I suspect this is similar in most communities . . . which is why I think the two hour time frame was time on scene.
Click to expand...
I had a feeling that was likely really what happened, but not being a firefighter, I wasn't sure what kind of scenerio would play out in a fire that was limited to just the Chimney
 
in our area they usually spend a bit of time checking the house for hot spots after the fire is out
 
While the subject is up, I have two things to post:

1) what is a good source for emergency fire suppression products for my new setup?;?

and

2) I have been on some cases that made the news and the reports NEVER got it right.;em
 
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Your best bet is shut the air off and call the fire department but if you must open the door and empty a fire extinguisher into the stove. I have heard that works better then the chimfex flare things. But i have never done any of it personally so i really dont know first hand
 
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As is often said, the best way to handle a chimney fire is to not have one. Clean chimney, dry wood and hot fires and fugidaboutit.
 
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