| You're proud of your fireplace or wood stove - | | | | you're keeping newspapers far enough way from |
| who isn't? Even when the flames aren't flickering, | | | | a fireplace or wood/coal stove; suddenly, it |
| fireplaces are beautiful, warm, comforting, | | | | seems, the flammables are way too close. A fire |
| romantic, the centerpiece of a fine home, and a | | | | could throw a spark (or just heat) - and ignite |
| throwback to times when the fireplace was the | | | | those combustibles. |
| essential fixture in the house. That's why people | | | | Especially easy to forget: Stacking combustibles |
| place family pictures on a mantle, decorate a | | | | and materials with low flash points next to hot |
| wood stove pipe with holiday wreaths, and hang | | | | wood and coal stove surfaces. Of course, when |
| stockings over the hearth. It reminds us of all | | | | you installed the stove, you kept plenty of room |
| that's good and warm. | | | | between the wall and stove pipe - until someone |
| And if we practice good fireplace safety, the | | | | decided that "temporarily" that's a great place to |
| flames throw off only heat and light and let us | | | | put a tall gift box "just to get it out of the way |
| enjoy the fireplace with with no trouble. But other | | | | for a moment." |
| times, even experienced, smart people may let | | | | 3. Don't knock off for the evening without |
| their guard down. Enjoy the warmth and avoid | | | | considering the fire. After a long night of building a |
| the trouble by remembering the following: | | | | fire, you may nod off and forget about the fire. |
| 1. We're not kidding - open the flue. Sooner or | | | | If the doors are open, that could lead to the fire |
| later, it happens to everyone. We know one | | | | spreading. Sure, it's easy enough to close the fire |
| owner of a winter cabin who, for 20 years, never | | | | doors, but no one intends to crash out suddenly. |
| forgot to open the flu. But as he got older, he | | | | Best bet: As soon as you feel the fatigue, |
| stopped vacationing there as much. Just before | | | | prepare the fire to go out - stop putting in fuel, |
| he sold the house, he fired up his hearth one last | | | | close the doors (if possible, separate the ashes |
| time - and forgot to open the chimney flue. He | | | | and remaining fuel sources within the hearth), and |
| scorched the fireplace, leaving ugly burn marks on | | | | let the fire smolder. |
| the stone front. | | | | Bonus reminder: Don't shop vac the ashes from |
| Bottom line: Remember to open it. Keep your | | | | the hearth. It'll clog the filter, for starters. But |
| flashlight handy next to the fireplace so you can | | | | worse, ashes that look completely out may be |
| quickly do a visual inspection if you aren't | | | | burning just beneath the surface the next day. |
| absolutely sure. | | | | You'll discover as soon as you as you start |
| 2. Don't put combustibles too close to a fire, | | | | vacuum. And yes, we know at least two people |
| stove surfaces, or other heat surfaces. Clutter | | | | who've done this. |
| happens, especially during the holidays. One day | | | | |