How to Prevent a Fireplace Disaster

The fireplace in your home is a source of relaxation and warm for you and your loved ones. The fireplace should be safe, properly maintained, uncluttered, and good for the environment. This article will give you some safety tips to prevent the start of a fatal fire disaster.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fireplace
• Fire wood
• Firescreen or a set of glass doors
• Plain white paper
• Fire extinguisher
• Smoke; Co2 detector

1. 
    
   Firescreen

   Place a firescreen in front of the fire to keep sparks or embers inside. Or install fireplace glass doors, you can close them when there is sudden down draft or when there is excessive smoke and spark entering the room when a fire is dying.

2. Some people suggest to close the glass doors when the fire is burning. If you have glass doors, don't close them if the fire is burning brightly, unless the fire has an independent air supply.

3. Store spare logs at least 3' away from the fire, flying sparks and ashes.
   Also, burn only seasoned kindling, logs, fire logs (manufactured wood).
   
   Do not use coal in fireplace. The heat temperature from burning coal is too high which may start a house fire.

4. Use firewood rack to prevent wood from tipping, rolling in all the places. Some people think this accessory is just for luxury and not a necessity, but it will come a time that they will decide to have one for safety reasons.

5. 
    
   Fire log (firelog)

   Use only tightly wadded plain paper like newspaper or printer paper for starter. Do not burn glossy newspaper inserts, wrapping paper, Christmas trees, cardboard, or plastic. Never use cooking oil and lighter fluid to start a fire.

6. Do not burn scrap lumber. These usually soft and unseasoned wood are often painted and treated with chemicals. When burned, these wood can release toxic fumes and leave unnecessary deposits in the chimney which will block the vent.

7. Never load the fireplace full with logs. Do not use the fireplace as an incinerator to burn trash, plastic, piles of paper like magazines, or junk snail mail. Using the fireplace for barbecuing is never a good idea.

8. 
    
   Realistic 3D animated fire

   Avoid fires that burn too quickly. Fast burning fires can send a pool of sparks and embers up the chimney, potentially starting a roof fire. You must have a chimney cap with a spark suppressor on the roof to reduce the danger of fires from flying sparks.

9. 
    
   Wood burining fireplace

   Small to moderate sized fires are the most efficient ones. A big, roaring fire creates a huge draft and sends heat out of your room, and its intense heat can be a danger to nearby furniture and other objects.

Tips & Warnings

• Fire logs; firelogs (manufactured logs made of hardwood sawdust with a paraffin base) are more efficient and cleaner than natural logs, they use less oxygen, release 80% less smoke, and 70%-80% less creosote.
• Never leave fire unattended. Always let fire to burn itself out before leaving the area. Wait at least 3 days before cleaning out the ashes, as it may still be smoldering and hot for a couple more days after the flame is out.
• Keep pets and children away from the fireplace when using.

[Mindee94]

on 1/29/2009 Great need to know essential information for those with a fireplace. Thanks!

[knewf]

on 1/29/2009 good advice especially this time of year!