A chimney sweep is a professional who cleans and maintains chimneys to ensure they function properly and safely. This job is important because a dirty chimney can lead to dangerous chimney fires or carbon monoxide buildup in homes. Chimney sweeps use specialized tools to remove soot, creosote, and debris from the chimney flue. Historically, chimney sweeps were often children who worked in the Victorian era in England. They would climb into narrow chimneys to clean them, which was dangerous and unhealthy. Today, chimney sweeps are trained adults who follow safety regulations and use modern equipment to perform their work.