FIRE SAFETY FOR A ONE FINAL DON’T LET YOUR CLEAN BURNING FIRE THOUGHT…... DREAMS GO UP IN Chimneys SMOKE! should be inspected Ask your fire department or stove and cleaned and fireplace accessory store annually by a certified chimney about special chimney fire specialist. extinguishers; keep one handy Gasoline or for every fireplace or stove. other flammable liquids should never A standard ABC extinguisher be used to start a wood fire. It could explode or flare up. should also be on hand. But keep Pressure treated in mind that if you have any wood should not be burned in stoves or doubt on whether or not to fight a fireplaces because it fire - contains toxic chemicals that can DON’T!! make you sick. Get out and call the fire CHIMNEY, Artificial logs made department. FIREPLACE AND of wax and sawdust should never be used in wood stoves and should only be used WOOD STOVE FIRE one at a time. REMEMBER: Learn about seasoned woods and which SAFETY TIPS type of woods are best to burn. Only Big Fires Start Small! hardwoods should be used as fuel since MIAMI VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT softwoods have a high content of creosote That cozy fire in your fireplace 2710 Lyons Rd and resin. Miamisburg, OH 45342 Remember, can spell disaster if proper Fire Headquarters/non-emergency hardwood trees have leaves and precautions are not taken. 937-560-2152 softwood trees have needles. www.miamivalleyfiredistrict.org DON’T LET YOUR DREAMS e-mail: GO UP IN SMOKE! [email protected] Prepared by: Ransae Lindamood-Hall, Admin. Assistant KEEP CHIMNEYS, FIREPLACES AND WOOD Woodstoves should be at least 36” from STOVES CLEAN TO ENJOY unprotected combustible materials. SAFE, COZY FIRES! Always use a fireplace screen or glass Many dreams are made while watching a doors. Never keep your wood burning roaring fire on a cold day. Fireplaces and stove door open unless you have a screen wood burning stoves can provide you with or glass doors as a back-up. economical heat and a relaxed atmosphere during those cold days. However, when Keep the area around the hearth clear of those popular heating devices are not debris, decorations, and flammable properly maintained, they can be a source materials. of danger and possible disaster resulting in Before starting a fire in your woodstove a chimney fire. More than one-third of or fireplace, be sure the draft is open Keep your fireplace and chimney in good Americans use fireplaces, woodstoves, and wide. This allows proper ventilation for condition. Check your chimney for other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat your fire. cracks and loose mortar or bricks. Have sources in the home, yet it is estimated that less than 20% of American homeowners any problems fixed before using your Your fireplaces should never be used for fireplace or stove. realize the importance of regular chimney burning garbage, Christmas trees, piles maintenance. of paper, or building scraps. Never leave a fire in your fireplace To understand what causes a chimney fire, unattended. Make sure the fire is Install a spark shield/arrestor or wire you must realize that when wood is burned, extinguished before going to bed. basket on top of your chimney. The it gives off creosote, tars, and resins. chimney should raise at least two feet These products of incomplete combustion higher than the roof peak or any tall, collect in the flue liner and if allowed to nearby objects. (Add another foot if build up, they will eventually ignite. your roof is flat or nearly flat.) Creosote ignites at 451o F (about the same burning point as paper) and can quickly become a raging 2100o F inferno. In fact, Check your flue regularly for any heating fires account for 36% of residential obstructions such as squirrel or bird home fires in rural areas every year. Don’t nests, debris, etc. let your dreams go up Don’t pile on the wood and smother the in smoke, fire because that causes creosote to build follow these up in your stove and chimney. important fire Remember, high flames burning hot will safety tips! burn cleanly! .