What northern Delaware got
Snow fell overnight from Sunday, February 22, 2026 into Monday. Most of New Castle County picked up between 7 and 12 inches, with Wilmington at 9.5 inches and Hockessin at 10.0, according to totals published February 24. The southern counties fared worse: Kent and Sussex saw totals close to twice those in the north, with 20.5 inches at Woodside and a statewide high of 21 inches.
In North Wilmington, video showed toppled trees, and power outages were reported. By the time of cleanup, nearly all major roads in New Castle County were clear of snow and slush.
When the power goes out, the fireplace comes back
A fireplace that sees a few fires a year at the holidays suddenly becomes the heat source for a whole day when the lights go out. That change in use is where problems start. A flue that has not been swept may carry a layer of creosote, the tar-like residue of wood smoke. A long, hot fire built to warm the house is exactly the condition that can ignite it.
A chimney that has sat cold can also hold a nest, leaves or debris, and a heavy load of snow can bend a cap down onto the flue. Smoke rolling into the room on the first fire, a strong odor, or a fire that will not draw are signals to stop.
Older homes in Wilmington, Newark and the Brandywine Valley often have fireplaces with original clay-lined or unlined flues and dampers that have rusted in the open or closed position. A damper stuck partly closed is a common reason a fire smokes. Before lighting a fire during an outage, open the damper fully, look up the flue with a flashlight, and make sure the room has some fresh air, since a tight house with the furnace off can starve a fire of air.
Generators and gas logs
Portable generators belong outdoors, well away from windows and doors. Running one in a garage or basement can fill the house with carbon monoxide within minutes. Vent-free gas logs and gas fireplaces are also used heavily in outages; read the manufacturer's limits on run time and ventilation, and keep the glass and vents clear.
CO alarms with battery backup keep working when the power is out. If one sounds, get everyone outside and call 911.
After the storm
If the fireplace or stove carried the house through an outage, have the flue checked before the next big burn. Heavy use builds creosote quickly, especially with damp wood, and a chimney fire can crack flue tiles without anyone noticing it happened.
A storm like this one can also leave marks on the chimney itself. Falling limbs can crack a crown or knock off a cap, and wet snow sitting on a crown for days can push water into existing cracks. A look from the ground after the snow melts, for a missing cap, loose brick or debris on the roof, is a sensible follow-up.
Want a professional look? See our chimney sweeping service, or call (844) 468-2410 for a free written estimate.
