Fireplace, Stove, and Heater Home Fire Safety

Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.

The Haworth Volunteer Fire Department and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourage you to practice the following fire safety steps to keep those home fires safely burning. We believe rural fire problems can be reduced by teaching people to recognize the hazards. By following some of the outlined precautionary steps, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a fire casualty.Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility... Fire Stops With You!

Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean

• Carefully follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions.
• Look for solid construction, such as plate steel or cast iron metal.
• Check for cracks and inspect legs, hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams.
• Inspect and clean your pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions.
• Fireplaces regularly build up creosote in their chimneys. They need to be cleaned out frequently and chimneys should be inspected for obstructions and cracks to prevent deadly chimney and roof fires.
• Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
• Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
• Use a screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks.
• Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.
• Check to make sure the damper is open before starting any fire. Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
• Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.
• Don't wear loose-fitting clothes near any open flame.
• Be sure to keep combustible objects at least three feet away from your wood stove.

• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
• Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
• Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
• When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home.
• Store cooled ashes in a tightly sealed metal container outside the home.

• Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
• Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
• Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long life smoke alarms.
• Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment.
• Extend all vent pipes at least three feet above the roof.

• Buy only heaters with the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) safety listing.
• Check to make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over.
• Heaters are not dryers or tables; don't dry clothes or store objects on top of your heater.
• Space heaters need space; keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater.
• Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use.

• Buy only UL-approved heaters.
• Never fill your heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel; both flare-up easily.
• Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene.
• Never overfill any portable heater.
• Use the kerosene heater in a well ventilated room.