If all you have burnt is wood then the soot from the chimney would be usable in the Veg patch. If you do decide to keep it, then do not let it get wet as that washes out any goodness in it.

dont think wood ash has to age. sprinkle now and let the winter wet wash the nutrients into the soil.

The soot from the chimney would most likely be safe, but has few garden benefits. Soot from resinous woods, especially any member of the Redwood family (Taxodiaceae), might damage small seedlings right after application. Probably not a problem this time of year.