I feel like I already know this is bad news but here goes. I have a thimble in my wall that I guess is a clay tube or cement tube. When I cut away the drywall to see what was around it I found brick about an inch behind the drywall and on either side of the brick they have 2x4 wood studs right up against the brick. This isn't safe is it? Right now I have a Woodstock Palladian hooked up to it with single wall pipe going to a t connector then insulated flexible ss liner through the chimney. In the photos below the pencil marks indicate where the brick stops and the 2x4 starts.
Assuming that its not safe what are my options to remedy the situation?
Assuming that its not safe what are my options to remedy the situation?