Chimney blaze quickly dealt with by fire company

NORTH CANAAN — A motorist, who just happened to be passing by at the right time, alerted a local couple to a chimney fire at their South Canaan Road home Nov. 21.

Karen and Peter Richard were home early on that Sunday morning, using a stove insert in their fireplace against a temperature that hovered right around freezing. They placed the 911 call a little after 7 a.m.

Karen Richard said a man came to their door and told them there was a lot of smoke coming from their chimney. He said he had gone ahead and called the fire department.

Volunteers from the Canaan Fire Company and Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department responded. CFC’s ladder truck was brought to the top of the Richards’ long driveway.

The ladder, set at a low angle, was used to give firefighters access to the roof.

As with most chimney fires, burning material had to be cleaned out of the flue. Many chimney fires are sparked by a build up of creosote, but that was not the case with this blaze; the Richards’ had their chimney cleaned in September.

A ledge inside the chimney that is difficult to clean was the fire’s cause, Richard said.

“There was no smoke damage. Everything seems to be okay,� she reported later that morning. “The fire company did a great job.�