PSA: I read that a single chimney fire can reach 2000 degrees Fahrenheit

I was looking through an old firefighter training manual from the Seattle library and saw that number. It really hit me how fast things can go from a little creosote glow to a full-on house fire. Has anyone here had a close call where the heat surprised you?

3 comments

3 Comments

dylanwells4d ago

Melted my siding once, scared the hell out of me.

kevinallen4d ago

Yeah, that'll do it. Siding isn't made for that kind of heat.

kevinallen4d ago

Honestly, that number doesn't even shock me. I remember helping my uncle clean out his wood stove pipe once, and the chunks of creosote we pulled down were like volcanic rock. He told me a story about his neighbor, whose brick chimney actually cracked from the heat, just a hairline fracture you could see light through. Makes you realize that kind of temperature is more like a forge than a campfire. It's just sitting there waiting in a dirty chimney.