Stubborn Chimney Fire Out In Shelton

The Shelton Fire Department spent about two and a half hours on Milne Avenue Thursday afternoon taking care of a stubborn chimney fire. 

The fire didn’t spread to the rest of the house and no one was hurt, said Nick Verdicchio, spokesman for the Shelton Fire Department. 

Members of the fire department arrived at 29 Milne Ave. around 2:30 p.m. Verdicchio said the chimney was full of creosote, or a black/brown residue that builds up inside the chimney as wood burns. 

Firefighters climbed the roof and dropped long chains down the chimney to break up the creosote. 

It took a while to get through the creosote, which can create a lot of soot and smoke, Verdicchio said. 

Members of the Shelton Fire Department then used thermal imaging cameras, which can detect heat, to make sure the fire didn’t spread anywhere inside the wall. 

Making sure that a chimney is cleaned once a year by a certified chimney sweet can help prevent chimney fires, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

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