PORT TOWNSEND — It’s the season for chimney fires, as East Jefferson Fire-Rescue personnel were reminded by a chimney fire in the 2300 block of Haines Street on Tuesday morning.
The fire was contained to the chimney and some surrounding attic material, an East Jefferson agency spokesman said.
The homeowner called 9-1-1 after climbing into the attic and finding the chimney still hot to the touch after an earlier chimney fire which he thought had gone out. He also noticed smoke coming from the side of the chimney in the attic space.
Firefighters were hampered by the confined space in the attic area of the house that’s more than a century old, but several applications of sodium bicarbonate and water down the chimney cooled surfaces significantly, the spokesman said.
Some high-tech was employed as well: Thermal imaging cameras (“TICs”) were used to determine that the temperature had been reduced to a safe level.
The homeowner was advised to use alternative forms of heating until the chimney could be professionally serviced.
Deputy Chief Ted Krysinski said that owners of all houses with chimneys — especially older homes — have their chimneys periodically inspected.
“Chimneys age along with the rest of the structure, and eventually they’ll need to be tuck-pointed and serviced to remain safe,” he said.
A unit from Jefferson County Fire Protection District No. 5 (Discovery Bay) assisted in Tuesday’s chimney fire call.
