Indoor wood-burning fireplaces offers a great ambiance in your home during the chilly months of the year with its warmth, but wood-burning fire places can also be dangerous. Follow these indoor wood-burning fireplace safety tips for your safety:
- Ensure that your chimney is cleaned and inspected by a licensed professional once a year.
- A spark arrestor across the top of a chimney will prevent sparks from igniting your roof.
- Use the proper fuel (seasoned hardwood, pellets, and gas/propane) for your type of system.
- Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquids to start a fire.
- Fireplaces should have a sturdy screen across the front to prevent embers from flying or logs from rolling out.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Many “non-masonry” fireplace/chimney units have limitations on the amount of heat they can safely withstand.
- Do not discard your ashes into any combustible container such as a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.
- When clearing ashes from the fireplace, be sure to put them into a metal container with a lid. Do not discard your ashes into any combustible container such as a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.
- Keep your can outside the home, away from your fireplace or stove. Do not place ash containers on decks, porches, or in garages.
- Pour water into ash containers to make sure the ashes are cool.
- Teach all family members to be safe with ashes from your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
