IT'S FLUE SEASON FOR SWEEPS

Rob Francis doesn't dance across rooftops with Julie Andrews -- or anyone else for that matter.

He doesn't wear the traditional top hat and tails. But the Jackson man does clean chimneys.

Francis operates Dr. Soot Chimney Services. This time of year, he has plenty of business cleaning out chimneys.

Francis has been a chimney sweep for 10 years. He and his brother started the business after seeing an advertisement that vowed they could make $50 an hour.

Francis said it hasn't been quite that lucrative. But he isn't complaining.

In 1989, Francis' brother left the business.

"It is one of those jobs you either love it or hate it," said Francis as he and employee Chris Stoffregen sat atop a chimney Friday at a Cape Girardeau area home.

The two men cleaned the inside of the chimney from the top. They also worked inside the home, cleaning the flue from the fire place end.

The entire process takes about an hour and a half.

Kathy Trimble of Burfordville has been cleaning chimneys for 19 years. She operates Jeepers Creepers Chimney Sweepers.

Trimble wears the traditional top hat and tails, but takes off the hat and coat before she begins the cleaning job.

"You can't wear a top hat for too awful long," she said.

Talk of chimney sweeps conjures up old-world images of 19th century England or the roof-dancing antics in the "Mary Poppins" movie.

The traditional clothing of chimney sweeps had its origins in England.

Chimney sweeps were so poor they used to wear the used hats and coats that undertakers would throw away, Trimble said.

The sweeps, tradition holds, liked the black clothing because it didn't show the soot.

Back then, young boys were used as sweeps in Paris, New York, London and other large cities. They climbed inside the chimneys to clean them.

"The chimneys were built bigger then," Trimble said.

The job proved deadly for many boys. Many of the young sweeps died of skin cancer, Trimble said.

Poor hygiene was a factor. "They really didn't take baths," she said.

The job is much healthier today. Trimble, Francis and other sweeps wear masks that filter out the dust and soot.

Modern tools like motorized, spinning brushes and vacuums with hoses make the cleaning job easier.

Still, Trimble said it is a physical job. "You get on some pretty steep roofs," she said.

Trimble has talked for several years about retiring. "I think I am ready for something more refined," she said.

But so far she has been too busy cleaning chimneys to make a real effort to sell the business.

When you call Trimble's house, you often get a recorded message. This time of year, the message says, she is out cleaning chimneys "for Santa."

The chimney sweep profession was viewed as a dying one 20 years ago. But that has changed.

One web site on the Internet lists 10,000 chimney sweeps.

Business took off in 1979 when the energy crisis prompted more people to burn wood, Francis said. Many of today's homes are being built with fireplaces.

Francis and Trimble have plenty of chimneys still left to clean this winter. They are both booked well into January.

Besides cleaning and repairing chimneys, Francis works as a Jackson firefighter. His employee, Chris, is a Cape Girardeau firefighter.

Francis views his chimney sweep job as a natural extension of his firefighting work.

"We are fighting a fire before it starts," he said.

Francis has seen the damage caused by flue fires. He said removing the tarry build up of creosote from flues helps prevent fires.

Trimble said area residents can get their chimneys cleaned for about $50 to $60.

Trimble and Francis said chimneys should be cleaned once a year prior to the heating season.

Both Francis and Trimble can tell plenty of horror stories about clogged flues that took hours to clean.

But more people today are aware that their chimneys need to be cleaned, Trimble said.

Francis said it is important for chimney sweeps to do a tidy job. Customers don't want to see soot on their carpets and furniture, he said.

For Trimble and Francis, chimney sweeping is no "Mary Poppins" song and dance. But neither they nor the customers seem to mind.

TIPS FOR WOODBURNING SAFETY

Do not use newspapers to start fires, rather use a commercial fire starter.

Do not burn refuse such as wrapping paper in a woodburning appliance.

Keep combustible items at least 36 inches away from a woodburning appliance.

Use seasoned hardwoods when burning. Seasoned wood is wood that has been cut and blocked for a year prior to burning.

Install a quality chimney cover with a spark arrestor on the chimney.

Monitor the chimney and appliance for soot and creasote buildup.

Have the chimney and appliance inspected and cleaned by a qualified professional annually.

Install smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector in the home.

Kee; 2 chimney fire extinguishers and 2 five-pound ABC fire extinguishers in the home.