What to Do After a Chimney Fire
The steps after a chimney fire in Northwest Indiana: safety first, what to check, insurance, and why the flue needs a camera inspection before the next fire.
NWI Chimney · October 4, 2026
The short answer
Get everyone out and call 911 if there's any sign of fire — even if it seems to have gone out. Afterwards, don't use the fireplace or stove again until the flue has been inspected with a camera. A chimney fire can crack flue tiles or damage a liner, and the next fire can reach the house through those cracks.
During the fire
- Get everyone out of the house and call 911
- If it's safe, close the fireplace doors or the stove's air controls to starve the fire
- Don't throw water into a hot firebox or stove — it can crack it
- Let the fire department check the attic and walls around the chimney
Signs you had one you didn't notice
Many chimney fires are slow and quiet. Look for puffy, honeycomb-looking creosote, flakes of creosote on the roof or ground, cracked or missing flue tile pieces in the firebox, a warped damper or cap, or discolored metal on a stove pipe.
The inspection
After a chimney fire, NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 inspection with a camera scan of the full flue. Ours is $199 and comes with a written photo report. If the liner is damaged, a stainless liner typically runs $1,200–$2,500; insulated liners for tall or offset flues $2,000–$3,500.
Insurance
Chimney fire damage is often covered as a sudden event, but every policy is different. Call your insurer early, take photos, and keep the inspection report — it's the document an adjuster will ask for.
More answers
Can I keep using my fireplace if the fire went out on its own?
No. Have the flue inspected first. Damage inside the flue isn't visible from the room.
What causes chimney fires?
Creosote build-up in the flue, especially from burning wet wood or long smoldering fires. Yearly sweeping and dry wood prevent most of them.
Does a chimney fire always mean a new liner?
No. Sometimes the liner is fine. The camera inspection tells you which.
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