Space heaters also pose risks
Winter is prime time for flue and chimney fires in the region as people fire up their wood stoves and fireplaces for the colder weather, but firefighters say people should take precautions such as an annual cleaning before lighting that fire. fan for fire stove
The number of chimney fires increases heading into the holidays and winter months as people begin using wood-burning fireplaces and stoves, according to local firefighters. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage or destroy homes and injure or kill people.
"The second leading cause of house fires is heating fires of various kinds," said John Vanatta, deputy fire chief in Rogers, Ark. "So, we definitely want people to be as safe and cognizant of that as possible, so check your smoke detectors, get your chimney swept. If you're using a fireplace or a pellet stove, chimney sweeping annually is always recommended to keep all the creosote out because we do get chimney fires and stack fires with those."
Fireplaces and wood stoves are designed to contain wood-fuel fires while providing heat for a home. Chimneys expel the byproducts of combustion, which include smoke, water vapor, gases, unburned wood particles, hydrocarbon, tar fog, and assorted minerals, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As these substances leave the fireplace or wood stove and flow up into the relatively cooler chimney, condensation occurs. The resulting residue that sticks to the inner walls of the chimney is called creosote.
Creosote is a black or brown residue that can be crusty and flaky -- tar-like, drippy and sticky -- or shiny and hardened. All forms are highly combustible. If it builds up in sufficient quantities and the internal flue temperature is high enough, the result could be a chimney fire.
Capt. Andrew Horton with the Fayetteville (Ark.) Fire Marshal's Office encourages homeowners to have a professional do an annual inspection to make sure there's no creosote buildup and that there are no voids in the masonry leading into an attic space in order to prevent fires.
Horton said Fayetteville crews have not responded to any flue or chimney fires yet, but with frigid temperatures forecast for this week, he expects there to be some.
"In town, we haven't yet, not necessarily related to that, but we will. It's just a matter of time," Horton said. "We always try to prevent history from reoccurring, but it's gonna happen if you don't get the word out and educate."
A recent example of what can happen occurred at about 7:15 p.m. Dec. 29. Goshen (Ark.) fire crews were dispatched to the 18900 block of Blue Springs Road for a residential structure fire. Crews arrived to find a large multistory residence with light smoke coming from the eaves around the second floor, according to a department social media post. It was quickly determined the initial cause was a flue fire that had spread to the insulation around the flue pipe.
According to the post, firefighters accessed the affected area from both the roof and the interior of the residence to extinguish the fire and prevent further damage.
"This incident serves as a serious reminder to clean your chimney at least once a year, and ensure that it is clean prior to burning wood fires inside of your home," the post states.
A dozen firefighters, five fire trucks, and one ambulance responded to the incident. Mutual aid was provided by firefighters from the Round Mountain Fire Department, Nob Hill Fire Department, and Central EMS.
Crews often respond to fires resulting from people overfilling their fireboxes, Horton said.
"Normally, it's just putting a lot of wood in a box and getting it too hot," he said. "Just getting a really hot firebox and not giving it a break and too much of that fuel building up: When we go to a chimney fire, that's normally the culprit, lack of maintenance and improper care."
Horton said if you're going to burn wood, it needs to be seasoned and dry hardwood that will burn cleaner.
Vanatta said it's also important to have carbon monoxide detectors.
"Carbon monoxide becomes a concern because people are using their gas cook stove for heat sometimes," Vanatta said. "They'll open their gas stoves just trying to heat their apartment or their house with that. It causes carbon monoxide to build up."
The same is true with fireplaces and pellet stoves, which can build up too much smoke and produce carbon monoxide if the flue is obstructed or not working correctly, Vanatta said.
Fire departments are happy to come to check residences and businesses for safety or if someone has a concern, Vanatta said.
"Obviously, we recommend that, for your chimneys and pellet stoves, you have a certified chimney sweep come out and clean that out," Vanatta said. "We can't do that for them. We can test for carbon monoxide buildup if there's a concern."
The use of space heaters is also responsible for a lot of home fires, Vanatta said.
"Plug your space heater directly into the wall. No surge strips. No extension cords," Vanatta said. "They tend to overload those things. And unplug it when you leave."
Nearly half of all home heating fires happen during December, January, and February, and they're often caused when a space heater, typically an electric one, is placed too close to curtains, bedding, or upholstered furniture, according to Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and the National Fire Protection Agency recommend space heaters be placed on a hard, level, and nonflammable surface, not on a table.
Establish a 3-foot, kid- and pet-free zone around the heater, and never put a space heater in a child's room. Keep the space heater at least 3 feet from combustible materials, such as furniture, bedding and curtains. Don't use a heater in a workshop or garage near flammable paints, gas cans or matches.
Finally, people should turn the heater off when they leave the room or go to bed and not use it if the cord is frayed or worn.
Warming frozen pipes with a gas torch is another no-no for homeowners, Vanatta said. He advises people to call a plumber.
Working fires in the winter is also extra dangerous for firefighters, he added.
"One of the issues is most of what we use to put out fires is water, and water freezes," Vanatta said. "So we end up with a lot of ice on the fire ground. Water turning to ice is a huge problem for us."
Safe and warmHere are some fireplace and wood stove safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency: Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out. Don't burn paper in a fireplace or wood stove. Put the fire out before going to sleep or leaving home. Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 3 feet from a home. Make sure a stove is 3 feet from anything that can burn.Source: FEMA
Here are some fireplace and wood stove safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency:
Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out.
Don't burn paper in a fireplace or wood stove.
Put the fire out before going to sleep or leaving home.
Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 3 feet from a home.
Make sure a stove is 3 feet from anything that can burn.
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