Chimfex is coming back on the market

[Choppedliver]

Hey guys,
For all you old time wood burners you may already know what this is and be happy to see it back on the market, but for anybody that doesn't know what Chimfex was..
There was this stick you could purchase that looked and kinda worked like a road flare. If you had a chimney fire you can light this stick ( like how you light a flare) toss it inside of your wood stove, fireplace or insert, close the door and 9 times out of 10 it will put the fire out. Very cool stuff. Eight years ago the company that was making Chimfex had a fire that burned the plant to the ground and they never re-opened. There will be a formal announcement here in a few months but a new company is going to start selling Chimfex via Hearth retail stores again.
If you burn wood you should buy one of these little guys, they can save your stove, chimney and or your entire house.

 

[weatherguy]

Eight years ago the company that was making Chimfex had a fire that burned the plant to the ground and they never re-opened.

Why didnt they throw all of their product onto the fire to put it out? :cheese:

 

[bambam]

Eight years ago the company that was making Chimfex had a fire that burned the plant to the ground and they never re-opened.

Why didnt they throw all of their product onto the fire to put it out? :cheese:

You beat me to the punch line.

 

[Choppedliver]

That was always the joke when it happened.
The sticks are made of magnisium and I guess once you start burning magnisium it will not stop!

 

[Shari]

It is about a foot long x 1"+ diameter.

Shari

 

[Wet1]

Cant you do the same thing with a damp rag/paper towel?

 

[Jags]

Yep, I still have one on the shelve (about 8ft from the stove). Hope I never have to find out if it works.

 

[weatherguy]

Looks like a stick of dynamite

 

[BrotherBart]

I had heard that Orion Signal might start making them again this summer. It would be good for wood burners and a lot of fire departments to have them back on the market.

 

[pen]

I know I'd buy one. If (when) they do go on sale again, be sure to post a link.

pen

 

[karri0n]

Does a road flare work?

 

[fespo]

So, I have about 5 of them. What do you think their worth? Iam always tring to make a buck

 

[labrador]

Our fire company was under the impression that they didn't work very well. We went to throwing a powder chemical down the chimney. Has anyone out there ever had to use one? What was the result?

 

[dswineford]

This is my story. It happened to me. This really does work! Until it happens, you have no idea how really important this can be.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/31724/

 

[colebrookman]

Our fire company was under the impression that they didn't work very well. We went to throwing a powder chemical down the chimney. Has anyone out there ever had to use one? What was the result?

A few months ago our Fire dept. answered a chimney fire call. When we arrived the flames were coming out the chimney so we laddered the roof, dropped our baggies and the fire went out; but it still was smoking like mad. We dropped our chimney chains and cleaned the chimney but still smoking. When the firefighters opened the cellar clean-out, lots more smoke, now filling the cellar until they found the chimney flair and brought it outdoors. It did not work in this case plus it added to the smoke smell in the whole house. House was only three years old and they had to add double wall to vent the wood stove as the chimney was no longer safe. Had they called us sooner instead of relying on the chimney flair, who knows? Long post but the message is if you are betting your home on a chimney flair at least call the fire dept. first, then try the flair. At least you cover your tail and the dept. will be just as happy not to pull hoses in freezing temps if it works. Be safe.
Ed
No, no road flairs do not work unless you just want to set fire to your chimney.

 

[Corey]

That is interesting on a couple of levels. You say you got to the house, laddered up to the roof, put the fire out, cleaned the chimney, got down to the cellar and found the flare still burning? So I'm wondering if you guys are really fast, or just how long these things burn??! You also mention that the flare was in the cellar clean-out? I'll have to double check the directions, but I thought the flare went and stayed in the firebox? Maybe the owner stuck it in the wrong place?

I also wonder about how effective these would be with the more modern stoves that don't have the ability to close the air all the way. IIRC, the directions were light flare, throw on fire, close all air vents and call fire department. This would work pretty good with an older 'air tight' set-up, but may leak smoke back out the air intake on the modern stuff.

Would be kind of interesting to light one off just to see what happens.

 

[colebrookman]

That is interesting on a couple of levels. You say you got to the house, laddered up to the roof, put the fire out, cleaned the chimney, got down to the cellar and found the flare still burning? So I'm wondering if you guys are really fast, or just how long these things burn??! You also mention that the flare was in the cellar clean-out? I'll have to double check the directions, but I thought the flare went and stayed in the firebox? Maybe the owner stuck it in the wrong place?

I also wonder about how effective these would be with the more modern stoves that don't have the ability to close the air all the way. IIRC, the directions were light flare, throw on fire, close all air vents and call fire department. This would work pretty good with an older 'air tight' set-up, but may leak smoke back out the air intake on the modern stuff.

Would be kind of interesting to light one off just to see what happens.

I don't know how long they burn. We usually send firefighters to the roof and another crew to empty the stove. That's why we were curious as to the continuing dense smoke conditions. Either way, please call first then if you want use the flair according to their directions. Be safe.
Ed

 

[dswineford]

Our fire company was under the impression that they didn't work very well. We went to throwing a powder chemical down the chimney. Has anyone out there ever had to use one? What was the result?

A few months ago our Fire dept. ............................................. the message is if you are betting your home on a chimney flair at least call the fire dept. first, then try the flair. At least you cover your tail and the dept. will be just as happy not to pull hoses in freezing temps if it works. Be safe.
Ed
No, no road flairs do not work unless you just want to set fire to your chimney.

Like I posted above, I have had experience with this. This flair when used "PROPERALLY". works. Why would someone put it in a cleanout in the first place? Also the thing didn't burn for more than 5 minutes. My guess he didn't use chimex but used a road flair instead?

 

[colebrookman]

Nope it was not a road flair. The stove was in the cellar with the vent about 4ft. above the clean out. Don't know when, time-wise, the flair went in but it took us at least 5/6 minutes to ladder and drop our bags and clean out the stove. The flair was going then and at least another 5/6 min. before the FF found it against the back of the clean out. Maybe they work great but should you not check for fire extension in your attic and walls, think thermal imaging camera or an axe. This fire was so hot it cracked the blocks. I've seen 2x8s charred from the heat and of course if no one is home, oh well. Be safe.
Ed