Stumbled on a stat about creosote buildup that caught me off guard

I was reading through some NFPA chimney reports last night and saw that nearly 75% of chimney fires are caused by creosote fires. That number seemed way higher than I expected, even after 12 years in this trade. Has anyone else looked into those stats and found them surprising compared to what you see on the job?

2 comments

2 Comments

seanperry15d ago

Whoa, yeah that stat hits different when you see it in black and white. I've been doing this for about 8 years and I still had to read it twice. Last winter I cleaned a flue that was practically a creosote cave - thick, shiny, tar-like stuff running all the way up. The homeowner said they'd been burning green wood all season. I've pulled out more of that nasty buildup than I care to remember, and every time I think about how fast it can ignite. It's wild how casual people are about it until they see their own chimney looking like a soot monster.

scott.grace15d ago

Gotta agree with you there. I've seen folks burning old plywood or pallets all season and then act shocked when their liner looks like a tar pit. The scariest ones are the people who swear they burn "seasoned" wood but it's still wet and sizzling. You pull the cap off and see that shiny glaze and you just know it's a fire waiting to happen. It's frustrating because a good sweep and proper burning habits would prevent most of it, but people don't think about it until it's too late.