There’s No Smoke Without Fire!

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A chimney fire near Perpignan is a timely reminder to check your chimney — and your insurance!

The first chimney fire of the season near Perpignan has already made the local news!

According to L’Indépendant on 10 October, a chimney fire near Perpignan mobilised almost twenty firefighters in the middle of the night. With the cooler weather arriving and wood-burning stoves and open fires being lit again, it’s a timely reminder for all of us here in the Pyrénées-Orientales to make sure our chimneys are clean, safe and ready for winter.

And while you’re checking your chimney, don’t forget to check your home insurance, too!

GET INSURANCE — AND GET YOUR CHIMNEY SWEPT!

Chimney fires are a common cause of fire damage claims in France. Yet, with a little preparation, many can be prevented.

If you use your chimney, wood-burning stove or fireplace, regular sweeping is essential. In France, the rules on chimney sweeping depend on local regulations and the type of installation, so check what applies where you live.

It’s also important to check your home insurance policy. Some insurers require proof of chimney sweeping before they will cover certain types of fire damage. Your professional chimney sweep (ramoneur) should provide you with a cleaning certificate (certificat de ramonage). Keep it somewhere safe, as your insurer may ask to see it if you make a claim.

Of course, insurance is only part of the story. Preventing a chimney fire in the first place is far better than dealing with the consequences.

A poorly maintained chimney can also create a potentially fatal carbon monoxide risk. This poisonous, odourless gas can build up inside your home if combustion gases are not safely carried away.

Fire damage resulting from a chimney fire is one of the most common insurance claims in France, and many  INSURERS will NOT pay out for fire damage without a cleaning certificate.

WHAT CAUSES CHIMNEY FIRES?

When wood burns, the smoke contains unburned particles and other substances. As the smoke cools inside the chimney, these can condense on the inner walls, gradually forming a highly flammable deposit called creosote.

Over time, this residue can build up and ignite, causing a chimney fire.

Temperatures inside a chimney fire can become extremely high. The heat can damage or crack the chimney lining, potentially allowing flames and hot gases to spread to surrounding building materials and turn a chimney fire into a house fire.

Other hazards to watch out for include:

• Creosote build-up: Deposits can accumulate even when a fire appears to be burning normally.
• Blocked chimneys: Birds’ nests, leaves and other debris can obstruct the flue and prevent smoke from escaping properly.
• Damaged chimney linings: Cracks and other defects can allow heat and combustion gases to escape into the building.
• Poor ventilation: Inadequate air supply can affect combustion and increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

A few simple precautions can make all the difference:

• Have your chimney swept at the appropriate intervals by a qualified professional.
• Burn suitable, properly seasoned firewood.
• Have your stove, fireplace and chimney inspected if you notice any damage or unusual behaviour.
• Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm as an additional safety precaution.
• Check your home insurance policy and keep your chimney-sweeping certificate.

If you suspect a chimney fire, get everyone out of danger and call the emergency services. Do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself.

USEFUL FRENCH VOCABULARY: ALL ABOUT BOIS!

While we’re talking about wood fires, here are a few useful French expressions to brush up on.

• Gueule de bois — hangover!
• Bois de chauffage — firewood
• Bois de construction — timber
• Bois de pin — pine wood
• Bois mort — dead wood
• Charbon de bois — charcoal
• Chaudière à bois / chaudière à granulés de bois — wood-fired / wood-pellet boiler
• Chèque en bois — a rubber cheque (a cheque that bounces)
• Feu de bois — wood fire
• Toucher du bois — to touch wood, just as we say “touch wood” in English!

Looking for log fires, pellet burners, wood burning stoves?

Pop into the Gaieté du Feu showrooms

Save money, and the environment, by heating your home with wood.

Why?

Whatever the weather, la Gaieté du Feu has a fantastic range of products at great prices all year round.
This family-run business has been installing fires since 1989. Son, Nicolas, is the youngest person ever to have gained the ‘Qualibois‘ qualification in France.

They certainly know what they’re talking about, so let them help you choose and install a fire that’s perfect for your home.

Specialists in:

• barbecues
• wood-burning stoves
• log fires
• pellet burners
• bio-ethanol heating
• gas