Homeowners Urged to Check Chimneys for Fire Danger

Amherst Fire Chief Mark Boynton and Community Development Director Sarah Marchant issued two fact sheets to help homeowners check their fireplaces as several days of bitterly cold temperatures begins.

In a press release they issued, they are warning town residents about a condition known as pyrolysis where wood building materials are not separated from a chimney by two inches of clearance and dry out over time due to over exposure from chimney heat.

Five of the six residential house fires that occurred in Amherst in 2013 were related to chimney construction, according to Marchant and Boynton. The most recent incident was a three-alarm fire on Brookside Drive on Dec. 13.

“Today’s building code requires all new construction to provide a minimum two inches of separation between combustible materials and a masonry chimney,” said Marchant This code became standard practice in Amherst with the voter-approved 1983 Building Code.

“The residents of Amherst have always been proactive in ensuring quality construction in the community. As early as 1970, voters adopted the first comprehensive building code requiring a one-inch separation and invested in regular building inspections. The 1970 Code was considered “best practice” at the time. By comparison, the State of NH did not require residential structures to comply with a standard building code until its adoption of the ICC building codes in 2007,” Marchant continued.

The two departments have created a Chimney Safety in Your Home Factsheet available at http://amherstnh.gov/fire-fact-sheet/ that offers steps for homeowners to follow if they are concerned about the potential for this type of fire in their homes, according to Marchant. She said residents can also call the Amherst Building Department at 603.673.6041 or Fire Department at 603.673.1545 for more information.

“It’s important to understand that construction of a chimney with less than today’s standard of two inches of separation may not be limited to structures in Amherst,” Boynton said. “It’s likely that this type of construction can be found in residential structures across the region and the state.”

The Town of Amherst has continued to make construction practices and enforcement a priority since the adoption of its first comprehensive building code in 1970, Marchant said. By ensuring construction adheres to current building codes, the Town is protecting its structures and residents and reducing the number of property-related losses, she added.