Fire Prevention Tips
The fireplace in your home is a source of warmth and relaxation
for your family and friends. Like any home appliance, it should
be safe, properly maintained, and good for the
environment-inside and out. Being good to the environment also
means making sure your fireplace habits are safe and will not
pose a danger to your home or your neighborhood.
Clear the area around the fireplace and chimney.
Debris too close to the fireplace could cause a fire. Check the
flue for obstructions like birds' nests, and trim any
overhanging branches or large trees near the chimney.
Always use a fireplace screen.
Never overload the fireplace with too many logs. Don't
use the fireplace as an incinerator. Never burn garbage,
plastic, "treated" wood, Christmas trees, or piles of paper.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and place smoke
detectors throughout the house. Test the smoke detectors and
batteries regularly. See that the extinguisher is in good
working order and that all family members know how to operate
it.
When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace,
preferably on a grate.
Never leave a fire unattended. Be sure the fire is
extinguished before you go to bed.
Keep wood stacked, covered, and out-of-doors, away from
the house and off the ground. Bring in only as much as you need
for one evening to prevent insects that may be in the wood from
entering your home. Manufactured Firelogs, which are packaged to
eliminate insects and mess, can also prevent this problem.
Minimize creosote buildup which causes chimney fires.
Creosote is the black tarry or flaky substance formed in
chimneys during the wood burning process. While firewood leaves
flammable creosote and carbon deposits on chimney wells, tests
show firelogs leave significantly less creosote accumulation
than wood.
Have your fireplace inspected. Have
your fireplace inspected and cleaned annually by a National
Chimney Sweep Guild Certified chimney sweep. A dirty fireplace
can cause chimney fires or contribute to air pollution. Your
local NCSG-certified chimney sweep will diagnose your fireplace
and recommend what it needs in order to burn cleanly and safely.
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Burn Smart, Burn Clean
Choose the right fuel. In general, hardwood firewood
(oak, madrone, hickory, ash, etc.) burns cleaner than softwood
firewood (fir, pine, cedar, etc.). Independent tests (conducted
by Shelton Research Labs, Santa Fe, NM) have proven that
manufactured firelogs burn much cleaner than firewood.
Use seasoned wood, wood with a moisture content of less
than 20 percent, burns much cleaner than green (high moisture
content) wood. Check with your cordwood supplier to make sure
that the wood you purchase is seasoned.
Burn smartly. Good fireplace habits can decrease fuel
consumption in the home while maintaining the same level of
warmth. Make sure the fire gets enough air to burn properly.
Close the damper when the fire is out to keep warm room air
inside.
Make a fire that fits your fireplace. A fire that's too
large or too hot not only wastes fuel, it can crack your
chimney.
Keep your fireplace in good working condition. If you
notice any cracks in the chimney, and any loose mortar or brick,
have your chimney repaired. Have the chimney liner inspected for
cracking or deterioration.
Firelogs
Read and follow the label when using firelogs. Use one
firelog at a time, starting it with a fireplace at room
temperature. Don't poke or break manufactured logs. This will
cause them to crack apart, releasing their energy at a high rate
and resulting in a shorter burn time. Firelogs perform best when
burned on a supporting fireplace grate with a maximum of three
to four inches of space between support bars. If your fireplace
is equipped with glass doors, leave them open while burning a
firelog to allow proper draft and cleaner burning. Once you're
sure the fire is extinguished, close the damper and glass doors
to retain warm air inside the house.
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For more information, go to our
Links Page
and click Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality and Chimney
Safety Institute of America
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