A chimney or fireplace emergency can turn dangerous in minutes. Smoke, carbon monoxide, and fire do not wait, and the right first move protects your family long before anyone arrives. This page walks through the five situations that need immediate attention, what to do in the moment, and how to reach us. Chimney Sweep Brothers is a top local service provider in La Grange, open seven days a week.
The five chimney emergencies we respond to
Most calls we get on an urgent basis fall into one of five categories. Each one has its own warning signs and its own right response. Read the one that matches what you are seeing, and when in doubt, get out of the house and call.
Chimney Fire
What it is. A chimney fire ignites the creosote coating the inside of the flue and can climb past 2,000 degrees, hot enough to crack clay tiles and reach the wood framing around the chimney. Some are loud and violent; many are slow and nearly silent, doing hidden damage you never hear.
Warning signs.
- A roaring or crackling sound like a freight train or low-flying plane
- Dense smoke pushing back into the room
- A strong, hot, tarry smell
- Flames, sparks or a glow at the top of the chimney
- Puffy, honeycombed pieces of creosote in the firebox afterward
What to do right now.
- Get everyone and all pets out of the house.
- Call 911; a chimney fire can spread into the walls.
- If it is safe and you have one, use a chimney fire extinguisher or close the stove air controls to starve the fire. Never pour water down a hot flue.
- Once it is out, do not light another fire until the chimney is inspected.
Why it is urgent. Even a fire that appears to burn itself out usually leaves cracked tiles and gaps that let the next fire reach your framing. Before you burn again you need a Level 2 camera inspection to confirm the flue is intact.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Leak
What it is. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas made by any fuel-burning appliance. When a chimney or vent is blocked or leaking, CO collects indoors and is taken up by the blood faster than oxygen. It is the deadliest chimney hazard because you cannot see or smell it.
Warning signs.
- A CO alarm sounding
- Headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion or fatigue that ease when you leave the house and return when you come back
- Several people or pets feeling ill at the same time
- Heavy condensation on windows near the appliance
- A burner flame that is yellow instead of crisp blue
What to do right now.
- Get everyone and all pets outside into fresh air immediately.
- Call 911 if anyone has symptoms.
- Leave the door open as you go, and do not go back in to investigate.
- Have the appliance and its venting checked before anyone uses it again.
Why it is urgent. At high levels CO can cause collapse within hours. Working detectors on every level are your early warning; a blocked or leaking flue is the cause, and our gas fireplace and venting service finds and fixes it.
Severe Flue Blockage
What it is. A flue can be choked by heavy creosote, a fallen chunk of liner, leaves and twigs, or an animal nest. With nowhere to exhaust, smoke and carbon monoxide reverse into the home instead of rising out the top.
Warning signs.
- Smoke filling the room when you light a fire
- A fire that will not stay lit or draws weakly
- A strong smoky or rotten smell
- Scratching, chirping or rustling sounds inside the chimney
- Nesting material or debris visible at the top
What to do right now.
- Put the fire out and do not relight it.
- Open windows and doors to vent the smoke.
- If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside.
- Do not poke blindly at the blockage from inside; call for an emergency sweep and inspection.
Why it is urgent. A full blockage can push carbon monoxide into living space in minutes, and a partial one lets creosote build faster, which raises the risk of a chimney fire.
Smoke Backdrafting
What it is. Backdrafting is when the draft reverses and pulls smoke and gases down into the room instead of up and out. Tightly sealed homes, competing exhaust fans, a cold flue, or a missing cap can all flip the airflow the wrong way.
Warning signs.
- Smoke entering the room on startup or when the wind gusts
- A smoky smell when the fireplace is cold and unused
- Soot staining on the wall above the firebox
- A CO alarm during use
- Other vented appliances struggling at the same time
What to do right now.
- Stop the fire and air out the room.
- Crack a window near the fireplace to equalize the pressure.
- Turn off kitchen and bath exhaust fans that compete for air.
- Do not keep relighting; call us to diagnose the draft and the cap.
Why it is urgent. Backdrafting delivers the same carbon monoxide risk as a blockage, and it points to a pressure or venting fault that will not correct itself.
Sudden Structural Damage
What it is. Storms, lightning, freeze-thaw cycles, and years of water intrusion can crack a crown, loosen bricks, or tilt an entire stack. A compromised chimney can drop masonry onto the roof, a walkway or a car, and can let fire or gases escape where they should not.
Warning signs.
- A chimney leaning or pulling away from the house
- Bricks or mortar on the roof or on the ground
- Large cracks in the crown, firebox or exterior brick
- A damper or liner knocked out of position
- Water pouring in during rain
What to do right now.
- Keep people and vehicles clear of the base of the chimney.
- Do not light a fire.
- If a storm exposed the top and you can reach it safely from the ground, cover it with a tarp; otherwise leave it.
- Call us for an emergency structural assessment and repair.
Why it is urgent. Falling masonry is a real injury risk, and a cracked flue or firebox can let an ordinary fire reach combustible framing.
Available seven days a week across the western suburbs
We answer the phone and schedule emergencies seven days a week, from 7 AM to 7 PM, for La Grange and the surrounding towns including La Grange Park, Western Springs, Brookfield, Riverside, Hinsdale and Countryside. We work to NFPA 211, the national standard for chimney inspection and service, so once the immediate danger is handled you get a clear, documented picture of what failed and what it takes to make the system safe again. The fastest way to reach us is simple: pick up the phone.
Emergency chimney FAQs
Do you offer same-day emergency chimney service?
We are open seven days a week from 7 AM to 7 PM and we prioritize emergencies. Call (708) 432-5330 and we will reach you as fast as we safely can.
Should I call 911 or a chimney company first?
If there are active flames beyond the firebox, anyone feels ill, or you smell gas, call 911 first and get out of the house. Call us once everyone is safe so we can make the chimney safe to use again.
Can I use my fireplace after a chimney fire?
No. Not until a Level 2 camera inspection confirms the flue and liner are intact. A chimney fire often cracks tiles in places you cannot see from the firebox.
What does it mean when a CO alarm goes off?
It means carbon monoxide has reached a dangerous level. Get everyone outside, call 911 if anyone has symptoms, and have the appliance and venting inspected before any further use.
How much does emergency chimney service cost?
It depends on what we find. We give a clear price before any work begins and we never charge for a quote. Call (708) 432-5330 to talk it through.
How can I prevent chimney emergencies?
An annual sweep and inspection, a sound cap, working carbon monoxide alarms on every level, and burning only dry seasoned wood prevent the large majority of the emergencies on this page.
Facing one of these right now?
Get everyone safe first, then call. We will walk you through it and get there fast.