Fire crews in North Yorkshire have advised local residents to ensure that their flue accessories and fireplaces are in adequate condition.
This guidance comes after the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) was alerted to two incidents involving poorly maintained chimney breasts, according to YorkPress.co.uk.
A NYFRS spokesman told the website that the faulty components "caused smoke and fumes to percolate into the neighbouring property and could have developed into serious house fires in both cases".
This news comes after CambridgeFirst.co.uk reported that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has informed local homeowners that their chimneys must be kept in a stable state this winter.
Throughout the winter of 2009, the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) was called to 102 chimney fires within the county and 20 of them occurred in the month of December.
Andy Tucker, risk manager at CFRS, told the website that most chimney fires can be easily avoided by ensuring that chimneys are clean.