Firefighters (and Santa Claus!) like clean chimneys

ìPeter Piper told my teacher there wonít be any more Santa Claus, because people didnít clean their chimneys on Chimney-Cleaning Day.î – From the New York Teachersí Monograph, 1916Although there is no longer a designated ìchimney cleaning dayî on U.S. calendars, keeping chimneys cleaned and in good working order can reduce the risk of destructive chimney fires. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that between 2009 and 2013, a yearly average of almost 18,000 U.S. residential structure fires involved fireplaces, chimneys and chimney connectors. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission puts that number at more than 22,000.Of these fires:

• About 94 percent involved solid-fueled equipment such as wood-burning fireplaces or stoves and their chimneys.
• ìFailure to cleanî contributed to more than two-thirds (68 percent) of the fires.
• Three-fifths of the fires occurred in December, January and February.

Why a clean chimney mattersAnything that burns produces byproducts, including smoke, gases, water vapor and particulates. Chimneys allow these byproducts to vent safely from a fireplace or wood stove to the outside of the structure.In the case of fireplaces or stoves that burn wood or coal, condensation of smoke particulates can occur on the inner surface of the chimney, which tends to be relatively cooler than the heated smoke. Over time, this residue accumulates and forms a highly combustible substance known as creosote. A chimney fire happens when the high temperatures inside the flue causes ignition of the creosote buildup.Some chimney fires create a loud noise or produce visible flame, while others go undetected until an inspection reveals that one has occurred. Regardless, a chimney fire can cause significant damage, both to the chimney and to the structure.Preventing creosote buildupThe Chimney Safety Institute of America website (http://www.csia.org/) lists the following conditions that contribute to creosote buildup.

1. Restricted air supply caused by
   • Closing the glass doors while the fire is burning
   • Failing to open the damper wide enough
   • Lack of sufficient airflow to rapidly move heated smoke up the chimney (The longer smoke lingers in the chimney, the more likely creosote will form.)
   • Closing a wood stoveís air inlets too soon or too much
2. Burning unseasoned or ìgreenî wood
   • Firewood should be split and allowed to dry for a minimum of six months to one year.
3. Overloading the firebox of a wood stove to achieve a longer burn time
4. Cooler than normal chimney temperatures

Additional fireplace and wood stove safety tipsFireplaces and wood stoves can provide warmth and a pleasant ambience, especially during the holidays. But their use involves fire, so it is important to keep safety in mind as well. Here are some simple tips from NFPA and CSIA.

• Have fireplaces, wood stoves and chimneys cleaned and inspected at least once a year (more often if burning a lot of wood) by a qualified professional chimney service technician.
• Keep exterior tree branches at least 15 feet away from chimneys.
• Keep furniture and combustible items at least 3 feet away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
• Burn only wood – not trash, treated lumber or construction scraps.
• Use a sturdy screen in front of open fireplaces to catch sparks.
• Maintain a 3-foot ìkid-free zoneî around open fires
• Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Test them once a month.
• Make sure ashes are completely cool before putting them in a metal container.
• Store ash containers a safe distance away from the home and where it cannot be accidentally knocked over by wind or animals.

The members of the Falcon Fire Protection District wish everyone a safe, peaceful and enjoyable holiday season!

Stay connected with the FFPDWebsite: http://falconfirepd.orgFacebook: Falcon Fire DepartmentTwitter: @FalconFireDept