Chicago chimney emergency? Stop using your fireplace immediately and call (224) 343-1991. We respond to chimney fires, storm damage, carbon monoxide hazards, and smoke backdraft emergencies across Chicago and 100+ suburbs.
For active chimney fires or gas emergencies — call 911 first.
After emergency services have cleared the scene, call Widen Chicago at (224) 343-1991 for a certified post-emergency inspection before using your fireplace again.
Not every chimney problem needs same-day service — but these do:
| Service | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Same-day emergency inspection (Level 2) | $249 |
| Post-chimney-fire inspection & report | $299 |
| Emergency cap replacement | $299 |
| Emergency tarping / storm stabilization | $199 |
| Emergency flue blockage clearing | $249 |
| Emergency mortar repair / brick stabilization | Free estimate on-site |
All emergency services include a written estimate before work begins. No surprise charges.
A chimney fire burns at temperatures up to 2,000°F — hot enough to crack flue tiles, warp dampers, and ignite the wood framing around the chimney. Many chimney fires go undetected because they burn inside the flue without any visible smoke or flame from outside.
After any chimney fire — even a small one — you need a Level 2 inspection with HD camera before using the fireplace again. Our certified technicians document the damage, provide an insurance-compatible photo report, and give you a clear repair plan. Most homeowners insurance policies cover chimney fire damage; we help you build the documentation your claim requires.
Chimney fires, storm damage, and structural failures are typically covered by homeowners insurance — but your insurer will require a professional assessment and documentation. Our post-emergency inspections include an HD camera report, annotated photos of all damage found, a written scope of repairs with itemized costs, and certification of the chimney's current safety status. This documentation is formatted to work directly with insurance adjusters and is accepted by major Illinois insurers. If your adjuster has questions about our findings, we are available for follow-up calls.
Stop using the fireplace immediately. Close the damper to reduce airflow. Do not attempt to clean or inspect the flue yourself — the inside of a chimney after a fire or storm is a hazard environment with unstable debris and potential CO exposure.
Document what you can see safely. Take photos of any visible exterior damage — shifted bricks, missing cap, cracked crown — from the ground. If there is loose masonry, keep people away from the area below. These photos are useful for your insurance claim.
Ventilate if you smell smoke. Open windows and doors. If you smell gas, leave the home immediately and call your gas utility's emergency line before calling us.
Do not tarp the chimney yourself. An improperly placed tarp can trap moisture inside the chimney and make damage assessment more difficult. We tarp correctly and know what to avoid covering during the inspection.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless — you cannot detect it without a CO detector. Every home with a fireplace, furnace, or gas appliance should have CO detectors on every floor. If your detector triggers during fireplace use: close the damper, leave the home, call 911, and do not re-enter until emergency services have cleared the scene. Then call Widen Chicago for a certified inspection before the fireplace is used again. Common causes of CO entry include blocked flues (bird nests, debris, collapsed tile), cracked flue liners that allow combustion gas to leak into walls, and negative pressure conditions that reverse chimney draft. Our post-CO inspection identifies the exact cause and provides a fix — not just a clearance.
Chicago's severe weather creates specific chimney emergencies that we respond to regularly: high-wind events that dislodge or blow off chimney caps and damage crowns, ice storms that add hundreds of pounds of ice to chimney tops and crack mortar, and freeze-thaw cycles that can cause rapid structural deterioration in already-compromised chimneys. After any major Chicago storm — especially wind events, ice storms, and heavy snowfall — visually inspect your chimney exterior from the ground. If anything looks shifted, missing, or cracked, call for an inspection before lighting your next fire.
We provide same-day emergency chimney service across all of Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area — including the North Shore (Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park, Lake Forest), Northwest Suburbs, and West Suburbs. Call (224) 343-1991 for immediate dispatch. Our trucks are fully stocked for most emergency repairs on the first visit.
Fill out the form and we'll call you within 1 business hour with upfront pricing — no hidden fees, no pressure.
Prefer to call?
(224) 343-1991Call now for same-week scheduling or request a free estimate online.