Chimney fire at hotel

A bit of smoke in the restaurant was as dramatic as it got, when the chimney at Eichardt's Private Hotel caught fire about 10am on Friday.

When the fire brigade arrived at the scene, the fire was already out, and a whiff of smoke was the only sign of any issue with the chimney.

After checking it thoroughly, Chief Fire Officer Bob Robertson said the lower part of the hotel's chimney was on a slight angle, so when staff were stoking the fire, it could cause a build-up of ashes.

"It is always important to keep the chimneys clean to avoid fires," Mr Robertson said.