Fireplace Safety Tips

Have your chimney inspected by a professional prior to the start of every heating season and cleaned if necessary. Creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, builds up in chimneys and can cause a chimney fire if not properly cleaned. Always protect your home and your family by using a sturdy screen when burning fires. Remember to burn only wood never burn paper or pine boughs, which can float out the chimney and ignite your roof or a neighboring home. Never use flammable liquids in a fireplace. If you are purchasing a factory-built fireplace, select one listed by a testing laboratory, and have it installed according to local codes.

Everyone can enjoy the comfort and warmth of a fireplace by following these simply guidelines:

• Burn only wood in your fireplace. The fireplace is not where trash should be burned. Unless you have followed the directions for making safe paper logs or are starting a fire, do not put paper in your fireplace.
• Charcoal starter, lighter fluid, or gasoline should never be used to ignite a fire.
• Creosote is an oily liquid with a penetrating odor which can coat the inside of a chimney and forms a hazardous build-up. When trying to find wood to burn, the seasoned wood (split logs that have been left to dry under cover for at least six months) is best because it has less creosote than unseasoned wood and therefore is less likely to damage your chimney and give off offensive odors. However, the hardwoods (i.e. maples, poplars and oaks) produce less creosote than soft woods such as pine. Soft wood also gives off more ash, reducing the fires heat and causing huge quantities of soot that hamper log burning.
• Burn pressed logs only in an open fireplace, never in a closed stove. Pressed logs, the kind sold in stores, give off higher heat than natural logs so the specific safety instructions must be followed carefully.
• Fireplaces should be inspected annually for creosote build-up and structural damage to chimneys. Put chimney caps in place to keep out small animals and birds.
• The flue should be open when you start your fireplace because smoke from the burning logs can fill up the house when the flue is closed. As a reminder, attach an iron ornament to the flue pull that shows that the flue is open. Use a fireplace screen to prevent embers and sparks from spraying past the hearth and burning people, animals and rugs. Teach curious small children (and pets) to stay away from the burning fire.