LITH House Damaged By Chimney Fire

A house chimney fire at 1213 Sycamore Street caused $2,500 in damage Sunday.

Lake in the Hills Police said members of the William Schultz family were enjoying a fire in their fireplace when they heard a loud noise erupt from the chimney chute at 7:40 p.m.  At that time, smoke began filling the room, Sgt. Mark Smith said.

Family members were able to leave the house safely and call police. 

Mike Murphy, director of Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, said the house sustained damage from smoke that billowed from the chimney into the home. Investigators determined the smoke seeped out the chimney liner.

“If there’s a crack, or separation in a chimney liner, a fire can get outside and reach other combustible materials,” Murphy said. “Once a chimney fails, that’s when a fire gets outside the liner.”

Murphy said homeowners should consider using a chimney sweep service if they use their fireplaces often during the winter. A chimney sweeper cleans inside the chimney and visually inspect it for cracks with a mirror.

The LITH building inspection department deemed the house safe, and the Schultzes were permitted to re-enter and stay in their home, Smith said.