Crews were called out to tackle a chimney fire in Furley, between Axminster and Chard, on Sunday afternoon.

Axminster fire crew received the initial call at 4.39pm and found the chimney well alight on arriving at the scene.

They got to work tackling fire with a thermal imaging camera and gas detection equipment.

Further assistance was then called for from Chard fire crew,

Crews continually made steady progress clearing the chimney to extinguish the fire and confirmed that they had removed approximately three wheelbarrows full of debris that had blocked the chimney.

Crews continued to remove debris and damped hotspots, with the Axminster crew finally returning to the station at 9.40pm.

What causes chimney fires?

Chimney fires are often caused by dirty chimneys that become filled with tar, which is extremely flammable.

There are many simple ways you can avoid this and burn a fire safely in your home. Here's how you can reduce the risk of a chimney fire from happening to you:

Keep the chimney clean - it's very important that you keep your chimney clean, and most importantly, have it swept before your first fire. Get it swept regularly to keep you, your fellow housemates and your property safe.

You may be wondering how often 'regularly' actually is, so here's a few pointers to give you a general idea:

Wood – every three months

Bituminous coal – at least once a year

Gas – once a year

Whatever you do, don't try and clean your chimney yourself. A professional, accredited chimney sweep is the only person that should be getting up inside there. They can inspect your chimney properly and give you a certificate when done.

As getting your chimney swept, you should also check the structure is all safe, well-maintained and up to the challenge of coping with modern heating appliances.

The fire service suggests lining your chimney if it isn't already, which should be done by a qualified and certified chimney engineer.