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.
MAKE SURE YOUR FIREPLACE IS SAFE
