Chimney fires in Charlottesville and Albemarle County have fire chiefs concerned.When the weather cools off, it is so nice to gather around the fireplace to warm up, but if your fireplace is not ready for it, you could find other parts of your home up in flames.
Albemarle County fire crews responded to two chimney fires Thursday and the Charlottesville department had two close calls when people did not dispose of hot ashes properly.
"People put them in plastic bags or in plastic cans, put them right outside the deck, they catch the deck or the siding of the house on fire," said Charlottesville Fire Department Battalion Chief Richard Jones.
The best place for those ashes is a metal container far away from the house.
Along with chimney inspections, Jones says checking any smoke or carbon monoxide alarms you have around the house is very important this time of year.
Reported by Dannika Lewis
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