Fireplace and wood-stove safety.

11/1/2019 (Permalink)

A warm and cozy fire can quickly become dangerous if not safely handled and prepared.

The holidays are full of baked goods, holiday lights, festive décor and warm fires. All of which can potentially lead to a home fire. So it's a important time of year to practice safety!

We know that during the winter months, fireplaces and wood-stoves are used greatly to heat many homes. Which is why we want to remind everyone how important it is to maintain and properly operate your stoves and fireplaces.

In the U.S. The 2nd leading cause of home fires are from heating systems, fireplaces are a part of those statistics. So preventative maintenance and annually inspections are crucial. 

A few things to inspect regularly:

• Door seals
• Overheating 
• Pipe, stones, mortar, or chimney bricks.

Proper maintenance will help keep your heating system operating safely. Always correctly dispose of ashes. One inch of ash will cause a fire to make more smoke. It's important to never put ash in a garbage bin indoors/or out. To properly clean and dispose of ash, you have to make sure it is cooled before shoveling it into a metal container with a lid. An remember to never store it near your home or firewood. 

Consider the type of wood you are burning and where it is being stored. Green or young wood have higher moister content and cause a lot of smoke and more build up of creosote. https://www.doctorflue.com/blog/what-is-creosote/ It's best to use seasoned or dried wood  that has been split for a safer fire. Storing your firewood in a dry place is also something to remember either a wood shed or garage to avoid moister. 

A few safety tips to remember: 

• Always have a fire extinguisher near your fireplace/stove.
• Start fire properly.
• Install a chimney cap.
• Never store matches, lighters, or other fire starters within 3ft of the wood-stove or fireplace.
• Keep area clear of flammable items; Drapes, carpet, furniture and newspaper ext.
• Never overload a fire or burn other debris.
• Supervise small children and pets.
• Extinguish fire before bed. 

A small flame can get out of control within 30 seconds. So it's very important to be sure all smoke/ carbon monoxide detectors are working and everyone knows your homes fire escape plan.

We know how damaging chimney fires can be to your home. SERVPRO specializes in smoke and odor remediation and indoor air quality. If you ever experience a home fire give us a call (360)703-3884 as soon as the fire is put out, to prevent any further damage from occurring.

Specializing in fire & water-cleanup & restoration. SERVPRO of Longview/kelso locally owned and operated.

We're always ready to help!