Chimney fires in August aren’t common, but one happened Saturday in Middletown.
Firefighters were called about 10:20 a.m. Saturday to the 100 block of Belleflower Road in Middletown’s Langhorne section and Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company Chief Frank Farry arrived to see the chimney ablaze.
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The chief said a contractor who was working on the chimney was attempting to pull away the burning pieces as firefighters arrived.
Crews from the Langhorne-Middletown and William Penn fire companies were quickly on the scene and put down the small blaze. They also checked for extension on the two floors of the home and the attic, Farry said.
The contractor who was working on the chimney was transported to St. Mary Medical Center by the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad for second-degree burns.
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Deputy Fire Marshal Jim Bampfield said the fire was caused accidentally as the contractor was working.
The home had a gas insert fireplace and the chimney was supported by wood beams.
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The chimney had to be taken down after the fire due to concerns over whether it would collapse, Farry said.
Bampfield explained that the tools the contractor was using likely sparked the wood in the chimney on fire.
