Fireplace Ignition Sets Home on Fire

(SALEM) - A chimney fire at 930 Hulsey Ct. SE in Salem started unexpectedly according to investigators, when homeowner Matt Minihan lit his fireplace Wednesday shortly after 11:00 AM.

Home alone at the time, Minihan ended up calling 911 after starting the fire, because the smoke alarms activated and he detected the smell of smoke in the air.

Salem Fire Department was dispatched to the chimney fire at 11:05 AM. Arriving firefighters reported smoke and flames coming from the chimney area of the home.

"Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire and contained it before it extended into the attic area", according to Salem Fire's Bill Holmstrom.

Capt. Craig Snively said the fire appeared to start from pyrophoric carbon that had been building in the chimney flue over a period of time. Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of a substance through the action of heat -- in this case repeated fires in the fireplace.

No one was injured and damage to the home was estimated to be $10,000.