In recent years, it was commonly thought that most chimney related fires in a building with a thatched roof were caused by embers and sparks from an open fire. However, it has since been discovered that although these embers can of course cause a fire, it is more likely that a fire is caused by the heat which is transmitted from a solid fuel stove via the chimney bricks to the underside of the thatch.

A single skin of brick is able to pass up to 85% of the flue gas temperature to the outer surface of a chimney. The heat is then transferred to the thatched roof, and when this heat is sustained at approximately 200 degrees, this can easily cause a thatch fire. However, traditional luxury open fires have large amounts of cool air from the room the fire is situated in which can help to cool the overall flue gas temperature. This reduces the risk of thatched roof fire.

Although stoves are often thought to be more fuel efficient than real fires and fireplaces, it is worth considering the fire hazard of having such an appliance in a building with a thatched roof especially when modern convecting open fires can deliver credible performance. Many insurance companies will refuse to insure a thatched roof home with a stove, or indeed they will charge extremely high premiums. The homeowner may find they can get a more affordable insurance policy if they use open fires and fireplaces instead.

In order to reduce the risk of fire and to keep homes safe when using modern heating appliances, there are a number of safety points which can be considered. For example, chimneys should be swept by a professional chimney sweep on a regular basis and the chimney liner should be regularly inspected to ensure no tar deposits are building up.

When homeowners decide to change their main source of heat, they should take advice and guidance from a specialist who should be able to advise them on not only the most efficient appliance for their home, but also the safest.