Chimney Fire Safety Week
Chimney Fire Safety Week 2026: Get Ahead of the Burning Season
Chimney Fire Safety Week runs from 7 to 13 September 2026. It is the national campaign, supported by HETAS and fire and rescue services around the country, reminding everyone with a fire or stove to get the chimney swept and checked before the cold weather arrives. Here is what causes chimney fires, how to spot one, and what to do about it in Worthing and West Sussex.
The campaign in one line
Almost every chimney fire is preventable. A swept, inspected flue, dry fuel and a working carbon monoxide alarm remove nearly all of the risk — and West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service still attend chimney fires every winter that a sweep would have prevented.
What causes a chimney fire?
Soot and tar build-up
Every fire leaves deposits inside the flue. Left long enough, that layer of soot and creosote becomes fuel in its own right, and a stray spark is all it takes to set it alight.
Wet or unseasoned wood
Damp logs burn cool and smoky, which lays down tar far faster than dry wood. Aim for logs at 20% moisture or less, ideally Ready to Burn certified.
Blockages and nests
Jackdaw nests, fallen brickwork and leaves can choke a flue. Smoke backs up, deposits build faster and combustion gases have nowhere to go.
Burning the wrong things
Treated timber, cardboard, packaging and household rubbish burn hot and dirty, throwing sparks straight up the chimney.
Leaving it too long between sweeps
The single biggest factor. A chimney that has not been swept since last winter is carrying a full season of deposits into this one.
Warning signs of a chimney fire
- A loud roaring or crackling sound from the chimney
- Dense smoke or sparks coming out of the chimney pot
- A strong, hot burning smell in the room
- The chimney breast getting unusually hot to the touch
- Smoke escaping from cracks or from the register plate
If you think your chimney is on fire
- Get everyone out of the house and close the door to the room.
- Call 999 and ask for the fire service — do not wait to see if it burns out.
- If it is safe to do so on your way out, close the appliance air vents to starve the fire of oxygen.
- Move anything flammable away from the fireplace and hearth.
- Do not use the fire again until the chimney has been swept and inspected — a chimney fire can crack liners and brickwork you cannot see.
Six things to do this week
- Get your chimney swept by a qualified sweep before you light the first fire.
- Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood or approved smokeless fuel.
- Fit a working carbon monoxide alarm to BS EN 50291 in the same room as the appliance.
- Keep a fireguard in place and never leave a fire unattended overnight.
- Have a cowl or bird guard fitted if nesting is a recurring problem.
- Keep your HETAS sweeping certificate safe for your home insurer.
How often should your chimney be swept?
- Wood: quarterly when in use
- Smokeless fuels: at least once a year
- Bituminous house coal: twice a year
- Oil and gas: once a year
Every Flue Fighter sweep includes a smoke draw test, a visual inspection of the appliance and pot, and a HETAS sweeping certificate on the day. See the full pricing guide, or read our carbon monoxide alarm guide.
Further reading
For the official campaign details, see the HETAS Chimney Fire Safety Week 2026 page. Local advice is also published by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
Book your sweep in Worthing
HETAS certified and fully insured. Get it swept now and light your first fire of the winter with complete peace of mind.
Serving Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham, Littlehampton, Findon, Storrington, Steyning, Arundel and Pulborough.