Firefighters on Wednesday night responded to a chimney fire on East Maple Street that appears to have been caused by a buildup of tar from lack of cleaning, officials said.
New Canaan Fire Company on the scene at a chimney fire on East Maple Street, December 16, 2015. Credit: Terry Dinan
New Canaan Fire Department Engine 1, Ladder 3 and Engine 2 at about 7:05 p.m. responded to 39 East Maple St. on a report of a chimney fire that required additional manpower to contain.
No one was injured, officials said.
A full hour after the call, the fire’s flames had been extinguished though it was still acive, as steam could be seen rising from the structure while firefighters climbed the roof, began breaking apart the brick chimney and spraying in with water.
New Canaan Fire Company on the scene at a chimney fire on East Maple Street, December 16, 2015. Credit: Terry Dinan
Fire Chief Jack Hennessey stood near the scene and said the fire likely was caused by creosote from a chimney that has not been properly cleaned.
“It’s the tar that is caused by burning the fireplace and it builds up over time and it is combustible,” Hennessey said.
He urged residents to make sure their chimneys are clean.
New Canaan Fire Company on the scene at a chimney fire on East Maple Street, December 16, 2015. Credit: Terry Dinan
“It’s the time of the season when we are starting to use our fireplaces and wood stoves again and with a clean chimney you won’t have a problem,” he said.
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There was no damage to the home—a 1912-built, 2.5-story Colonial right in the elbow of East Maple Street as you come down off of Main—other than to the chimney, Hennessey said.
New Canaan Fire Company on the scene at a chimney fire on East Maple Street, December 16, 2015. Credit: Terry Dinan
It was fortunate that the chimney itself was “completely exterior to the house,” Hennessey said.
“It’s not running through the walls, so that’s good,” he said.
Firefighters would remain working on the scene until they could be absolutely certain that the fire was out before leaving, he said.
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