Accidents involving fireplaces are a major cause of preventable home fires. County Fire urges residents to keep safe while they keep warm. Here is Caitlin Logan with some cool weather safety tips to help you stay warm safely…
Stay safe while you stay warm! Have your chimneys inspected and cleaned regularly. Be sure to have a proper spark arrester on all chimney tops and that tree branches are cleared at least 10 feet from the chimney opening. Never use a fireplace during high winds. Store paper, plastic containers, and other flammable materials at least three feet from the fireplace. Also, store cooled ashes in a tightly sealed metal container. Never burn trash, paper, or green wood in your fireplace, as these materials cause a combustible build-up on the lining of your fireplace. Be sure to have a fireplace screen large enough to block flying embers and rolling logs from escaping, with openings of no more than a half-inch. Before leaving the house or going to bed, make sure that any fires are completely out. For additional safety tips, please visit www.sbcfire.org.
FIREPLACE SAFETY TIPS
