Fireplace Safety

Tips to Keep Your Family Safe Through The Holidays and Beyond!

Dec 4, 2006 Connie Newbauer

Fireplace Safety is a must-do for all families!

Fire Safety is important all year round, but becomes even more important this time of year when many of us are using space heaters, candles and fireplaces when we also have a large, flammable object in the center of our living rooms: the Christmas Tree. Following my near death experience of last week, I thought I might share some tips, largely from the Michigan State University website.

Maintain Your Fireplace!

Like anything else, fireplaces must undergo yearly maintenance to ensure the safety of your family. In particular:

• An annual inspection by a chimney specialist (about $45 in our area) 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 bird’s nest) and to inspect the chimney for creosote buildup.

Safe Operation:

• 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 fro 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.

Fires kill children each year. Make these tips a family priority so you have many, many more happy holidays ahead of you!

For more in-depth tips and information, visit the Michigan State University website!

The copyright of the article Fireplace Safety in Early Childhood is owned by Connie Newbauer. Permission to republish Fireplace Safety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Ensure your family's health this holiday season!