A friend of mine is a former fire-fighter. He tells the story of some lady where several raccoons were “stuck” in her chimney. So they went in to “help”.
“Who do they think we are? Animal control!!?? Well the city figured we should do something. So we went over, and started poking up the chimney trying to get the raccoons to go out the top. They came down into the house instead. Four of them. They started running around - tore everything up that they touched. Gained the high ground climbing up the living room drapes. Torn to shreds. Yelling at the guys to open the doors. Finally got them out of the house - but boy was that place a mess. Carpet, couch, easy chairs, curtains and some woodwork - what a mess!”
Nobody thought to start a fire in the hearth?
smh