Chimney Sweep

Firefighters carry out cringeworthy Mary Poppins track for chimney security video

Super-Cambridge-Fire-Department-Dancing-is-simply-hopeless! Firefighters sing a terrifying song by Mary Poppins for a video about chimney safety

  • Cambridge’s Black Watch crew showed chic footwork for safety Video
  • Six firefighters carried out own execution by Step In Time from Mary Poppins’ film
  • The video is meant to instruct people to have chimneys swept before the winter months

Firefighters are more known for fighting dangerous fires head-on than dancing and singing together like the cast of Mary Poppins.

But Cambridge’s Black Watch crew decided to show off their edgy footwork and record themselves on a Disney classic – all in the name of safety, of course.

The six men created the winter advice video to instruct people to have their chimneys swept to prevent fires and lining deterioration before the winter months.

Cambridge’s Black Watch crew show off their edgy footwork and perform a Disney classic

They performed their own flamboyant version of Step In Time – the chimney sweep’s song and dance routine from the 1964 film – while each holding a paintbrush.

The scene was made famous by Dick Van Dyke and the firefighters replicated his iconic dance by similarly performing their version on a rooftop.

In the clip, a firefighter disguised as a chimney sweep calls five other men – in their own recognizable uniforms – to join him on stage.

The six men then set about jumping around and swirling their brushes before following the song’s directions.

The six firefighters created the winter guide video to instruct people to have their chimneys swept to prevent fires

The six firefighters created the winter guide video to instruct people to have their chimneys swept to prevent fires

The firefighters performed their own flamboyant version of Step In Time while everyone held on to a paintbrush

The firefighters performed their own flamboyant version of Step In Time while everyone held on to a paintbrush

The video ends with the important message asking people to have their chimneys swept.

The video posted on the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page has been viewed more than 40,000 times and a number of people have applauded the achievement.

One viewer wrote: “Brilliant – how all firefighters are” while another agreed and added: “Brilliant way of getting the message across, well done!”

A fire department spokeswoman said the team wanted to involve residents in a fun way to get a more serious message across and hopefully prevent chimney fires.

Step In Time is the chimney sweep's singing and dancing routine made famous by Dick Van Dyke

Step In Time is the chimney sweep’s singing and dancing routine made famous by Dick Van Dyke

Mary Poppins was released in 1964 and the dance sequence was performed over the rooftops of London

Mary Poppins was released in 1964 and the dance sequence was performed over the rooftops of London

She said, “The Watch came up with the idea and then teamed up with Cambridge’s BodyWork Company Dance Studios to choreograph the routine before it was filmed and edited itself.

“The purpose of the video is to convey the message that chimneys should be swept regularly – more often when wood is being burned – and that the masonry should be inspected at least once a year.

“It also encourages residents not to overload the grates, make sure the embers are burned off before bed, and most importantly, install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.”

The six men jump around and twirl their brushes before following the instructions in the song

The six men jump around and twirl their brushes before following the instructions in the song

A chimney is essentially a household exhaust that removes soot, smoke, gases, hot ashes and sparks.

Sweeping should be an essential part of house maintenance to ensure your smoke vent is protected from bird nests, soot buildup, and other debris that may have fallen from the chimney.

Just as a roof tile can come off, a chimney lining can also deteriorate, and mortar joints and masonry can corrode and ultimately collapse. The older the house, the greater the risk.

A spokeswoman for the fire brigade said the team wanted to involve residents in a playful way

A spokeswoman for the fire brigade said the team wanted to involve residents in a playful way

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