Secrets of Fireplace Safety

Cindy Hartman — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:23:00 GMT

Fall is here, and with it, the urge overtakes a lot of us to stoke a fire in the fireplace…pull up our favorite easy chair with a good book, a glass of red wine or a steaming hot cup of coffee…

As this is the time of year when a good number of us stoke that fireplace up again, I wanted to share these reminders and safety tips ...

Fire and carbon monoxide are the biggest threats posed by faulty fireplaces. Be sure your smoke and CO alarm are functioning correctly. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a nonprofit educational organization, recommends taking the following safety steps:

Annual checkup: Have chimneys inspected annually, and cleaned by a qualified professional chimney service technician.

Tree trimming: Keep tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away from the top of the chimney.

Chimney cap: Install a cap to keep debris and animals out of the chimney.

Build it right: Place firewood or logs at the rear of the fireplace on a supporting grate. To start the fire, use kindling or a commercial firelighter. Never use flammable liquids.

Keep hearth clear: keep combustible material and furniture at least 36” away from the hearth.

Use a screen: Always place a metal screen in front of the fireplace to catch flying sparks that could ignite or burn holes in the carpet or flooring.

Don’t overload: Add one manufactured fire log at a time to the fireplace or no more than a couple of pieces of firewood. A fireplace is not designed to function as an incinerator and should never be used to burn glossy paper or garbage.

Monitor the fire: Never leave a fire unattended. Before turning in for the night, fully extinguish the fire. Never close the flue damper until the fire is extinguished and the coals are cold. Hot coals (just like the burning of any fuel) can produce carbon monoxide, a poisonous odorless gas. Supervise children and pets closely around wood stoves and fireplaces.

Enjoy the Fall Weather! Just be SAFE while enjoying it!

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Secrets of Fireplace Safety