Fire service issue warning after Thurcroft blaze

Firefighters warned of the dangers of lighting fires beneath poorly maintained chimneys following this blaze on Green Arbour Road, Thurcroft, at around 7.50pm on Tuesday.

Around 6,000 chimney fires occur in England each year, according to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, and many could be avoided through regular chimney sweeping.

A fire service spokesman said: “Open fires, log and multi-fuel burners still cause dozens of fires every year and with prices for gas and electric soaring, firefighters are warning people to get their chimneys swept before turning to these alternative sources of winter warmth.

“An open fire is ideal to keep warm in the winter, but without proper maintenance a chimney can become dangerous.”

Firefighters from Maltby and Doncaster dealt with Tuesday night’s chimney fire. Nobody was injured during the incident.