A post-midnight flue fire sounds like someone is burning improperly. A proper fire is burned hot with minimal smoke by maximizing the amount of oxygen that reaches the fuel (avoid damping a fire). In order to extend the duration of the warmth and reduce the peak temperature of the room, the stove should be provided with a large amount of thermal mass.

When done properly, the fire will have burned out long before midnight, but will keep the house warm over night. As an added benefit, this will reduce the amount of creosote build up and emit less soot into the air. Particulate pollution from fires causes damage to lungs as well as brains and has been linked to heart attacks and strokes, so it's kind of important to reduce it.

Sadly, I don't expect anyone to take this advice to heart. For some strange reason, people's egos get tied up in their fire habits and any criticism is considered a major insult. As a result, we'll keep seeing these unnecessary house fires.