At the time of dispatch, the station was staffed with two crews, allowing Rescue Engine 6 and Tower 6 to respond immediately. While en route, crews received information from Kent County Dispatch that the homeowner was reporting flames visible from the top of the chimney.

Rescue Engine 6 and Tower 6 arrived on scene to find a single-story, single-family home with embers blowing from the chimney. Incidents like this can pose a serious risk not only to the structure involved, but also to surrounding homes and wooded areas. At the time of the incident, Kent County was under a Wind Advisory, and this rural area was experiencing strong winds and bitter cold temperatures, increasing the overall hazard.

With both units arriving together, each crew immediately went to work on their assigned tasks. This coordinated approach is something we train on regularly and helps reduce confusion while improving safety and efficiency on the fireground.

On this incident, the Rescue Engine crew entered the home to assess interior conditions, while the Tower crew accessed the roof to evaluate the chimney. Both crews worked together to ensure interior conditions were safe and prepared for roof operations.

The roof crew utilized a technique known as “dragging the chimney.” This method uses chains and spring-loaded tools to remove burning creosote from the inside liner of the chimney. Prior to dragging the chimney, crews deployed chimney bombs, which are plastic bags filled with dry chemical extinguishing agent. These are dropped into the chimney, where the plastic melts under high heat and releases the agent, helping to smother the fire. Once the fire was controlled, the chimney was dragged to remove remaining creosote, which was then cleaned out.

Following a thorough investigation and confirmation that the fire was fully controlled, the incident was scaled back to Chestertown VFC, Betterton VFC, and the Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad.

While Chestertown units continued operating on scene, Queen Anne’s Engine-Tanker 5 (Church Hill) provided station coverage in Chestertown to handle any additional emergencies.

No injuries were reported.

Companies on the Call:

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company

Betterton Volunteer Fire Company

Galena Volunteer Fire Company

Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company

Church Hill Volunteer Fire Company

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad

Kent County EMS

Chimney Safety Reminder:

Chimney fires often occur due to a buildup of creosote inside the chimney. We encourage homeowners who use wood-burning stoves or fireplaces to have their chimneys inspected and cleaned regularly, use only seasoned firewood, and watch for warning signs such as excessive smoke, strong odors, or sparks coming from the chimney. If you ever suspect a chimney fire, call 9-1-1 immediately and do not attempt to extinguish it yourself.