Camden called twice to High Street chimney fire
Camden firefighter Bob French Jr. uses a balled-up bunch of chain to clear a smoldering fire and debris from inside a chimney at 26 High St. Thursday morning. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
The residence at 26 High St. in Camden sits back off the road, behind a pair of homes. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
The first call to 26 High St. Thursday was a quiet one. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Camden Asst. Chief Andrew Lowe talks to the homeowners at 26 High St. Thursday during the first call for a chimney fire. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Route 1 southbound traffic backs up during the fire call at 26 High St. in Camden Thursday morning. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Camden firefighter Bob French Jr. chains smoldering debris down the chimney while Ryan Fisher looks on. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Camden firefighters Bob French Jr. and Ryan Fisher on the roof clearing a chimney fire at 26 High St. Thursday morning. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
From left, Camden firefighter Scott Entwistle passes a bucket of debris cleared from inside the chimney to Asst. Chief Andrew Lowe, with Chief Chris Farley in the back. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Camden firefighter Bob French Jr. uses a balled-up bunch of chain to clear a smoldering fire and debris from inside a chimney at 26 High St. Thursday morning. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
The residence at 26 High St. in Camden sits back off the road, behind a pair of homes. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
The first call to 26 High St. Thursday was a quiet one. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Camden Asst. Chief Andrew Lowe talks to the homeowners at 26 High St. Thursday during the first call for a chimney fire. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Route 1 southbound traffic backs up during the fire call at 26 High St. in Camden Thursday morning. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Camden firefighter Bob French Jr. chains smoldering debris down the chimney while Ryan Fisher looks on. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Camden firefighters Bob French Jr. and Ryan Fisher on the roof clearing a chimney fire at 26 High St. Thursday morning. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
From left, Camden firefighter Scott Entwistle passes a bucket of debris cleared from inside the chimney to Asst. Chief Andrew Lowe, with Chief Chris Farley in the back. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
CAMDEN — The first time Camden firefighters were sent to 26 High St. (Route 1) Thursday morning for a reported structure fire, at 9:09, Fire Chief Chris Farley said the homeowner reported smelling "something warm upstairs."
A check of the area around the woodstove and the chimney included taking readings with a thermal imaging camera, from the stove up through the roof. Farley said the camera indicated a small area of the chimney showing a reading of 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
With nothing more showing and no apparent fire, Farley and his crew cleared the scene about 30 minutes after they arrived.
"The homeowner indicated he had cleaned the chimney six months ago," said Farley. "They were going to stay at home and monitor the stove and chimney, and call back if they had any concerns."
But No sooner had Engine 5 and ladder truck returned to the station, and they were called back out to 26 High St., at 9:42 a.m.
This time, the homeowner reported seeing a fire inside the chimney.
"The homeowner was checking the chimney from the roof when he saw fire in the chimney as he looked down into it," said Farley.
Using a heavy, balled-up bunch of chain atop the roof, firefighters knocked the smoldering fire and clogged soot and creosote down from inside the chimney into its ash dump in the basement. From there, a few bucket-fulls of the ash and smoldering material were collected, removed from the home via a side bulkhead door, cooled with water and disposed of.
Event Date
Address
26 High Street
Camden, ME 04843
United States
