Real Estate Agent Showing Home Smells Smoke, Alerts Fire Department

A real estate agent showing the home at 504 Sophia St. on Dec. 18 smelled smoke and called the Fredericksburg Fire Department.

No flames or smoke were visible, but firefighters discovered flames inside the flue pipe and in a vertical chase area that enclosed a masonry chimney in the residence, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones said.

"Firefighters had to open up the area around the chimney on both the first and second floors to properly extinguish the fire," Jones said.  "A large amount of creosote build up in the flue pipe also contributed to the problem.  The fire probably smoldered for several days before it got enough air to start and burn freely."

The Fire Marshal’s Office of the Fredericksburg Fire Department determined the origina and cause of the fire was the faulty oil furnace.

No injuries were reported. Damage is estimated at $20,000. 

Firefighters from the Fredericksburg Fire Department were assisted by the Falmouth Fire Department and another truck from Stafford County.

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