Monthly Safety Message: Fireplace, Wood Stove, and Space Heater Safety



	8200 Old Redwood Highway Windsor, CA 95492-9217	Telephone: (707) 838-1170 Fax: (707) 838-1173

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Monthly Safety Message: Fireplace, Wood Stove, and Space Heater Safety

Fireplace

The leaves are falling; the air is getting chilly. There's nothing like building a cozy fire in the fireplace or wood stove on a cold night. However, on those “Spare the Air” nights, you may pull out that old space heater.

If you are going to use your fireplace or wood stove, first make sure it’s not a “Spare the Air” day by going to our homepage at www.windsorfire.net or www.sparetheair.org. If you want to receive email notifications of Spare the Air days, you can register at www.sparetheair.org or by calling (800) 435-7247. You can also get a free App from the iPhone store that will alert you on your iPhone.

If there is no Spare the Air day in effect, consider the following before you light that wood fire:

When was the last time you had your chimney cleaned? Chimney fires are more common than one might think. Windsor Fire responds to two or three every winter. They generally occur because creosote, a sticky black byproduct of wood smoke, accumulates on the inside walls of a chimney flue and ignites. The resulting fire can be extremely hot (up to 2,000 degrees) and can quickly destroy a chimney or—worse—your roof and/or your home.

The good news is avoiding chimney fires is easy. It just takes regular inspection and cleaning to ensure that dangerous levels of creosote never build up in your flue. Have a professional inspect your chimney annually (look in the Yellow Pages under “Chimney & Fireplace Cleaning and Repairing.”) In addition to spotting a dirty flue, an inspector will detect any structural problems that require attention

If you burn wood regularly, you should also do a quick visual check of your flue periodically throughout the winter (if you burn daily, this could be as often as twice a month). The easiest way to check is to reach into the flue with a powerful flashlight and compact mirror from the cleanout door at the bottom of your chimney. If you see as little as 1/8 inch of creosote on the sides of your flue, it's time to clean. Don't forget to clean any stove pipe too.

If you experience a chimney fire (your first clue will likely be a loud roaring sound), immediately get everyone out of the building and call 911 from a neighbor’s or (707) 565-2121 from your cell. If you have a wood stove, shut down the air intake and close the damper if safe to do so; then evacuate.

Although gas-fired furnaces aren't susceptible to creosote buildup, they can create carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless but deadly gas (see below for more info about CO).Have a professional check your system thoroughly at the start of every heating season and whenever you suspect trouble. Ensure your CO detector is working. If it sounds, evacuate everyone to fresh air immediately and call 911 from your neighbor’s or (707) 565-2121 from your cell.

If you use portable space heaters in your home, be extremely careful:

Remember that space heaters require SPACE—nothing that can burn should be within three feet of any part of the heater.
Only use a space heater that is equipped with the safety feature that turns it off immediately if it tips over
Never leave a portable heater unattended.
Make sure the cord and plug aren't damaged in any way.
Make sure the cord is placed such that it doesn’t pose a tripping hazard.
NEVER use an extension cord with a space heater: In most cases the current indicated on the heater is greater than the extension cord can safely handle.

More about carbon monoxide: All combustion appliances, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, propane-fired hot-water heaters, and heating and cooking stoves, produce carbon monoxide (CO), an invisible, odorless and potentially lethal gas. If any of these appliances is not properly vented or has even a small leak, your house could be filling with carbon monoxide.

Mild CO poisoning may include flu-like symptoms: headaches, nausea and chronic fatigue. At higher levels, carbon monoxide causes loss of consciousness and death. A CO alarm will alert you to a problem before it's too late — particularly at night, when you and your family may be overcome while sleeping.

If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, IMMEDIATELY evacuate the premises, getting everyone to fresh air as quickly as possible. Call 911 from your neighbor’s or (707) 565-2121 from your cell.

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