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Fireplace Safety
Home » Outdoor Furniture » Fireplaces » Fireplace Safety• Make sure that your house has operating smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Detection of any problems is your first line of defense. Never remove batteries from detectors. If false alarms are a problem, move the detector location not probe to false alarms (away from the kitchen) or invest in better detectors.
• Never leave a burning fire unattended. Any type of fireplace has potential hazard. Sparks can set surrounding objects on fire. Gas logs can malfunction giving off carbon monoxide. Flues and vents can be stopped up causing smoke and fumes to fill the house. Flammable objects can fall and land on the fireplace’s hot surfaces and ignite. Vigilance is the only protection from the unexpected
• Keep small children away from a hot fireplace. A fire screen or other barrier device is a good idea to keep them away from possible hot surfaces. Even well behaved children can unintentionally trip and fall landing on the fireplace’s hot surfaces getting badly burned.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in close proximity. Any possible accident can be quickly put out saving from more extensive damage if a charged fire extinguisher is at the ready to douse any flames.
• Never use gasoline or lighter fluid to start a fire. They are explosive and can quickly get out of control. Even their fumes are explosive.
• Store firewood away from the building. Firewood can attract termites and can be a fire hazard if sparks land on it from the chimney.
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