Chapters are padded out and a meal made of melodramas such as purloined bathplugs, blocked drains and a chimney fire.

Wet or green logs smoulder and create tar and smoke that can damage flue linings, start a chimney fire and blacken glass.

There are several major issues that are at risk from a chimney fire event.

It was said to be caused by a chimney fire.

The chimney soot can then be ignited by rising embers, causing a chimney fire.

Owners can reduce the fire risk by lining the chimney flue with suitable material and having it swept at least once a year.

Police said that the chimney flue was only 15in by 7in (38cm by 18cm) at its largest point, and narrowed to just 4in as it went down.

In contrast, air furnaces (such as reverberatory furnaces) are naturally aspirated, usually by the convection of hot gases in a chimney flue.

As the smoke rises through the chimney it cools, causing water, carbon, and volatiles to condense on the interior surfaces of the chimney flue.

The ensuing flames set alight the unswept chimney flue and the fire entered the new mansion wing through windows in the garret that had been left open by workmen.