No, I don't know them, so I don't know how much info I can get. I know seeing that will make me a lot more cautious. If another neighbor had not spotted the fire from a distance, the whole house would have burnt to the ground. I did see the guy cutting down a fresh pine tree last week. I hope it's not the case of running out of wood in this vicious winter and burning some fresh pine.
It's hard to watch sometimes, people can be ignorant to the fact that it's not as simple as cutting a tree down and feeding your stove the wood. But, in desperate times....
Wow that is a horrible thing . as noted glad no one was injured. I just hope it as not from burning that pine. I would have a bad conscience than if that was me. maybe this would be a good time to meet them and offer some advice at the proper time to help them. I know I've burnt some chitty wood but I always keep a close eye on flue temp, smoke output and cleaning the chimney. makes you think twice. glad I found this site for sure.
Sure hope them folks have a speedy recovery of their home w/o any insurance hassles. A chimney fire at my house, which I knocked down myself using three 20 pound extinguishers and a few kettles full of water, is why I bought an OWB. I'll never forget the feeling I had when I opened the attic door and saw open flame rolling up the underside of my roof!! Glad I was home and was prepared, another couple minutes and it would have been all over for my humble home.
My first wood burner was a slammer. Thankfully I was steered in the right direction and quickly had it replaced. We have had a mild winter this year, but usually every year, there are news stories of a home burning down in the middle of the night. Almost always a chimney fire or a Christmas tree to blame.
It's a method of installing an insert or wood stove using an existing brick or clay flue tile lined chimney. Uses a block off plate for insert or wood stove or a surround for an insert to keep the smoke going up the chimney. Problem with it is that flue gasses cool too quickly (especially on an exterior chimney) and generate a lot of creosote. Also, the joints between the bricks/tiles can degrade allowing creosote to penetrate the joints so when there is a fire, it passes through the chimney to the existing structure.. That's my understanding of it.. So with a "slammer install" the appliance is just slammed into the fireplace..
Thanks. Years ago when I had a fireplace insert, the stove pipe was elbowed & a 3' length of pipe extended up the flue in addition to the fireplace cover / fan-duct system.
Whatever the install was, I'm hoping that everyone was ok and that the house isn't a total loss.....very sad to see. This DOES refresh our minds though, it is the time of the year when we build shoulder fires and that constant "heating/cooling "cycle of the flue can lead to creosote problems in some circumstances. Some people with older, non-EPA stoves using dampers in the flue also keep the dampers cut down, leading to a smoldering fire......that can lead to a LOT of creosote no matter how dry your wood may be. So, it's a good idea for us to all give our flues an inspection......maybe make it a point to do this weekend......I think I'll make a thread in the stove forums right now. Prayers to your neighbors, Mitch.......
I'm not inspecting just cause I'm DONE burning for the year(the preseason fall sweep yes) - spring has set in here 81 today woohooo!!!!! The slab is slowing warming up so any cool 40F nights won't get chilly enough inside that'll it'll warm up by 10am or so
Uh...... Maybe a different metaphor......or, whatever the hellz that was. I'm gonna' have nightmares.
