I need more height to install a gas f/p so I was thinking of removing the
top 2 rows of bricks where they jut out in the center. The current height is
20" but I need about 24" for the vent pipe to connect inside the chimney.
Other possibilities include drilling a hole thru the f/p but this would not
look good if the gas f/p was ever removed.

My question is: How can I remove the 2 rows safely? The iron bar would have
to come out which could cause the bricks to collapse. Will there be similar
bricks behind the ones I remove?

Thanks



http://www3.telus.net/martik/fireplace1.jpg angle showing jut out

http://www3.telus.net/martik/fireplace2.jpg iron bar under the bricks