Residents in Cheshire have been warned to exercise caution when using heating appliances such as flue liners for gas fires.
The advice comes after Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to roughly 15 chimney fires in the last two weeks, with Chester and Cheshire West being home to eight of the incidents, according to the Northwich Guadian.
Mark Cashin, deputy chief fire officer, told the website: "Keep you and your family safe by taking necessary steps such as ensuring your chimney is swept regularly, depending on what fuel you burn."
This news comes after an expert from the Philadelphia Enquirer advised residents to ensure that the doors and air vents of wood stoves are closed tightly when they are not in use.
Glen J Fisher, American property inspector, also told the website that even clean chimneys can lead to an undesirable stench of burnt wood and smoke filtering through their homes.