CHIMNEY BLAZE STARTLES FAMILY : NEIGHBOR ALERTS COUPLE TO FIRE ATOP VALENCIA HOME.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Daily News Staff Writer

The Torres family didn't realize their chimney was engulfed in flames Wednesday night until a neighbor knocked on the door to tell them their house was on fire.

``I just got the kids out and called 911,'' said Jill Torres, who lives along Bella Santa Drive in Valencia. ``My husband jumped on the roof.''

Mike Torres managed to get most of the flames out and firefighters arrived within three minutes to finish the job, Jill said.

Jill and Mike Torres had tucked their three children in bed and were cozy in front of their fireplace, watching a video and wrapping Christmas gifts. Both had colds and couldn't smell the smoke.

``We were sitting here clueless,'' Jill Torres said.

The fire started in the upper section of the chimney, on the second floor of the home, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Gary Dellamalva.

The Torres family is not sure what caused the fire, but fire officials said there was possible damage inside the chimney before the uncontrolled flames shot out of the home.

This time of year, chimney fires are common, with heating-equipment fires ranking second among the leading causes of fire deaths in American homes, according to the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass.

``The home-heating fire problem in America is largely one of human error, particularly with the misuse of portable heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves,'' said Meri-K Appy, a spokesperson for the NFPA.

An estimated 73,800 home-heating fires occurred throughout the nation in 1994, killing 487 people and injuring almost 2,000, according to the NFPA.

In many cases, homeowners fail to inspect their fireplaces for cracks and damage after earthquakes or the chimney is not cleaned, said county Fire Department Capt. Ross Marshall.

Cracks in the mortar - particularly in older homes - cause wood on the home to be exposed, starting an inferno in the fireplace, fire officials said.

Chimney sweeps (those who inspect and clean fireplaces) generally recommend chimneys be cleaned after 1 to 1-1/2 cords of wood are burned.

This equates to about 75 to 100 fires, said Sindee Kritzberg, the manager of Chimney Sweep and Fire Protection in Woodland Hills, which cleans out chimneys throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

The problem lies in thick creosote forming. Creosote is a chemical substance which forms when wood burns and builds up in the chimney.

Built-up creosote can cause a chimney fire if it is not removed through cleaning, which often involves a professional chimney sweep scrubbing and vacuuming out the deposits.

``It almost sounds like a freight train rushing through. It can literally form fireballs if it's not cleaned out,'' Kritzberg said.

The chimney fire can extend to the rest of the home by igniting the roof or leap to a neighbor's home via trees, fire officials said.

The average cost for cleaning a chimney is from $90 to $120 for a single-story home and from $10 to $20 more for two stories, Kritzberg said. A routine cleaning and inspection takes less than two hours, she said.

Safety tips to remember

Tips to avoid chimney fires, according to professional chimney sweeps and the National Fire Protection Association:

If chimney is used regularly, inspect it on a regular basis (generally after 75 to 100 fires).

Make sure a spark arrester (wire mesh) is on top of chimney at the opening.

Keep trees over roof trimmed away from chimney.

Use dry, seasoned hardwoods, such as oak, eucalyptus and almond. Do not burn citrus and Christmas tree woods. Only burn wood, not paper, pine branches or flammable liquids.

Use a sturdy fireplace screen.

If purchasing a factory-built fireplace, select one listed by a testing laboratory and install it according to local codes.

Do not burn fires when decorating the fireplace with Christmas stockings and other seasonal decorations.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1--color in SAC edition only) Steve Kemp installs a spark-arresting cap over a chimney in Woodland Hills. Heavy use in cold months can increase the chance of chimney blazes.

(2--color in SAC edition only) Steve Kemp seal cracks in a fireplace at a Woodland Hills home. Officials urge cleaning out a fireplace after between 75 to 100 fires. This time of year, chimney fires are common, with heating-equipment fires ranking second among the leading causes of fire deaths in American homes, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

(3--ran in SAC edition only) Michael Kritzberg advises keeping an extinguisher and screen by the fireplace.

Evan Yee/Daily News

Box: Safety tips to remember (see text)