Maine Fire Chief Warns of Chimney Fires

The Augusta fire chief is warning people across Maine who heat their homes with wood to be careful about chimney fires as the heating season gets underway.

Fire Chief Roger Audette says simple steps to ensure a safe winter such as inspecting and cleaning a chimney, making sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.

Audette says there has already been a rash of fires across the state.

He tells the Kennebec Journal his department sees 15 to 20 chimney fires a year. Last year two of those fires spread into the surrounding structure and caused significant damage.