May 21, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A dirty fireplace sparked an attic fire in East Knoxville late Thursday morning, according to the Knoxville Fire Dept.
When emergency crews arrived at the home on Laurinda Drive around 10:50 a.m., they found a man on the roof with a garden hose trying to put out a chimney fire. Firefighters searched the attic, the basement, and the areas around the fireplace with thermal imaging cameras to contain the flames.
One of the people who lives there told firefighters he had lit the fire to stay warm. The American Red Cross has responded as well to help them.
The Knoxville Fire Department also reminded people to have a qualified chimney sweep do a complete inspection, looking for cracks in bricks or mortar, and checking for creosote build up before using a fireplace.
