Prepare Fireplaces And Woodburning Stoves For Safe Use This Winter

Every year, at least 12,000 Americans die in residential fires, according to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association. Because of the risks associated with fires, it's important to understand and practice safety tips when using indoor fireplaces and woodburning stoves this winter.

• Put a shield around the fireplace to prevent sparks from flying out and starting a fire. Glass grates, which enclose the fireplace entirely, are the most effective. Wire mesh grates, though not as impenetrable, also stop most sparks. Make sure the fireplace draws properly so smoke doesn't blow back into the living area.
• To guard against fire in case ash, sparks or smoke escape the fireplace, make sure the area surrounding the fireplace is clear of flammable items, including carpet. The best hearths are made of non-combustible brick or linoleum.
• Clean fireplaces, woodburning heaters and stove pipes regularly. Ash or creosote build-up in the flue or pipes can catch fire if the build-up has accumulated over time and the fire temperature is hot. Eliminate creosote by burning big, hot fires instead of small, smoky or wet ones that lead to build-up. Hire a chimney sweep or clean the chimney flue and damps once a year with a big brush. For woodburning heaters and stove pipes, take time to clean and check for buildup and other problems or hire a chimney cleaner to do so before it gets cold.
• Choose wood types depending on the type of fire desired. If a fireplace is for aesthetic reasons, burn cottonwood, maple or elm, which create bright flames. If the fireplace is used for heat, burn harder, heavier woods such as oak and ash.
• Correctly manage woodburning stoves or heaters. Often, fires from woodburning stoves start when the residents are gone or asleep. To guard against this, adjust the air intake vents before leaving the stove alone. Don't leave woodburning stoves alone unless the heater can be prepared for an amount of unsupervised time.

SOURCE: Lorene Bartos, extension educator. Sarah Browning is a Horticulture Extension Educator with University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension in Dodge and Saunders Counties. She can be contacted by phone at 727-2775: by mail at 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE 68025: or by e-mail at sbrowning2@unl.edu