At 8:52 p.m. on February 11, the Lake Carmel Fire Department responded to a reported chimney fire. Within minutes, the first arriving unit, 17-2-3, identified an active chimney fire. Firefighters promptly began operations on the roof and inside the house to put out the fire and remove burning creosote accumulation from the chimney.

Crews worked for around an hour before returning all units to service. Units on scene were 17-1-1, 17-2-3, 17-3-1, 17-4-1, 17-6-1, and 17-FlyCar 1, as well as mutual aid units 12-1-2 and 12-2-3. The Carmel Fire Department and the Town of Kent Police Department both gave assistance.

Creosote accumulation, a highly combustible residue generated when wood is burned, is a typical cause of chimney fires, officials said. When creosote builds inside a chimney, it can burn and transmit heat throughout the structure. To lessen the risk of chimney fires, fire officials recommend having chimneys professionally examined and cleaned at least once a year, using only seasoned firewood, avoiding trash or treated wood in fireplaces, and keeping smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in working order.