Chimney Fire: Understanding Chimneys

This one-of-a-kind class brings together a local chimney expert, the fire department, and a little bit of building for a special class. Whether you are a homeowner, builder, home buyer, or DIYer, you will leave class with an understanding of the differences between good chimneys and bad chimneys.

Over the course of three sessions, you’ll build, burn, analyze, and breakdown two chimneys (Yes, they will be lit on fire!).

Day one: We will form two teams, and build two chimneys. One chimney will be built according to standard and code using only best practices and good technique. It will be the prettiest little chimney! 

The other chimney will be built with as many standard and code violations as we can get away with and still have it act like a chimney. Haphazard work will not only be allowed, but encouraged. It will be a very bad little chimney! 

As we build, we will paint the insides of each flue tile with roofing tar. Then we will go home for a week to let them cure.

Day two: Things will get even more weird. We’ll light the chimneys on fire! 

There will be no cause for alarm as local fire departments will have been invited to monitor and study the burning chimneys as a training exercise. They will use sensing equipment and photography to document each burning chimney as the fires progress. Generally, this phase is done in the evening for safety and visibility. We will probably grill out during the fire testing.

Day three: We will do autopsies on both chimneys as we load them into a truck and haul them away. We can learn a great deal from the kinds of damage we find! You may take notes and photos during all three days of class.

Registration Includes

All instruction and materials are included. You will go home with much more knowledge of how to build and protect chimneys.

What goes into our class pricing? As a local nonprofit, Duluth Folk School is committed to supporting both our instructors and community. We want to compensate our instructors fairly, keep class sizes small, and keep our doors open—while also keeping prices as low as we can.

Thank you for participating in our local handcraft and education economy! Together, we help keep Duluth a fun and vibrant place.

Student Requirements

• Skill Level/Prerequisite Skills: No special skills required.
• Best for Age: 18 and older
• You should bring: Sensible work clothes and eye protection. Also any masonry tools you want to practice using.

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