Chimfex - Its Back
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firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Well I suppose it's been a year or so since I posted a "Here's what we country bumpkin firefighters do for a chimney fire to put it out quickly . . . and still save the chimney liner" type of post.
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1) Our favorite trick for masonry chimneys with clean outs is to open the clean out and if there are some bits of hot, glowing creosote to put a little bit of water on to the creosote. The result -- the water turns to steam and the natural draft brings the steam upwards to extinguish the fire. Works remarkably well. The only thing that we don't do is expose massive amounts of water since steam expands and too much at once could result in damage to the chimney . . . plus the whole thermal temperature difference deal.
2) Same idea as before . . . but we occaisonally shoot an ABC dry chem extinguisher up from the bottom. You can try it from the top as well, but the light-weight powder and draft may result in quite a bit of the powder from hitting the fire.
3) Chimney bombs . . . we keep ABC or BC powder (frequently this is baking soda) . . . drop them down the chimney . . . plastic bag should melt from the heat or flames and then the powder should hit the fire and chemically suppress the fire.
4) Chains and weights . . . sometimes the chimney is plugged up and there is just a ton of creosote in the chimney. Sometimes we have to rely on brute force and a weighted steel chain to break through the creosote plug that is on fire . . . frequently this results in a chain that is actually glowing red hot.
5) Worse case scenario . . . haul the hose up and kill the fire . . . which would also result in a destroyed chimney in most cases. We have never had to resort to doing this.
Options
1) Our favorite trick for masonry chimneys with clean outs is to open the clean out and if there are some bits of hot, glowing creosote to put a little bit of water on to the creosote. The result -- the water turns to steam and the natural draft brings the steam upwards to extinguish the fire. Works remarkably well. The only thing that we don't do is expose massive amounts of water since steam expands and too much at once could result in damage to the chimney . . . plus the whole thermal temperature difference deal.
2) Same idea as before . . . but we occaisonally shoot an ABC dry chem extinguisher up from the bottom. You can try it from the top as well, but the light-weight powder and draft may result in quite a bit of the powder from hitting the fire.
3) Chimney bombs . . . we keep ABC or BC powder (frequently this is baking soda) . . . drop them down the chimney . . . plastic bag should melt from the heat or flames and then the powder should hit the fire and chemically suppress the fire.
4) Chains and weights . . . sometimes the chimney is plugged up and there is just a ton of creosote in the chimney. Sometimes we have to rely on brute force and a weighted steel chain to break through the creosote plug that is on fire . . . frequently this results in a chain that is actually glowing red hot.
5) Worse case scenario . . . haul the hose up and kill the fire . . . which would also result in a destroyed chimney in most cases. We have never had to resort to doing this.
Well sheeeeooooot. I haven't posted in some time and I wanted to put up a note about Chimfex being available again and yall got it covered.
For what it's worth, I saw them at the local Waly-World for $29.00 a stick. And if you've never used one (and hopefully you won't), they DO work as advertised. Money well spent when you are still green at the burnin' thing.
For what it's worth, I saw them at the local Waly-World for $29.00 a stick. And if you've never used one (and hopefully you won't), they DO work as advertised. Money well spent when you are still green at the burnin' thing.
I had a chimney fire, a very large fire. All I have to say, is if it had not been for chemfix, my house prolly would of burn to the ground. The inside of the smoke ledge looked like lava inside a volcano. Chemfix starved the fire of Oxygen and put out the fire. I had a rather large post on it here last december. I had a few "firefighter know it alls" chastize me about it. But until you are in that position, I'd like to know how youd react? I still got my house and family was safe at all times.
"CHEMFIX WORKS!"
"CHEMFIX WORKS!"
Hurricane
Minister of Fire
I saw the Rutland chimney fire sticks in Wal Mart the other day for I think $24.95 .
I passed, I burn good wood, hot and keep my chimneys clean.
I passed, I burn good wood, hot and keep my chimneys clean.
I spoke to Rutland's Technical department ( the manufacturer of Chimfex) when I was working on the Heating with Wood DVD Set. I researched this product and a lot of other information about chimney fires because I wanted to be sure I had the facts for the DVD. Here are some helpful tips I found during this project:
The principle use of chimfex is exactly what the packaging states. It's a fire SUPPRESSANT. It's not labeled extinguisher but suppressant. In this case it means: To reduce the incidence or severity of (an appetite or cough, for example); The chemical in Chimfex when burned, robs the environment of oxygen and suppresses the fire.
I would not totally rely on the product to put the fire out but dramatically slow the fire down so when the fire department arrives it's just the chimney on fire or smoldering and not the house as well. You should still call 911 for the Fire department. Time is critical in a chimney fire. Get your family to safety, Call 911, Throw in a chimfex if you have one, completely close off the air control to the appliance if you can, and evacuate the structure.
I think wet rags, wet newspapers, plywood covering fireplaces is just bad advice during a chimney fire. You have to understand what is burning before you come up with ideas on how to extinguish it. Just like you can't put a gasoline fire out with water, you can't expect to do the same with a chimney fire. Chimney fires burn at up to 2000 degrees F. and creosote is the combustible product burning. Wet rags or newspaper just don't have the extinguishing power to dowse a 20, 30 or 40' chimney caked with 1/2" of creosote or more throughout the run. Leave the fire fighting to the professionals.
Another bad idea is to discharge a fire extinguisher into your firebox. You might put out the fire in the fire box, but that does not put out the chimney fire. You also run the risk of forcing hot coals into the living space spreading the fire indoors. Call 911 instead!
Chimneys should always be inspected after a chimney fire, especially Class A chimneys. I believe that one manufacturer of Class A states that their insulated chimney can withstand 2000 degrees for 20 minutes. That's something we should all be aware of when your chimney is on fire.
Personally I think an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I keep my system clean, burn dry seasoned wood, know how much creosote I produce based on my style of burning, and how often to clean my chimney, so I don't need to worry about chimney fires and I can sleep better at night.
Knowledge is power.
Ted
www.woodhomeheating.com
The principle use of chimfex is exactly what the packaging states. It's a fire SUPPRESSANT. It's not labeled extinguisher but suppressant. In this case it means: To reduce the incidence or severity of (an appetite or cough, for example); The chemical in Chimfex when burned, robs the environment of oxygen and suppresses the fire.
I would not totally rely on the product to put the fire out but dramatically slow the fire down so when the fire department arrives it's just the chimney on fire or smoldering and not the house as well. You should still call 911 for the Fire department. Time is critical in a chimney fire. Get your family to safety, Call 911, Throw in a chimfex if you have one, completely close off the air control to the appliance if you can, and evacuate the structure.
I think wet rags, wet newspapers, plywood covering fireplaces is just bad advice during a chimney fire. You have to understand what is burning before you come up with ideas on how to extinguish it. Just like you can't put a gasoline fire out with water, you can't expect to do the same with a chimney fire. Chimney fires burn at up to 2000 degrees F. and creosote is the combustible product burning. Wet rags or newspaper just don't have the extinguishing power to dowse a 20, 30 or 40' chimney caked with 1/2" of creosote or more throughout the run. Leave the fire fighting to the professionals.
Another bad idea is to discharge a fire extinguisher into your firebox. You might put out the fire in the fire box, but that does not put out the chimney fire. You also run the risk of forcing hot coals into the living space spreading the fire indoors. Call 911 instead!
Chimneys should always be inspected after a chimney fire, especially Class A chimneys. I believe that one manufacturer of Class A states that their insulated chimney can withstand 2000 degrees for 20 minutes. That's something we should all be aware of when your chimney is on fire.
Personally I think an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I keep my system clean, burn dry seasoned wood, know how much creosote I produce based on my style of burning, and how often to clean my chimney, so I don't need to worry about chimney fires and I can sleep better at night.
Knowledge is power.
Ted
www.woodhomeheating.com
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