Is relining needed?

[mjr6550]

I received a report with photos from my niece who lives in MI. The report indicates that there has been a chimney fire. My niece bought the house recently, so I have not history. This is a fireplace flue. No wood stove presently installed. The fireplace does have glass doors. Soot staining on the brick above the firebox says to me that someone might have been using the fireplace with the doors closed. any thoughts on whether a liner is needed? The contractor is proposing installing a cast ceramic (Fireguard) liner for about $1400. 

[Tom Raymond]

That doesn't look like it had a chimney fire to me.

[Bill Kibbel]

Get a second opinion from someone that doesn't sell flue liners.

[mjr6550]

I agree with both of you. Getting an unbiased opinion may be hard. It seems like chimney sweeps/contractors want to line every flue. Most home inspectors probably won't want to give an opinion. 

I have not has time to look into this. I don't know what info is available regarding mortar joints and fires. The photos are not great quality either. 

[Nolan Kienitz]

Someone started a fire and they forgot to open the damper.

[Bill Kibbel]

The soot stains are usually do to the incorrect ratio between the dimension of the fireplace opening to the dimension of the flue (or a really short chimney).  Photo 4 shows some kind of restriction below the 4th tile down.

[mjr6550]

I agree that the soot could be from any number of things. But, I do tend to see soot stains above glass doors when it has been apparent that they burn fires with the doors closed. That is also when I tend to see creosote in the flue. 

Maybe minor fires in flue cause the conditions they say are present, but I am only familiar with major damage from chimney fires.