Improper installation of a wood- burning stove is blamed as the cause of a residential shed fire in Girouxville Oct. 17. Ian Fox, fire chief for Smoky River Fire & Rescue says the late morning fire is attributed to a lack of clearance between the appliance and the wall. “Clearance did not exist and, as a result, heat from the stove conducted into the wall and ignited the studs,” Fox explains. After igniting the studs, the fire then migrated up into the attic area of the shed where the most significant damage occurred. Fox says firefighters allowed the blaze to “self-ventilate” through the roof before fully extinguishing the fire. “From there, we overhauled the structure to check for any further extensions,” he says. Damage to the walls was limited to the area immediately surrounding the wood-burning stove. There were no injuries as a result of the fire, which broke out shortly before noon.