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Beware the Dreaded Chimney Fire

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Beware the Dreaded Chimney Fire bEwArE thE dreadEd By Bradley Carroll chimneys, or just from when you light the the extreme heat radiat- wood in your fireplace or ing from the fire in a metal wood stove in preparation chimney. to bask in warmth, you Fueling the Fire are taking part in a ritual Fireplaces and stoves of comfort and enjoyment are made to safely contain handed down through the wood-fueled fires while centuries. providing welcome heat. A Before lighting those chimney’s job is to expel fires, give some thought the products of combus- to the condition of your tion. when these products fireplace or stove, or the leave the fireplace or stove enjoyment may be short- and flow up into the cooler lived. Dirty chimneys can portion of the chimney, cause chimney fires, which they condense into residue damage structures, destroy called creosote that sticks Flames stream from the stove pipe during this chimney fire. homes, and injure or kill to the inner walls of the people. chimney. Creosote is black Chimney fires can burn or brown and can take on explosively. Many liken different consistencies (see smoke and heat remain in 2008, there were 14 the sound to a freight train photo page 16). whatever in the flue. reported chimney fires in coming close. Flames can form it takes, creosote is wyoming. this number • Unseasoned wood – shoot out of the chimney highly flammable. if creo- does not reflect chimney the energy used to (see photo), and flue tem- sote builds, it can catch fire fires taken care of by the burn off moisture in the peratures can reach 2,000º inside the chimney. Factors homeowner or fires not wood keeps the smoke F. Slow-burning chimney that contribute to creosote reported. these fires can cooler than using dry fires don’t get enough air buildup are: be prevented by having wood, resulting in cool- or have enough fuel to • restricted air supply – the chimney profession- er than normal flues, be as dramatic or visible, Air may be restricted ally cleaned and inspected which contribute to the but, the temperatures they by closed glass doors at least once a year. if the buildup of creosote. reach are very high and can or by failure to open fireplace is used as a pri- cause as much or more the damper wide mary heat source, consider damage to the chimney. enough to rapidly move Preventing That a cleaning and inspection either form of chimney heated smoke up the Unwanted Fire at the beginning and end fire can spread to structural chimney. Conditions for thousands of homes of each heating season members of the house developing creosote experience chimney fires to ensure no obstruction through loose mortar, improve the longer each year due to improper or flammable material – by the warping of metal fireplace maintenance. such as a bird’s nest – was 14 BA r n YA r D S & B A C K Y A r DS chimnEy FirE created over summer. More of the ashes. At the opening (usually at the frequent cleanings may be end of a week, properly top of the inside of the required, based on the sea- cooled ashes are safe fireplace) through the soning of the wood burned to dispose with the rest chimney to the outside and the frequency of use. of your solid waste. air. Cooled ashes may be Safety hints: used in your garden but • Use seasoned, dry What are the signs use caution as they are woods. Seasoned a chimney fire is acidic in nature. wood will generally happening or has have darkened ends • install carbon monox- happened? in 2008, there with cracks or splits ide detectors on every • the roar of a fire in the visible, is relatively living level of your chimney were 14 reported lightweight, and makes home. • warping of metal chimney fires in a clear “clunk” when anywhere in or on the wyoming. this two pieces are beat Some Signs of a Chimney chimney together. if you cut Needing Cleaning: number does not your own wood, let the • An odor of burned • Creosote flakes and wood season a year wood coming from the debris found on the reflect chimney before using. fireplace. ground, roof, or gutters fires taken • Build smaller, hot- • Drafting or smoking • Discolored or warped care of by the ter fires that burn problems with the rain cap (at top of more completely and chimney. chimney) homeowner or produce less smoke • Creosote covering • Scorching or burns in fires not reported. (seasoned wood will the damper. You can the roofing material produce a hotter fire). these fires can check this by looking from burning debris • things not to burn: inside the fireplace or falling on the roof be prevented cardboard boxes, wrap- stove near the damper. • Visible cracks in by having ping paper, garbage, or if you see creosote, the masonry of the Christmas trees. which resembles black chimney the chimney mold, then it is most • Dispose of ashes in professionally likely coating the entire • Smoke escaping a metal air-tight con- smoke chamber and through cracks in the cleaned and tainer. Douse the ashes flue liner. the flue is chimney with water, place the inspected at least the part of your fire- container of ashes • Smoke in the attic or place that runs from once a year. away from combusti- visible soot buildup in the top of your wood- bles and wait at least a the attic stove or fireplace week before disposing winter 2010 15 If you do suspect a • Proper clearances be- this is the “engine” that chimney fire: tween the stove and drives the whole burning the safety of your • Have all members in venting system and process – or causes it to the home exit to the combustible materi- perform poorly or fail. home and family family meeting place als, including wall Professional decisions depends upon about the venting system • Call the fire department components to ensure adequate draft fully understanding • Don’t attempt re-entry • Proper protection of include: into the home combustible floors • Proper sizing (particu- and carrying • Proper assembly of larly avoiding oversized out the critical Wood Stove appliance and venting flues) manufacturer and Installation Affects components • Proper height (often Efficiency and Safety errors in installation taller than minimum building code the environmental may not be visible, and code requirements) Protection Agency rec- requirements. problems may not be ap- ommends certified wood • Proper location (inte- parent for a considerable stoves or fireplace inserts rior of the house when length of time – and then be professionally installed possible) or protection only by a resulting home requires the homeowner by a certified technician to from extreme cold fire. to check with the local fire ensure safety and proper experienced profes- • Proper configuration department, the local build- performance. the safety sionals can properly size (avoiding excessive ing department, and their of your home and family and place equipment for horizontal runs and sys- insurance agent to see depends upon fully under- best heat distribution. the tem turns in direction) what applicable codes are standing and carrying out venting system (chimney) is required. the critical manufacturer Any installation of a a critical area that requires remember, prevention and building code require- fireplace, fireplace insert, professional involvement. is the key. ments that include: or wood burning stove Creosote has accumulated to a dangerous level in this flue. A chimney fire affects more than just a chimney. The ex- treme heat can cause nearby materials to catch fire and spread through a structure. Bradley Carroll is the fire prevention specialist in the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety in the Wyoming State Fire Marshal’s office. He can be reached at (307) 777-8772 or at [email protected]. 16 BA r n YA r D S & B A C K Y A r DS.
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