What to do in the event of a chimney fire? In technical circles, a chimney fire is referred to as a soot fire! But we'll stick with the term chimney fire here because everyone can imagine what the term means and it's also what people constantly call it. In the cold season, i.e. during the heating period from around October to April, the number of so-called chimney fires increases. Many households have increasingly equipped their homes with fireplaces in recent years. This may be because the rising prices of oil and gas have prompted them to do so, or because they simply find it cozy to sit in front of a fireplace in the pleasant warmth. However, the chimney is now exposed to increased soot formation. Burning wood or coal inevitably produces considerably more soot than the exhaust fumes from a gas heater. What should I do in the event of a chimney fire? Never use water to extinguish the fire! When extinguishing a chimney fire, the steam pressure in the chimney becomes so great that the chimney can burst. At chimney fire temperatures of approximately 1,000–1,300°C, 1 liter of extinguishing water turns into approximately 1,700 liters of water vapor. The damage would then be extensive. Call your fire department immediately on 112! The fire department will usually notify the responsible chimney sweep immediately. The fire department will not usually extinguish a chimney fire, but they do have a lot to do and check. The chimney will be carefully inspected on all floors. The Dietenheim fire department's thermal imaging camera will also be used for this purpose. With such a camera, the heat distribution in the masonry can be very accurately assessed. To prevent the chimney from becoming blocked by swelling soot, the fire department will sweep out the chimney and thus remove the burning soot from the lowest chimney flap. The fire operation is only considered over when the fire department's operations manager, in consultation with the district master chimney sweep, determines that there is no longer any danger to your house or apartment. How does a chimney fire start? Soot is produced when solid materials burn. This gradually builds up on the chimney walls. This so-called shiny soot must be regularly removed by a chimney sweep. If the deposits are not regularly removed, the shiny soot can ignite. At around 500–600°C, only heavy smoke will initially emerge from the chimney. Then the smoke slowly subsides and the fire phase begins. Flames shoot out of the chimney. The temperature in the chimney rises to 1,000–1,300°C. Now the most dangerous moment begins. Due to the intense heat, the soot begins to swell. Its volume can increase sevenfold. The cross-section of the chimney becomes increasingly smaller. The result: The heat and smoke can no longer escape upwards and therefore spread very quickly throughout the building. Major damage can now no longer be avoided. The formation of soot is exacerbated by the following factors: - Wood that is too moist is used. - Insufficient combustion air is supplied for clean combustion. - An unsuitable fuel is used. How can I prevent a chimney fire? 1.) Have your chimney inspected regularly by a chimney sweep. 2.) Use only approved fuels (dry wood, coke, hard coal, or lignite briquettes). 3.) Never burn wood treated with impregnating agents, plastics, packaging materials, or other waste.