Clean your chimney before starting that fire

Tulsa Fire officials say a house is a total loss after a fire Thursday morning and a dirty chimney is to blame. Officials say it's important to have your wood burning fireplace and chimney cleaned

Friday, October 25th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Fire officials say a house is a total loss after a fire Thursday morning and a dirty chimney is to blame. Officials say it's important to have your wood burning fireplace and chimney cleaned every year.

They say a tar-like soot can build up, and it's highly flammable. Firefighters see chimney fires a lot this time of year, but they can be prevented. Assistant Fire Marshal, Curtis Ozment, "Anybody that has a fireplace I would recommend that they maintain them and take a look at them and use them in ways that they're designed to be used."

Ozment says to burn only "seasoned" firewood. The greener the wood, the more it damages your chimney. Also be sure you have working smoke detectors on every floor of your home.