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 Home Fire Safety
Campfire Safety
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Clockwise from top left: blazing fireplace, fire extinguisher and smoke detector, firewood carrier. |
A fireplace can add beauty, warmth, and value to your home and set the mood for memorable gatherings of family and friends. But
operating a fireplace without adequate safety precautions is like playing with fire.
Don’t play with fire! Here are some tips to follow for safely maintaining and operating a fireplace from the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Be sure the fireplace was constructed for actual use, not just for decoration. Inspect it to be sure that it has adequate protective linings and smoke ducts and that the chimney is clear and in good repair.
If installing a factory-made fireplace, insure that it is not near any combustible materials and has adequate flame and heat barriers.
Open the damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. This will avert the build-up of poisonous gases, especially while the family is sleeping.
Never use gasoline, charcoal lighter or other fuel to light or relight a fire because the vapors can explode. Never keep flammable fuels near a fire. Vapors can travel the length of a room and explode.
Do not use coal or charcoal in a fireplace because of the danger of carbon monoxide build-up. It is not a good idea to burn trash or wrappings in fireplace fires because polystyrene foam and other coated materials can generate deadly fumes. Flying paper embers could also ignite the roof.
Do not treat artificial logs like real logs. Artificial logs are usually made of sawdust and wax and have special burning properties. Be sure to read the instructions on the logs and follow them carefully. Use just one log at a time and do not add another log until the fire is completely out. Never add an artificial log to a natural wood fire that is already burning. Wait at least two hours before adding an artificial log to a natural log fire because it could cause a flare-up.
Home-rolled newspaper logs should never be soaked in flammable fuels of any kind because of the severe danger of explosion. Soaking the newspaper in water either before rolling or during rolling removes the clay content and will provide a better burning log. Then, stack the logs on end and let them dry for two weeks in the basement. When lighting the newspaper logs, use kindling just as you would for a regular fire.
Do not overload the fireplace. Large fires can lead to overheating of wall or roof materials, particularly if the fireplace is constructed of metal.
Always use a screen around the fireplace to keep sparks from flying out and to protect children and adults from accidental clothing ignition.
Warn children about the danger of fire. Do not let them play with fire.
Keep flammable materials such as carpets, pillows, furniture or papers away from the fireplace area. Be sure the Christmas tree is not close enough to be ignited by a spark. Be especially careful of accidentally igniting holiday wrapping papers.
Make sure that the fire is out completely before retiring for the night or when leaving the house.
Smoke detectors greatly increase the likelihood you'll survive a fire. Place at least one on each floor of your home and outside each sleeping area. Install
detectors inside bedrooms for added protection. Mount detectors on the ceiling, at least 4 inches away from the wall. Test detectors monthly and replace
batteries at lease once a year. Replace any smoke detector more than 10 years old; new research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
indicates that the sensors within smoke detectors lose their sensitivity with age.
The combustion of wood results in carbon dioxide, water vapor, ash, and heat. Incomplete combustion also produces carbon monoxide, various
hydrocarbons, and other toxic gases. One carbon monoxide detector provides enough protection for an entire house, but is not a substitute for a
smoke detector on every floor.
Chimney upkeep is complicated by the fact that many problems (cracks, faults, and structural damage) are not visible from the outside. To ensure chimney safety,
the best course of action is to have a professional chimney sweep, certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), perform an annual inspection
and clean the chimney before you light the first fire of the season. Chimney sweeps remove creosote and obstructions, such as leaves, branches or bird’s
nests, and look for other problems within the system.
Creating the perfect fire starts with using seasoned firewood from Reds. To start a safe fire, crumple paper on the grate within the fireplace and cover it with kindling
or a manufactured firestarter. (Remove colored comic sections before rolling newspapers into starter logs; the colored inks contain lead and can produce toxic
gases.) Open the fireplace damper fully and light the paper. Once the kindling or the firestarter is burning brightly, add dry, seasoned wood
to the fire and close the firescreen. It’s important to avoid overloading the fireplace so the firewood doesn’t tumble out. A couple of logs will suffice.
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