Brook Forest chimney fire quickly quelled

Volunteer firefighters were able to rapidly quell a dangerous chimney fire that ignited a roof at 8 p.m. Nov. 30 at 32908 Little Cub Creek Road, thanks to the location of station No. 8 about half a mile away in Brook Forest.

It was the second fire in Brook Forest in less than a week for Evergreen Fire/Rescue Lt. Kevin Evens, who led the attack on a candle fire on Snowshoe Trail on Nov. 25.

The family in the home escaped the blaze uninjured, and damage was minimal, said Einar Jensen, a spokesman for the fire department.

Having the engine only a few minutes away and having several firefighters in the neighborhood made the difference between a stubborn chimney fire and a fully involved structure fire, Jensen said.

The fire was traced to a faulty chase, or fire-rated enclosure designed to contain the heat of the chimney and prevent igniting the surrounding wall and roof materials, Jensen said. Improper insulation may have contributed to the blaze, Evens said.

Before the new Brook Forest station was built in 2006, the nearest engine was 10 minutes away at Station No. 1, 4751 Highway 73.

Jensen recommended homeowners have their chimneys swept and checked by a company licensed by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.