Fire Crews Contain Chimney Blaze at Waldhaus Restaurant

A chimney fire at the Waldhaus Restaurant at the Fairmont Banff Springs on Feb. 5 was contained to the chimney by fire crews, with no injuries reported.

The fire occurred in the early evening, prompting Waldhaus staff to initiate an evacuation of the area. The Banff Fire Department responded with two trucks. Initial crews arrived on scene at 5:52 p.m. and cleared the scene at 7:03 p.m.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed the blaze was located within the chimney. The fire was extinguished on scene and contained entirely to the chimney structure, allowing the restaurant to reopen the next day.

“The chimney fire that occurred on February 5 at the Waldhaus Restaurant was contained entirely within the chimney. The restaurant reopened the following day,” said Anastasia Martin-Stilwell, regional director of public relations for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Chimney fires typically occur when incomplete combustion of fuel in an appliance produces unburned flammable gases. These vapours can condense on chimney surfaces, forming tar-like soot deposits. Over time, successive layers can accumulate and ignite if exposed to sufficient heat and oxygen, often resulting in high-temperature fires.

Bow Valley Insider staff reached out to Fairmont regarding a suspected cause of the fire and any additional damage to the chimney or surrounding structures but had not received a response at the time of publication.