CHARLEMONT — Firefighters from six departments responded to 584 Legate Hill Road on Friday evening to extinguish a chimney fire.

Charlemont, Heath, Hawley, Rowe, Colrain and Shelburne Falls firefighters were requested, at roughly 4:45 p.m., to respond following reports of a chimney fire that filled the house with smoke. After firefighters arrived, climbing onto the roof and examining the chimney, Charlemont Fire Chief Dennis Annear said he believed the fire was caused by a Russian-style masonry heater.

“The fire goes up and it goes down one side, goes around, comes up, and then goes back down again,” Annear said, explaining how the heater works. “This one goes up and it comes back down the right-hand side and exhaust on the bottom, so the smoke cools before it goes into the chimney — I think that’s where our problem is.”

Assistant Charlemont Fire Chief Douglas Annear said EMS treated the homeowner, who he described as an elderly woman, for smoke inhalation, but that she was expected to be OK. She declined to be taken to the hospital.

At approximately 5:45 p.m., Dennis Annear said the fire had been extinguished. He said the chimney fire likely caused minor smoke damage inside the home.

“Clean your chimney before you start using it,” Dennis Annear said.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.