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| Fire Safety is important all year round, but becomes even more important during fall and winter when many of us are using space heaters, candles, fireplaces and stoves more frequently. |
| These simple tips can help reduce fire hazards and keep you friends and family safer while operating your fireplace, stove, or insert. |
| Fire Safety is important all year round, but becomes even more important during fall and winter when many of us are using space heaters, candles, fireplaces and stoves more frequently. |
| These simple tips can help reduce fire hazards and keep you friends and family safer while operating your fireplace, stove, or insert. |
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Like anything else, fireplaces must undergo yearly maintenance to ensure the safety of your family.
In particular:
- An annual inspection by a chimney specialist is helpful in determining if there are cracks in the flue lining, bricks and mortar. Any structural problems should be repaired prior to operating the fireplace.
- Ask your chimney sweep professional to check for obstructions (such as a birds nest) and to inspect the chimney for creosote buildup.
Like anything else, fireplaces must undergo yearly maintenance to ensure the safety of your family.
In particular:
- An annual inspection by a chimney specialist is helpful in determining if there are cracks in the flue lining, bricks and mortar. Any structural problems should be repaired prior to operating the fireplace.
- Ask your chimney sweep professional to check for obstructions (such as a birds nest) and to inspect the chimney for creosote buildup.
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- Make sure your fire alarms have fresh batteries and are in working order by testing them monthly!
- Install a type ABC fire extinguisher near the fireplace.
- Install a screen to completely cover the fireplace opening to keep sparks from flying out.
- Keep combustible materials such as carpets, furniture, paper, logs and kindling at least 3-feet away from the fireplace.
- Arrange grate and irons so logs can't roll out.
- Use only enough gas (if a gas fed fireplace) or wood to keep the fire at the desired temperature. Avoid roaring fires. They can start chimney fires from soot and creosote deposits in the flue.
- Do not use gasoline or other flammable liquids to kindle or rekindle a fire. Flammable vapors can explode! Any flammable liquids, including those from craft projects can vaporize and travel the length of a room!
- Keep the damper open while the logs or gas is burning to provide for efficient burning and to prevent accumulation of poisonous or explosive gases.
- Never burn Christmas tree greens. They cause many sparks when burning and can cause a chimney or house fire.
- Remove colored comic sections before rolling newspapers into logs. The colored inks contain lead and can provide toxic gases.
- Do not use coal, charcoal or polystyrene packaging in a fireplace unless the fireplace is designed to handle the excess heat and smoke, which occurs when burning these materials.
- Do not treat artificial logs the same way you treat real wood logs. Use only one at a time. If you use more, they can produce too much heat for some fireplaces to withstand.
- Keep children away from the fire! For younger children, special gates, etc. can be purchased to further increase the distance between the fire and your child.
- Be sure all ashes have thoroughly cooled before you dispose of them. Put ashes in a lidded metal container to prevent a possible fire and provide a sturdy place to store them. Ashes make good fertilizer in gardens, flowerbeds, etc.
- Be sure the fire is out completely before retiring for the evening.
- Make sure your fire alarms have fresh batteries and are in working order by testing them monthly!
- Install a type ABC fire extinguisher near the fireplace.
- Install a screen to completely cover the fireplace opening to keep sparks from flying out.
- Keep combustible materials such as carpets, furniture, paper, logs and kindling at least 3-feet away from the fireplace.
- Arrange grate and irons so logs can't roll out.
- Use only enough gas (if a gas fed fireplace) or wood to keep the fire at the desired temperature. Avoid roaring fires. They can start chimney fires from soot and creosote deposits in the flue.
- Do not use gasoline or other flammable liquids to kindle or rekindle a fire. Flammable vapors can explode! Any flammable liquids, including those from craft projects can vaporize and travel the length of a room!
- Keep the damper open while the logs or gas is burning to provide for efficient burning and to prevent accumulation of poisonous or explosive gases.
- Never burn Christmas tree greens. They cause many sparks when burning and can cause a chimney or house fire.
- Remove colored comic sections before rolling newspapers into logs. The colored inks contain lead and can provide toxic gases.
- Do not use coal, charcoal or polystyrene packaging in a fireplace unless the fireplace is designed to handle the excess heat and smoke, which occurs when burning these materials.
- Do not treat artificial logs the same way you treat real wood logs. Use only one at a time. If you use more, they can produce too much heat for some fireplaces to withstand.
- Keep children away from the fire! For younger children, special gates, etc. can be purchased to further increase the distance between the fire and your child.
- Be sure all ashes have thoroughly cooled before you dispose of them. Put ashes in a lidded metal container to prevent a possible fire and provide a sturdy place to store them. Ashes make good fertilizer in gardens, flowerbeds, etc.
- Be sure the fire is out completely before retiring for the evening.
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HPBA Safety Tips Video Guide
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