House fires spark chimney warning

Residents are being warned to check their chimneys

Residents are being warned to check their fireplaces after a recent spate of chimney fires.

Fire service chiefs in Oxfordshire say they dealt with five chimney fires in the Abingdon area over the last month and are concerned at the number.

They are urging residents with open fires to have their chimneys swept at least once a year and to have their chimney breasts inspected for cracks.

The fires also showed the need for working smoke alarms, they added.

Leading Firefighter Christian Orr, from Abingdon fire station, said: "Each year the number of chimney fires seems to increase and this could be because more people have wood-burning fires.

"Unfortunately some people are not maintaining their chimneys and fires correctly, which can result in the chimney catching fire.

"This can then spread to the rest of the house if not dealt with quickly."

There were 170 chimney fires across the county last year.