A well-used fire place warning regarding cleaning chimney flues has been issued following a chimney fire at a house on Valley Road in Mount Maunganui last night.

The flue of the free standing wood burner caught fire at around 8pm.

The fire broke out on Valley Road in Mount Maunganui. Photo: File.

'I think they have been burning it almost 24/7,” says Mount Maunganui station officer Roger Pickett.

'They damper it down at night and fire it up again in the morning. I just think it hadn't been cleaned for a while and it was used a lot.”

Fire fighters were greeted at the scene by a lot of smoke and sparks coming out of the flue, says Roger.

'It wasn't a roaring flame out of the top,” he adds.

Fire fighters attacked the blaze from the bottom and the top, extinguishing the fire in the firebox and pouring water down from the top with a hose reel.

'There was a lot of build-up inside the flue,” explains Roger.

'It took a while to get it out but we managed it, and they will need a bit of work done on the flue before they have another fire in it.

'There was no water damage, and any water we put on it was quickly absorbed by the fire.

'I don't think they have maintained it too well over the years and it needs a damn good clean.”

Roger confirmed it is the first chimney fire he's attended during the current winter season.