by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 24/97) - A cracked chimney is now believed to have set a Calder Crescent home on fire last Saturday night.

"It was an accident waiting to happen," said Alastair McLean, who moved into the 20-year-old home with his common-law wife, Cheryl Inward-Jones, only one month ago.

"If we were in bed like we normally are, instead of having a party we probably would never have gotten out."

Fire crews inspected the home on Tuesday and discovered that the chimney liner was faulty.

"The fire underscores the importance of inspecting chimneys," said deputy fire chief Mike Lowing.

At first, crews and McLean though it might have been a recalled chimney from back in 1983, but that wasn't the case, said Lowing.

The fire burned through the attic and wall of the Calder Crescent home, causing $55,000 in damage and put an abrupt end to a birthday party around 10 p.m.

On Tuesday, McLean said he had to take his dog to the vet because it suffered serious trauma from the fire.