Jeff Simmons moved to Auburn from his hometown of Greenville, S.C., to go to Auburn University.

He’s been in the area ever since.

Simmons has been working since he was 15. In college, he managed the Goodwill Industry’s retail store in Auburn and after graduating, he worked in human resources, which he studied in college.

He found out that wasn’t his passion, though so he bought an existing business, an interior landscape business. Before long, he became a bit bored with that.

Around that time he met a chimney sweep, fell in love with the job and 26 years later, he’s running a successful chimney sweep business.

Finally, he found something he loves.

“In Europe, you rarely see a wedding without a chimney sweep,” he said. “We’re supposed to be lucky.”

Simmons spoke to us recently about his job and how he educates people about fire safety.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Did Bert, the chimney sweep, from “Mary Poppins” have any bearing on your job choice?

Actually, yes. If there are children around, I put on my top hat and do a little dance for them and sing “Chim Chim Cheree.” They get a kick out of it. I got to meet Dick Van Dyke at a chimney sweep convention a few years ago. He’s my screensaver on my computer.

Just being around a fireplace, accumulated soot sticks to just about anything. What do you use to clean your hands?

The smart thing to do is always work in wood burner’s gloves. You can buy them at any specialty fireplace store. Our competitor, Professional Chimney Sweeps, has a good retail store.

When should a homeowner call you?

If they’ve never had their fireplace inspected. Any time you buy a house with a fireplace, it should be inspected.

How often should a chimney get cleaned?

It should be inspected for structural integrity once a year and cleaned as necessary.

What kind of training have you had?

Alabama and Georgia do not require any training. That would be like you letting me pull your tooth. I would not recommend that. I’ve been to conventions that have classes in California, Vancouver, Montreal and Pittsburgh. I take continuing education classes. All my employees are required to get credits.

Is this something a homeowner can do on his/her own?

Yes. But I would advise they have an inspection by a certified chimney sweep at last once. Watch what they do, pick their brains about what brushes and methods to use to clean.

Do you have a fear of heights?

I did when I started. I still do. I have a respect of heights. I have lost some friends to falls.

What’s the worse cleaning job you ever had?

The worse cleaning that I ever did was in my early days. That was before the technology of dust control. I used a modified dust vac. I was in the chimney behind a tarp. I used to have an Army gas mask taped to my overalls. An ember was still glowing and got under the mask and it was smoking and I tore the mask off and I could not see a thing. I was not certified. There is a lot to be said for experience. That house had to be cleaned up. That was a rough day.

Is there such a thing as an easy cleaning?

To a certified chimney sweep with proper tools and proper training, you can take care of anything. We do not do restaurant vent hoods, though.

What tips do you have for a homeowner to keep their chimneys clean?

That’s very important. Fuel is everything. For a wood-burning fireplace, use only seasoned -- that means split and stacked for nine months to a year -- hardwood. If they are burning gas logs, get the gas logs serviced. If they are not cleaned, you can die of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Is there a type of wood to never use in the fireplace?

Never use driftwood, treated lumber or household trash. Your fireplace is not an incinerator.

What’s the best way to start a fire?

The best way is to use small pieces of wood with newspaper or fat lighter. Once that is lit, place progressively larger pieces of wood on the fire. Also, pre-heat the chimney. It has to be a clean chimney. Take a wad of newspaper, light it and then wave it around. It drives the cold air out of the vent. Put some heat in the chimney first. Some people use a blow dryer. It just prevents smoking.

What about burning wrapping paper after opening presents on Christmas day. Is that a good idea?

Never, ever, ever burn Christmas paper. That starts a lot of chimney fires.

What kind of fire prevention techniques should a homeowner use?

Never use water. Always keep a fire extinguisher near the fireplace. But if you have a chimney fire, get everyone out of the house and call 911. That’s what firefighters are for. They’re the professionals.