Firefighters recommend a clean sweep now

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “In the milder summer months, the warmth of an open fire may be the last thing on most peoples’ minds, but residents are advised it’s best to check that their chimney is clean when it’s out of use, with the peak season for the county’s professional chimney sweeps drawing near.”

The force’s head of community safety, Steve Makepeace, added: “An open fire is ideal to keep warm in the winter, but without proper maintenance a chimney can become dangerous.

“The latest statistics show that there are approximately 6,000 chimney fires a year in England, of which more than 70 occur in South Yorkshire, but most of these are preventable.

“To keep yourself and your family safe from fire you should take care to have your chimney swept regularly, depending upon what fuel you burn, before the colder winter months set in and you begin to use your fire and chimneys again.”

Chimneys that burn smokeless coals, oil or gas should be swept at least once a year.

Meanwhile, those that burn wood should be swept up to four times a year and those that burn bituminous coal should be swept every six months.

Martin Glynn, president of the National Association of Chimney Sweeps, said: “All chimneys and flue-ways should be cleaned and checked during the summer months to ensure they’re free from debris and in full working order before the heating season.

“A blocked or defective chimney can cause both chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings so it’s very important to employ a professional qualified chimney sweep such as those certified by the National Association of Chimney Sweeps.”