West Kelowna

The recent cool weather in the Okanagan continues to reveal just how many homeowners neglect some of the basic general maintenance requirements for both their furnace and fireplace.

Photo: Grant Scott

A chimney fire on the Westside Thursday afternoon serves as a reminder to home owners to get their fireplace cleaned before using it this fall.

The latest example happened early Thursday afternoon, when the West Kelowna Fire Department was called out to a report of heavy smoke pouring out of the chimney of a home on Peters Road.

"Just after the noon hour we got a call for a possible structure fire," says West Kelowna Assistant Fire Chief Kerry Klonteig.

"When the crews arrived they noticed there was some pretty heavy smoke coming out of the chimney. Once we did our initial investigation we found that it basically was just contained to a chimney fire. There was no extension into the attic or any smoke damage inside the house."

Klonteig says the family will be able to return to their home once his crews are finished, but added they should get their fireplace cleaned before they use it again.

"They should get it checked by a fireplace technician," says Klonteig.

"With fall coming on now and a little cooler weather, people start using their fireplaces. They should be getting them cleaned basically every year before the start of fireplace season."

Last week, the Kelowna Fire Department responded to a number of incidents involving furnaces which had problems due to being improperly maintained.