Warnings issued after a spate of chimney fires

EXETER fire chiefs are appealing to residents with real fires to make sure chimneys are swept after four chimney fires in as many days.

Fire crews from Exeter were called to a chimney fire in Tedburn St Mary on Friday night after dealing with one the previous evening in Nadderwater and another on the outskirts of the city the night before that.

In the latest such fire on Saturday morning two crews from Exeter were called out to a thatched property in Upton Pyne. On arrival crews requested an aerial ladder platform to access the chimney. The thatched roof was not involved.

Watch manager Lee Blackburn said: "There is an expected cold spell coming this week and we would appeal to people to make sure that their chimneys have been properly swept, particularly if they are burning wood.

"The greener the wood the more deposits it leaves in the chimney."