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Woodstove
Safety
By
John
Beatty
Fire and
Life
Safety
Educator
II
Portland
Fire
Department
There
is
nothing
cozier
than a
warm,
bright
fire on a
crisp
autumn or
winter
night.
Unfortunately,
every
year at
least
12,000
people
are
killed in
residential
fires in
the
United
States,
according
to
statistics
provided
to us by
the
National
Fire
Protection
Association.
Fireplaces
and
woodburning
stoves
cause
some of
these
problems.
The death
of a
Maine man
the week
of
December
7, 2002
has been
attributed
to an
improper
woodstove
installation
and the
chimney
not
having a
liner in
it.
Understanding
and
practicing
the
following
safety
tips will
help keep
those
hearth
fires
glowing
in a
safe,
controlled
manner.
To
have a
safe fire
it all
starts
with the
wood to
be used.
Burn
seasoned
wood that
is wood
that is
at least
12 to 18
months
old.
Remember
that slow
burning
fires
create
creosote
and soot
problems.
Small hot
fires are
more
efficient.
Excessive
smoky
smell,
eye
irritation
or
headaches
may
indicate
improper
dangerous
drafts
and
should be
checked
immediately.
It would
be wise
to have a
Smoke
Detector
as well
as a
Carbon
Monoxide
Detector
placed in
the same
room as
that of
your
heating
appliance
to
protect
against
Carbon
Monoxide
poisoning,
as well
as early
detection
of a
fire. A
weekly
cleaning
of ashes
from your
stove
during
the
heating
season is
recommended,
as well
as a
monthly
inspection
of pipes
and
connections,
checking
for
creosote
and soot
build up.
Dispose
of ashes
safely,
that is
you want
to put
your
ashes in
a metal
container
with a
lid on it
outside
of the
home and
away from
combustibles.
Have
your
chimney
cleaned
on a
regular
basis
during
the
heating
season. A
major
cause of
fires in
older
homes is
an older
chimney
that does
not have
a clay
liner or
sleeve.
Old
mortar in
the
chimney
can crack
and leave
areas in
the
chimney
that fire
can get
into the
walls of
your
home, a
liner can
prevent
this from
happening.
Warning
signs of
chimney
problems
are
1.
Creosote
build up,
dripping
from the
base of
the
chimney
or
staining
of the
outer
chimney
shell.
2.
Sluggish
draft,
smoke
spilling
out when
the
appliance
door is
opened.
3.
Corrosion
of the
outer
shell of
a factory
built
chimney
4.
Deterioration
of the
brickwork
of a
masonry
chimney.
Please
check
your
stove and
chimney
before
you start
a fire
either of
the
heating
season or
just for
the
comfort
that a
fire can
bring for
an
evening.
As always
Yours
in Life
Safety
John
Beatty
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