Proudly American
Document where it appeared
From the room, note the date, where the piece landed and whether the last use involved unusual smoke, noise or heat. If there are active signs of fire, leave and call emergency services. Once the area is safe and cold, a picture with a familiar object nearby for scale is useful. Do not probe above the damper for matching pieces.
Ask which surface is missing material
A patch next to the firebox floor is one possibility. A missing section farther up the passage is another. CSIA lists broken and displaced flue tile among damage that can follow a chimney fire, but the discovery of a fragment does not establish that a fire occurred. The other surfaces and the operating history matter.
Request an explanation of what remains hidden
If the provider identifies a damaged tile, ask where it is, how far the assessment extended and what is known about the rest of the flue. Removing debris answers a housekeeping question. It does not restore material missing from the lining or settle whether the fireplace can be used.