Fireplace Safety
Fireplaces and chimneys should be cleaned and maintained annually to operate efficiently and safely. How to keep yours in top shape:
Maintenance: Clean and inspect the chimney annually
Structural problems: Interior or exterior cracks, missing bricks or mortar may cause a fire on the roof or in the attic or surrounding walls. Causes include earthquake damage, ground settling, age, high temperatures, creosote buildup.
All chimneys should be equipped with the following:
Chimney cap
Controls wind, keeps smoke from blowing back down chimney
* Keeps out rain, which combines with creosote to form a corrosive acid that weakens masonry.
Spark arrester
Half-inch iron mesh screen
* Keeps sparks from flying out, prevents birds and animals from nesting.
Safety Tips
* Discard fireplace ashes into a metal bucket and store away from house
* Use a fireplace screen
* Keep hearth area free of flammable objects
* Keep fire extinguisher nearby
* Stack logs at back of firebox; do not overload
*
Towering Inferno
Creosote is a highly flammable, tarlike residue that accumulates in wood-burning fireplaces and chimneys. Thick deposits make a fireplace burn inefficiently, and can cause chimney fires. How they occur:
1. Creosote buildup ignites.
2. Fireplace makes a roaring or whistling sound as intense heat draws more air up chimney, making creosote burn faster and hotter. Temperatures can reach 2,000 degrees and damage masonry.
3. Flames and debris spew from chimney and may also shoot out front of firebox into home interior.
If You Have a Chimney Fire
* Call Fire Department
* Get everyone out of the house
Attempt these steps if you can do so without risk to yourself:
* Close damper
* If fireplace is equipped with glass doors, close them
* Spray roof with water hose
More Information
* Chimney Safety Institute of America: (800) 536-0118 or www.csia.org
* Hearth Products Assn. of America: (703) 522-0086 or www.hearthassoc.org
Sources: Chimney Safety Institute of America, Hearth Products Assn., Orange County Fire Authority
Graphics reporting by JANICE JONES DODDS/Los Angeles Times
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Fireplace and Heater Safety Tips
Here are some tips for what to burn--and not to burn--in your fireplace:
NATURAL WOOD
* Use dry wood: It burns cleaner and hotter, leaving less creosote.
* Test for dryness: Logs feel light and make a hollow-sounding “thunk” when two pieces are struck together. Logs light easily and do not crack and sizzle while burning.
* Storage: During cool weather, keep a week’s supply near the house and store the remainder in a dry place, preferably off the ground. Cover with a tarp during rainy season.
* Fresh stuff: Freshly cut wood should be split and left to dry for six months to one year before use. This process is called seasoning.
OTHER LOGS
Paper-wrapped logs made of compressed wood byproducts produce excessive heat if improperly used:
* Burn one at a time; do not stack
* Leave whole; do not split or break into pieces
* Do not mix with wood logs
CERAMIC LOGS
Used in gas fireplaces, resemble real logs.
* Do not mix with wood or manufactured fire logs.
WHAT NOT TO BURN
* Discarded Christmas trees: They explode when ignited, sending sparks and debris into house and up chimney
* Gift-wrapping, household trash: Colored paper emits toxic fumes, causes creosote; burning pieces may float up chimney and ignite roof
* Treated lumber: Emits toxic fumes, causes creosote
Here are some safety tips for using your home heating systems. A malfunctioning heater can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Symptoms
* Acrid odor
* Eye irritation
* Irritability and listlessness in people and pets
* Overwhelming sleepiness
Prevention:
* Follow maintenance instructions for cleaning and changing filters
* Have the system professionally inspected periodically to make sure it is not blocked, corroded or compromised by any leakage and that all joints are properly connect-
ed. High winds, falling limbs and improper roof repairs can damage the venting system.
* Watch for unusual character-
istics in pilot light and burner flames. They should be blue--not yellow-- consistent in shape and should not appear to “float” above the burner.
* No soot should accumulate near the appliance.
Source: Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
Graphics reporting by JANICE JONES DODDS / L.A. Times
