The cold, rainy weather and the holiday season can make you think about roasting chestnuts on an open fire.
While some people use natural gas fires, some still use wood fires. The US Fire Administration says that every year 36 percent of residential fires in rural areas are caused by heater fires.
Emergency management officials have a few reminders to keep your fireplace and fire safe:
- Let a professional clean your fireplace. A chimney sweep cleans the entire chimney. Many use a powerful vacuum cleaner to keep soot or dust out of the house. Some street sweepers also offer a range of chimney, interior chimney and attic inspections for damaged areas that need repair.
- Choose firewood carefully. Seasoned firewood – wood that has been dried for at least six months – is the best and safest option. Purchasing a piece of wood cord or two can get the average fireplace user through the season. Wood can also be bought in supermarkets or picked up free of charge in various areas.
- Avoid wood from trees that have just been felled. It is likely to contain high levels of moisture, which leads to more smoke than combustion and can lead to creosote build-up inside the chimney.
- Synthetic logs are also available, but be careful as they burn unevenly and can release higher levels of carbon monoxide. Follow the instructions on the packaging of these products carefully.
- Check your fireplace screen or guard to make sure it can safely protect you from embers leaking from the fireplace. Households with young children may need an extra barrier in front of the fireplace to keep small hands from touching the hot screen.
- Remember to open the chimney draft before starting a fire. This allows fresh air to feed the fire and smoke can leave the house. If the smoke vent is not opened, suffocating, dirty smoke can quickly fill the house. The smoke vent should be closed after the fire has been completely extinguished to prevent animals and foreign objects from entering the house through the opening.
- Have a metal container handy to remove and store hot ashes. Embers and ashes can stay hot for some time, so they should be placed outdoors, ideally far from the home so that they don’t set anything on fire.
- Inform the household members about the rules of using the fireplace. Do not burn anything but wood in the fire to avoid the emission of toxic fumes or dangerous embers. All you need is a scattered ember to start a huge fire. In addition, unsuitable fuels can lead to the accumulation of combustible creosote on the chimney.
- Do not leave a fire unattended. If you have a fire in the fireplace, make sure someone is keeping an eye on it. Make sure the fire is out before you go to bed.
