Chimney check after a soot fire

If soot is burning now: call 112

Burning soot is put out by the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD). Call 112 and get people out of the house. Do not climb onto the roof and do not try to put out the fire in the flue yourself. Fill in our form once the fire is out. More detail: chimney soot fire: what to do.

It happens often. VUGD data show that in the first nine months of 2025 burning soot was put out in 261 cases in the flues of Latvian homes. 19 such cases were recorded from 01.09.2026 to 20.10.2026.

Why you must not light a fire after a soot fire without an inspection

VUGD states that burning soot damages the flue and promotes micro-cracks. Through a crack, smoke and sparks can reach the attic or the floor structure between storeys, where there are timber beams. A stainless steel liner can be deformed by the heat, and its joints can come apart. After a fire, unburnt soot and tar usually also remain in the flue and can catch fire again.

The regulations prohibit using a damaged heating appliance or flue. So until the inspection, do not light that stove, fireplace or boiler, even if everything looks fine from outside.

What we check after a soot fire

1. Cleaning We remove the remaining soot and tar from the flue, the flue pipe and the firebox. Without this the camera does not show damage.
2. Looking inside The camera is usually lowered from above or fed in through the cleaning door. It looks for cracks, fallen bricks, burnt-out joints, and deformed or separated liner sections.
3. Attic and floors We look at the flue in the attic and where it passes through floors, searching for dark patches, scorched timber and cracks in the render. We check the distance to timber structures.
4. Head and cap On the roof we check the chimney head, the crown slab and the cap, because they are the first to crack in the heat.
5. Certificate We draw up a technical condition inspection certificate with photos or video and record whether use is permitted. If not, the remarks state what must be fixed.

How the camera itself works and what it can show: chimney camera inspection.

What happens if the flue is damaged

• Small cracks in the head or upper part: the head is rebuilt or rendered. More detail: chimney repair.
• Cracks along the whole flue channel: a liner is fitted in the flue and becomes the new flue channel. More detail: chimney lining.
• A deformed stainless steel liner: it is replaced, and at the same time we find out why so much soot built up.
• A badly damaged old chimney: sometimes a new modular chimney is the better option. More detail: chimney installation.

We quote the repair price separately and start work only once you agree. After the repair the flue is usually inspected again and a new certificate is drawn up.

Why soot catches fire and how to avoid it

Soot builds up faster if you burn wet firewood or household waste, and also if a stove is run for a long time with the damper half closed and at a low temperature. A thick layer of soot and tar catches fire from hot flue gases. The best protection is dry firewood and regular cleaning: how often to clean a chimney. Burning out soot on purpose is prohibited.

How much does a check after a soot fire cost?

There is no fixed price for this inspection. It depends on the length and diameter of the flue, the height of the chimney and access to the roof, how much soot and tar is left in the flue, whether a liner must be checked too and how many flues the house has. The specialist will name the price after you submit the form, before the work. Other jobs: prices.