West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) is cautioning homeowners from the area to ensure that their chimneys and flue liners for woodburners are swept before they light fires.
This announcement follows an admission from the fire service in the Mid Sussex Times, which declared that the WSFRS answered to "more than 200 chimney related incidents last year".
These incidents varied in their severity but in some instances there was substantial smoke and fire damage to the houses involved in the blazes.
Chimney fires may be regarded as common this month, as on September 26th Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to three separate chimney fires within the space of an hour.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service group manager Kevin Oxlade, of the community safety department, said: "Regular maintenance and cleaning are essential to reduce the risk of your home going up in smoke."