(La Porte, IN) - The end of a flue pipe from a wood-burning stove resting in an attic has been ruled the cause of a fire at a house being renovated in La Porte.

 

Fortunately, firefighters kept the damage to a minimum at the home at 242 Marquette St.

 

La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said workers on Sunday didn’t know the end of the flue pipe was in the attic when they started a fire in the wood-burning stove because of the house interior's chilly conditions. They later noticed smoke inside the residence and began throwing snow on the flames before calling 911.

 

Snyder said firefighters quickly put out the fire in some of the rafters of the attic with just minimal structure damage. Tearing into the ceiling, they discovered the end of the flue pipe was inside the attic rather than extending outside. 

 

Snyder said heat from the fire in the stove coming out of the pipe was hot enough to catch some rafters above it on fire over time.

 

“The workers thought the wood-burning stove was venting but it was only venting in the attic. That’s what caused the fire,” he said.

 

Snyder said the home apparently was vacant for quite some time before the owner purchased it a few weeks ago and started having it renovated. He said it's possible the flue pipe was brought entirely inside the home until the renovation was completed.