Fire crews called to wood-burner fire in Hereford house

Two Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews were called at 7.30pm to a fire in Beech Grove, Hereford.

The fire was in a wood-burning stove, which was removed from the property by fire service personnel. The chimney was rodded and inspected using a thermal imaging camera.

There were no casualties and no other emergency services were called.

The incident was marked by the fire service as "pending closure" at 9.04pm.

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The fire service has guidance for people with wood-burners to make sure that they are safe. It says that regular inspection and cleaning of chimney flutes will help eliminate the build-up, and sweeping clears obstructions such as debris. Ensure that the appliance has regular safety checks.

The service recommends carrying out a simple maintenance routine of a wood-burner four times a year when in use. It also advises placing a fireguard in front of the fire at all times, extinguishing all fires before going to bed or leaving home, checking for smoke from cracks, installing a working smoke alarm, and fitting a carbon monoxide detector.

Soot and smoke from even a small chimney fire can cause extensive damage to a home, while larger fires can damage the roof, wipe out the first floor, or even completely destroy a home.