Chimney fires cause hundreds of deaths and millions of dollars
in lost property every year in
the United States. But they can be easily prevented, said
University of Georgia scientists.
The key is to keep the fireplace free of cresote build-up, said
Julian Beckwith, a UGA
Extension Service wood products specialist with the D.B. Warnell
School of Forest Resources.
Creosote is a flammable, sticky substance caused by unburned
gases that condense on the
inside of the chimney.
“We are most concerned about people not keeping their chimneys
cleaned properly,” said Dale
Dorman, an Extension Service housing specialist with the UGA
College of Family and
Consumer Sciences.
To prevent creosote build-up, Dorman said, take some preburning
safety precautions. Check
the chimney closely for creosote. Or have a professional chimney
sweep do it for you.
“A quarter-inch of creosote build-up signals the time for a
cleanup,” she said. “Check as often
as twice a month during the heating season.”
The chimneys of open fireplaces need cleaning only every two or
three years, she said. But
those serving wood-burning stoves and manufactured metal
fireplaces require cleaning
annually, she said. That’s because their fires burn more slowly
and produce more creosote.
The county extension office can provide thorough information on
how to properly clean your
chimney.
You can protect your chimney from creosote build-up while your
fire is burning, Dorman
said. Burn only well-seasoned wood, and avoid using low damper
settings for extended times.
The temperature of the fire also plays a big role in creosote
formation or burning, she said.
Always run a wood stove within the manufacturer’s recommended
temperature limits. “Too
low a temperature increases creosote build-up,” she said, “and
too high a temperature may
eventually cause damage to the chimney and result in a chimney
fire.”
Avoid roaring fires, Beckwith said, by adding only enough fuel
to keep the fire at the desired
temperature. And never burn household trash, cardboard or
Christmas trees in your fireplace.
The sparks they produce can lead to chimney fires.
Being prepared to deal with a chimney fire, he said, starts with
being able to identify them.
“Sucking sounds, a load roar and shaking pipes are all signs
that you have a chimney fire,” he
said.
Fires can be controlled, he said, with minimal damage if you
follow some guidelines. “Always
call the fire department first,” he said. “Cut off the fire’s
air supply by closing any air intake
vents to the firebox, close the stove damper, and always keep a
class ABC dry chemical fire
extinguisher handy.”
Check the structural soundness of the chimney, too, Dorman
said. “Check for any damages
that may have happened in the past heating season,” she
said. “Look often for signs of
structural failure and have any damages repaired immediately.”
Other signs of structural damage include corrosion or rusting of
the inner liners of metal
chimneys and buckling, separation of the seam or collapsing of
the inner lining of metal
chimneys, Dorman said.
Improper installation of the fireplace or stove is another
culprit of starting fires, she said.
Placing the chimney too close to wood framing or thermal
insulation or improperly passing the
chimney through a ceiling or wall can cause the wood framing to
ignite.
