Business Details
Emergency
services
Trusted Chimney & Fireplace Services in Truckee
Chimney Chiefs is a locally owned and operated business serving the Truckee-Tahoe area with comprehensive chimney, fireplace, and home safety services. Founded by a retired firefighter with firsthand knowledge of chimney fire prevention, we combine decades of emergency response expertise with hands-on technical skills to ensure your home remains safe and functional. Our team specializes in top-down chimney cleaning, spark arrestor installation, and thorough fireplace maintenance using professional-grade equipment and techniques. Beyond chimney services, we operate Black Mountain Tree Company, offering defensible space planning, hazard tree removal, and metal roof maintenance informed by 20 years of wildland firefighting experience.Our climbing and rope access skills allow us to address roof screw replacements and other maintenance issues caused by heavy snow loads in the Tahoe region. We also provide general handyman services including flooring, tiling, and painting. With a focus on fire safety education and comprehensive home inspections, we help identify and mitigate potential hazards before they become emergencies. Our commitment to quality workmanship and customer safety has earned us strong community trust and repeat business from satisfied clients.
Services
Chimney Cleaning
Tree Services
Defensible Space
Roof Maintenance
Handyman Services
Highlights and features
- We combine 20 years of wildland firefighting experience with technical expertise
- Our top-down cleaning method ensures complete creosote removal
- We install spark arrestors to prevent fire hazards
- Our team holds advanced climbing and rope access certifications
- We offer comprehensive home safety inspections
What people say
Very thorough
Great job cleaning
Highly recommend
Sharp eye for detail
Incredibly thorough
Services
Chimney Cleaning
Our top-down chimney cleaning process removes creosote buildup while preserving structural integrity. Using roof-access methods, we clean caps, spark arrestors, and interior chambers while containing all debris. This service prevents chimney fires and maintains proper ventilation for wood stoves and fireplaces.
Tree Services
Black Mountain Tree Company specializes in hazard tree removal and canopy management. Our certified arborists identify unstable limbs and perform precision cuts using climbing gear and chainsaw safety protocols developed during wildland firefighting operations.
Defensible Space
We create fire-resistant zones around properties by clearing dead vegetation and flammable materials. Our assessments identify potential ignition points while maintaining ecological balance. This service meets local fire code requirements for Tahoe area residences.
Roof Maintenance
Our rope-access technicians inspect and repair metal roofs damaged by snow loads. We replace popped screws, reinforce seams, and clear debris from hard-to-reach areas. This prevents water intrusion caused by freeze-thaw cycles and sliding snow packs.
Handyman Services
We offer general maintenance including flooring installation, tile work, and interior/exterior painting. Our craftsmen apply the same precision standards from safety-focused trades to residential improvement projects of all sizes.
People
Billy Haupert
Owner/Operator
Former Lead Sawyer with Black Mountain Hot Shot crew and wildland fire safety specialist with 20 years experience. Combines technical tree work skills with fire prevention expertise to protect Tahoe area homes.
Questions
What chimney services do you offer?
We provide complete chimney cleaning, spark arrestor installation, and fireplace maintenance using top-down methods that ensure thorough creosote removal.
Do you handle emergency chimney issues?
Yes, we offer emergency services for urgent chimney problems that create immediate fire hazards or safety concerns.
What fire safety expertise do you have?
Our owner is a retired firefighter with wildland fire suppression experience who developed specialized fire prevention techniques used in our services.
What areas do you service?
We primarily serve Truckee, Tahoe City, and Squaw Valley areas with both residential and commercial chimney and fire safety services.
What makes you different from other chimney sweeps?
Our unique combination of firefighting experience, technical climbing skills, and comprehensive safety assessments provides unmatched fire prevention expertise.
Reviews (5)
Edie S.
Dec 17, 2020
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Very pleased with Billy and Emma. Very responsive and professional. Tackled our 3 story steep roof with no problem. We were so happy with their chimney cleaning service that we had them come back and repair our roof. Highly recommend!
Doris R.
Nov 24, 2020
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Billy and Emma are the best. Every other chimney service was a month out but they fit me in 2 days out. The smoke was not going up the chimney and we couldn't make a fire which is a major heat source in our house. There was some type of blockage which was cleared by B and E. They answered my call, called me back to schedule a day and followed up with a text. Great communicators and very reasonably priced considering the work that they did! They worked hard, were very neat, respectful of our house and wore masks. Billy is a retired fire fighter so he was comfortable on our very steep roof.
Paddy P.
Nov 05, 2020
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Billy and Emma showed up on a very last minute call, we were in the middle of a home inspection to purchase when the inspector found a crack in the chimney, I called several local chimney companies-all were booked into December! When I called Billy (retired fireman) he happened to be working in a job 10 min away and agreed to come over and take a look (no charge) he called later that evening with a very reasonable bid to both repair and clean the chimney. Apparently, he also does Fire abatement clearance of trees/brush, we intend to use him for that as well. By the way, his employees are all firemen
Sherman M.
Oct 19, 2020
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Highly recommended! Billy is very honest, informative, and skillful. He came from Truckee to Soda Springs in a timely manner to take care of our issue and the workmanship is excellent! He will be the only one we call in the future for our chimney, tree trimming, and defensible space needs. Thank you!
J. S.
Jan 19, 2019
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I was charged $500 to clean chimney, chimney flue, and replace the spark arrestor. During the pre-work site visit, I was very clear that I need assurance and the main objective to do the work was to get my wood stove up to code so I can use it again. In reading the company website, it states "offering professional, trustworthy, and safe services" so I figured I was in good hands. In asking for documentation to prove wood stove was up to code after work was completed, Chimney Chiefs wouldn't provide it. So I decided to look for other professional opinions. It turned out the
