On Monday the 19th February 2001 I managed to set the chimney on fire, nothing to worry about I've managed that particular feat before on numerous occasions, best way to clear out the soot and muck, or so I thought. Before I've poured water on the fire, blocked the entrance and the resulting steam and lack of oxygen have always extinguished the inferno, but not today! Looking out of the windows all that one could see was yellowish thick smoke swirling around so I summoned my second in command and bade her call the Pompiers, what an embarrassing defeat. I fortunately know all the Pompiers in my local village (each village has its own services, right down to ambulance and all are manned by volunteers) so when they arrived I was able to greet each with a sheepish grin. Not so the second truck which arrived behind the Heugnes appliance, all the way from Ecuéille some fifteen kilometres distance, was I beginning to feel a prat.
Having established that all was well in the lounge but not in the chimney up goes the ladder with my son in the foreground seen clutching the smoke detector which I had taken down.
A meeting is now taking place in the lounge, my wife unfazed by the situation decides that there is no time like the present and proceeds to start weeding the flower barrels!
Loading up the roof ladder
Placing the extension ladder
The one who drew the short straw at the meeting is now seen making his way up to the roof.
The Pompier at the top of the ladder is actually cleaning out the gutter! True!
Chaining out the chimney with a metal scrapper attached midway on the chain.
He also cut away the offending Virginia Creeper with secateurs he has requested.
All finished twenty minutes after arriving.
Departure of Ecuéille appliance.
Departure of Heugnes appliance, leaving me 400 francs lighter after contributing 200 francs to each service towards their annual dinner. Won't do this again in a hurry but what amazed me was that they actually cleaned the lounge out before they left, stunning or what?
I took the photographs around to the village and spoke to the Chief Fireman's wife (who also happens to be my son's Godmother) and she said he's attended hundreds of similar fires but this is the first time anyone has ever brought a photographic record to show them!