Santa Clarita to Give Away Fireplace Kits, Smoke Alarms : Safety: Officials begin the program after a house is severely damaged in a blaze that started in a poorly constructed hearth.

In response to a house fire that started in a poorly constructed fireplace, Santa Clarita will offer free fireplace repair kits to the public.

Santa Clarita also will give away 200 smoke detectors to residents on a first-come, first-served basis in a fire prevention program approved by the City Council on Tuesday night.

Fire officials suspect that several other house fires in Santa Clarita may have been caused by improperly installed fireplaces, although no figures are available.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials learned of the problem about 18 months ago after a house was severely damaged by a fire that started in the chase, the space between the walls and the chimney.

Investigators discovered that the gas pipe entering the fireplace was not properly insulated, which allowed heat to escape into the chase, Assistant County Fire Chief Leon Provost said Wednesday.

Over time, the escaping heat had turned the wood in the chase to charcoal, making it more susceptible to ignition when a fire was lighted, Provost said.

After the house fire, officials made random inspections in other new housing tracts and occasionally discovered similar insulation problems. “I don’t know how widespread it is,” Provost said. “Without going door to door and looking, who knows?”

Insulating the gas pipe is a simple procedure that requires fireproof insulation and some caulk, which is provided in the city kit along with detailed instructions.

Last year, some developers urged homeowners to inspect their fireplaces. Newhall Land & Farming Co. sent warning letters to more than 2,000 new home buyers and created a fireplace repair kit that served as a model for the city’s repair kits.

Newhall Land had received no reports of chimney fires but developed the kit as a precaution, said Marlee Lauffer, company spokeswoman. The kit contains rubber gloves, strips of insulation, caulk and a wooden stick for applying the caulk.

On Tuesday night, the City Council appropriated $2,600 for 200 repair kits and 200 smoke detectors. If there is sufficient public demand, the city will spend up to $10,000, enough for 500 kits and 1,000 smoke detectors. The kits and smoke detectors will be available at the end of the month. An exact date has not been decided.