Squirrel in chimney!?

There is a squirrel in the chimney and my family is too afraid to deal with it...we tried using a hockey stick to push it into a bag...but it wouldn't just run away and go to different corners...the sound it makes when we touch it is soooooo sad....it's like it's crying!! my dad and bro said that we should either light the chimney on fire (which i know they won't do) or wait till it dies...we hate animal control....welll....what should i do...