Read an old chimney fire report that made me rethink creosote buildup

It was from a house in Burlington, Vermont, and the fire investigator noted the chimney had only a quarter inch of glaze... but it ignited because the flue temp hit over 2000 degrees from a long, hot burn. I always thought it took thicker buildup to be that dangerous. Anyone else come across a case like that?

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3 Comments

the_wyatt6mo ago

Guess it's not the size that matters. A hot enough fire will light up anything. So much for my old rule of thumb.

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mila5266mo ago

Ever try using a blowtorch on a stubborn pile of wet leaves?

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claireo674mo ago

Yeah I've dealt with piles like that too. The trick is to get some kind of accelerant mixed in there, like old motor oil or even some dry kindling in the middle first. Once you get that core burning hot enough the wet stuff on top will start to dry out and catch.

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