BY KAREN BOSSICK

Homeowners are being cautioned to make sure their chimneys are in shape to handle a fire in the fireplace following fires that displaced two families in the Wood River Valley this past month.

Firefighters from several valley fire departments recently fought and extinguished two separate structure fires—one in the Heatherlands and the other on Canyon Road in East Fork.

One was caused by a chimney fire that extended into the attic of the home. The other was caused by the inappropriate disposal of hot ashes from the home’s fireplace.

Rich Bauer, chief of the Ketchum Rural Fire Protection District, said homeowners should dispose of ashes in a non-combustible container. They should also have their chimney professionally inspected annually.