Chimneys need a mid-winter check

The cold temperatures of the past few weeks should be a trigger for homeowners with wood-burning appliances to do a mid-season check of their chimneys to be sure there isn’t a build-up of creosote in them. That’s what leads to chimney fires which are a major risk for a full structure fire. Teton County Fire Marshal Kathy Clay says especially when the weather is cold, that creosote build-up can increase if homeowners just have a slow-burning fire during the night and during the workday.




Clay says so far, the county has not seen the typical mid-winter onset of chimney fires, while the two structure fires so far having been of non-typical accidental origins. However, it is the time of year to assure the integrity of any chimneys.