Fire Safety Tips

Over one-third of Americans live in homes that require fireplaces, wood burning stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as the major source of heating. Heating homes with wood and fuel can present great risks, which is why it is no surprise that "heating fires" make up 36 percent of all home fires. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has some simple tips to follow when breaking in your fireplace this autumn:

• Make sure your chimney or wood stove is cleaned and inspected every year. A buildup of creosote is a major cause of home fires.
• Clear the area around the hearth. Make sure there are no flammable items close to the fireplace or wood burning stove.
• Use a metal mesh screen when using your fireplace; never leave glass doors closed when a fire is burning.
• Never restrict air supply to fireplaces or stoves; this could increase buildup of creosote.
• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Do not burn trash or cardboard in a fireplace or stove.
• Install fire alarms on every floor and inspect them monthly. Smoke detector batteries need to be changed at least once a year.