ADVICE has been issued to residents who have real fires and log burners, urging them to ensure their chimneys are clean and well-maintained.
The information has been conveyed by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue service which revealed chimney fires accounted for more than 4,200 blazes dealt with by firefighters between April 2015 and March last year.
People are urged to always use a fire guard to protect their home from flying sparks and hot embers, ensure the fire is fully out before they go to bed and keep chimneys and flues clear.
Chimneys should be cleaned by a reputable chimney sweep and rubbish should never be burnt in them.
Flammable liquids such as petrol and paraffin should never be used to start fires.
Group Commander Mick Cadman from HWFRS’s Community Risk department said: “We also urge everyone that has a working fire and chimney to make an appointment with a registered chimney sweep if their chimney is due a clean and also encourage others to do so.”
Visit www.hwfire.org.uk/safety-and-advice for more on chimney safety and a list of registered sweeps.
