For an active chimney fire, a sounding carbon monoxide alarm, or a gas smell, get everyone out and call 911 or your gas utility first. Then call Chimney Sweep Squad at (815) 420-6665. We are open 7 days a week, 7am to 9pm, and respond to chimney emergencies across McHenry, IL. Below is what to do for each situation.
Life-threatening first steps
Fire, CO alarm, or gas smell: get everyone outside, call 911 or your gas utility from outside, and do not go back in. Emergency responders come first. We handle the chimney once the home is safe.
Chimney fire
A chimney fire is fueled by creosote in the flue and can reach well over 1,000°F. Signs are a loud roaring or cracking, dense smoke, and flames or sparks from the top. Get out, call 911, and if you can do it safely close the damper or glass doors to starve it of air. Afterward, never use the chimney until a Level 2 inspection checks the liner, because fires often crack it invisibly.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly, produced when a fuel-burning appliance isn’t venting properly. If a CO alarm sounds, get into fresh air outside and call 911. A blocked or cracked flue is a common cause, so have the venting inspected before using the appliance again. Every home with a fireplace or stove should have working CO alarms.
Gas smell
If you smell gas near a gas fireplace, do not light anything or operate switches. Leave and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. A failing gas valve or a loose connection can leak gas, and we repair those — but only after the utility has made the area safe.
Severe flue blockage & backdrafting
If smoke pours into the room instead of up the chimney, you likely have a blockage, a stuck damper, or a draft problem — and the gases may not be venting. Put the fire out safely, ventilate the room, and stop using the fireplace until the cause is found and cleared.
Sudden structural damage
A chimney that is leaning, dropping brick, or cracking after a storm, impact, or chimney fire can fail suddenly. Keep people away from the area below it, stop using the fireplace, and call us to inspect. See chimney repair for how we stabilize and rebuild.
Animal in the flue
Do not light a fire to force an animal out. Keep the damper closed so it can’t enter the house and call us to remove it and clear the nest, which is itself a fire hazard.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do during a chimney fire?
Get everyone out of the house immediately and call 911. If you can do it safely, close the glass doors or the damper to limit air, and shut off the fuel to a stove. Do not go back in. After the fire is out, do not use the chimney again until it has a Level 2 inspection, because the fire may have cracked the flue.
What does a chimney fire sound or look like?
Many chimney fires are loud: a roaring or freight-train sound, popping or cracking, dense smoke, and sometimes flames or sparks shooting from the top of the chimney. Others are slow and nearly silent but still crack the liner. Any suspected chimney fire means stop using the fireplace and get it inspected.
My carbon monoxide alarm is going off — what do I do?
Treat it as real. Get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911 from outside. Do not spend time hunting for the source. Once responders clear the home, have the fuel-burning appliances and their venting inspected before using them again, since a blocked or cracked flue is a common cause.
I smell gas near my fireplace — is that an emergency?
Yes. Do not light anything, and do not flip any switches. Leave the home and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. After the area is confirmed safe, call us to find and repair the source, such as a failed gas valve or connection.
Smoke is pouring into my house — what’s wrong?
Smoke backing up into the room usually means a blockage, a closed or stuck damper, a cold flue, or a draft problem. Open a window, put the fire out safely, and stop using the fireplace until the cause is found. A blocked flue can also mean carbon monoxide is not venting, so take it seriously.
There’s an animal stuck in my chimney — can you help?
Yes. Do not light a fire to drive it out — that is dangerous for the animal and can cause a chimney fire from the nesting debris. Keep the damper closed so it can’t get into the house, and call us to remove it safely and clear any nest.
Do you offer 24/7 emergency service?
We are open 7 days a week from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM and respond to emergencies as fast as we can during those hours. For a live fire, a sounding CO alarm, or a gas smell at any hour, always call 911 or your gas utility first — they come first, then we handle the chimney.
After an emergency, when can I use my fireplace again?
Not until it has been inspected. A chimney fire, a CO event, or a backdraft can leave hidden damage like a cracked liner that makes the next fire dangerous. We do a Level 2 inspection to confirm the system is safe before you light it again.
Have a chimney emergency?
Call 911 or your gas utility first for a live fire, CO alarm, or gas smell. Then call us. Open 7 days a week.
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Published November 10, 2026 · Reviewed by Joseph Ino, Founder & Master Chimney Technician, Chimney Sweep Squad. Guidance aligns with CSIA and NFPA 211 recommendations; always follow 911 and your gas utility first.