Homeowners may want to call in the services of a chimney repair professional to inspect the flue liner for their woodburner and make sure there is no risk of a fire breaking out.
The Ask the Chimney Sweep blog stated that there are many causes of chimney fires and as a result, there are many different steps which people must take to prevent one from occurring.
One thing people can do is fit a chimney cap, as this will stop birds bringing twigs and other flammable materials into the system to build their nests.
In addition, the blog said that cracked chimney flue tiles are a fire hazard, with regular chimney sweeping the most effective way of ensuring they are in proper working condition.
Speaking to the North Devon Gazette, chimney sweep Christine Adey said the worst job she has ever undertaken involved an eight-foot inglenook which was filled with birds' nests.