CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- A chimney fire displaced six residents and seven animals from a home on the 2000 block of Scottsville Rd. on Tuesday morning, according to a release from Albemarle County Fire Rescue.
ACFR received the report at approximately 7:54 a.m.
Both volunteer and career members of the department were able to ensure the successful evacuation of all the residents and animals who were in the home at the time of the call.
No was injured in the blaze, and the residents are receiving assistance from the Red Cross.
“The first fire suppression unit arrived on scene within approximately six minutes and discovered smoke and flames coming from the chimney of the single-family residence,” according to the release. “The Albemarle County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was accidental in nature and originated from chimney operations.”
ACFR included the following safety tips in its release:
- Have your heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment (furnace, fireplace, woodstove, or portable space heater)
- Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container, a safe distance from your home.
- Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
