More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. In Vermont’s cold climate, that number could be much higher. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and other solid fuels and each year, the Malletts Bay Fire Department responds to fires in homes that involve these heating systems. These systems are often found to be faulty or in poor working condition. With a few simple steps each year, everyone’s heating system can be assured of good, clean, operation with a minimum risk to the household and the people and important things in it.
Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. Creosote is a black, tarry substance that is a result of burning wood. It sticks to your flue and chimney and if allowed to build up, can eventually catch on fire. At the very least, your chimney could be damaged and at worst, the fire could spread into your house.
All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently. The Malletts Bay Fire Department encourages you to practice the following fire safety steps to keep those home fires safely burning. Remember, no one else is going to look after this stuff, so it is up to you!
Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean
Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist. Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials. Those plants, decorations, and other flammable items tastefully placed close to the fireplace may look wonderful in the magazines and on TV, but they are truly a danger and should be removed or placed away from the heat. Remember, none of these publications will show you their mistakes (like a scorched set); that’s what editing is for.
Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures. Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may enhance that dangerous creosote buildup. Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.
Safely Burn Fuels
Never use flammable liquids to start a fire. Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup. Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke. The biggest danger to heating systems, including fireplaces, is not burning the fire hot enough. Damping down the fire, especially in a wood stove, may allow you to get more heat out of the fire, but the risk is a chimney fire. Make sure you regularly build a hot, free burning fire to help keep the flue and chimney clean.
Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove. When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate. The last thing you want is plastics or other non-wood stuff burning in your firebox and clogging things up. Also, nothing spoils the mood faster than a burning log rolling across the room.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. It is there to be enjoyed, so be sure to be present. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house. Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside and well away from your home. Ashes can remain hot for days and even a week. The Malletts Bay Fire Department responded to a structure fire just last year involving ashes that were 4 days old and kept in the garage.
Protect the Outside of Your Home
Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home. Remember that the wood is fuel and you don’t want it near your home. Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris. Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester. Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents. All of these things can capture a flying spark or ember and cause a fire. That nice crackling wood fire is sending all sorts of burning material up the chimney. All it needs is a small pile of leaves or a branch overhead to get caught and start a fire that can eventually make its way back into your home.
Protect the Inside of Your Home
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least twice a year. The Malletts Bay Fire Department recommends battery replacement whenever Daylight savings time occurs. When you change your clocks, change your batteries!
If you have smoke detectors that are at least 8 years old, consider installing the new long life smoke alarms. They don’t last forever and a new set of detectors every decade is not an unreasonable expense. The Malletts Bay Fire Department also provides free home inspections and smoke detector installations to the folks in our area. It’s all free and we are happy to do it. Just call us at 862-4415 to schedule an appointment.
Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment. Extend all vent pipes at least three feet above the roof. Be sure to check with a certified installer for proper codes and installation methods. Making a mistake during the installation phase of a project could easily result in disaster!