The importance of having flue liners for woodburners inspected by a professional has been highlighted by a case in Australia in which two men nearly died.
Ryan McBriar and his roommate Daniel Thomas were saved by a fire alarm at 4:00 GMT after the device started sounding, the Newcastle Herald reports.
Initially, the pair thought the noise was coming from an alarm clock and then looked outside and found that their roof was on fire.
Fire experts believe the blaze was started in the chimney flue after Mr Thomas had lit a fire to keep warm.
Mr McBriar told the newspaper: "It was almost out when he went to bed."
Mel Kahn, owner of Early Times Chimney Sweeps, told the GateHouse News Service that having chimneys inspected on a regular basis is crucial to prevent the build up of creosote.
He stated that creosote fires are extremely intense and can cause a lot of damage.