A house fire in Penally shortly before 2.30 pm on Sunday was dealt with by firefighters from Tenby.

The fire originated in an oil-fired log burner flume and spread to the roof of the property.

Firefighters extinguished the fire using two hose reel jets, two thermal imaging cameras, a 10.5-metre ladder and a short extension ladder.

As a result, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have issued a warning.

Station manager Will Bowen, head of home fire safety, said: “As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, it is only natural for households to switch the heating on to keep warm.

“Those householders who rely on chimneys and flues as a source of ventilation must ensure they are cleaned and well maintained, in addition to the heating appliance itself.

“Do not be tempted to clean your chimney with a domestic vacuum cleaner, leave it to a proper chimney sweep. Have your flue inspected regularly to prevent fire breaking out of the chimney in a living space, or in the loft.”

The warning continued: “Please follow these simple tips to greatly reduce your chances of having a fire in your chimney: sweep the chimney before use if you haven’t used it for some time; ensure a fireguard is in front of the fire at all times; sparkguard can prevent a serious property fire; extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house; never use petrol or paraffin to light your fire.”

The warning also advises how often you should clean your chimney.

“Chimney fires have the potential to cause serious damage to your property, so ensure your chimney is cleaned in accordance with this guidance from the National Association of Chimney Sweeps: solid fuel appliances - once a year for smokeless fuel and twice a year for coal; wood burning appliances - every three months when in use; gas appliances - once a year if designed for sweeping; oil fired appliances - once a year.”