Was your chimney damaged in the earthquake? Find out before you use your stove or fireplace. Your life could depend on it.

Broken or cracked chimneys can let heat, smoke and toxic gasses escape into your home. Your home could catch fire. You could breathe in carbon monoxide- an invisible, odorless gas created when things burn-that can be deadly.

Some damage is obvious. Some is hidden. To start:

 Check to see if bricks have fallen or the chimney is leaning.

 Look for shiny areas on your metal chimney pipe. This means the chimney moved during the earthquake.

 Look for cracks at joints: where the chimney connects to the firebox, at the roofline, and in the attic.

 Look to see if there are metal ties that hold the chimney to the house. If there aren't any, your chimney
      is at greater risk.

 Check for debris in the firebox.

 Use a screwdriver to check the mortar between the bricks or stones. If it crumbles when you pick at it,
      the chimney may be a hazard.