Chimney fire damages Wilmington home

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Fire Department is reminding residents about the importance of having your chimney cleaned and inspected after a chimney fire damaged a home Saturday night.

Wilmington and New Hanover County firefighters responded to the home at 648 Chowning Place just before 9 p.m. and worked for about half an hour. No one was hurt.

WFD says the accidental chimney fire spread to the exterior siding. The fire department says all of the fire damage was confined to the exterior of the house, but there was also water damage to the interior. The fire department estimates damage for structure and contents at $50,000.

The Wilmington Fire Department says it is important to have chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by qualified workers. Investigators do not know yet if this chimney had been inspected, but they says it was the first fire in the fireplace this season.

With cold weather moving in soon, the fire department says it will pay huge safety dividends to have chimneys cleaned and inspected.