Fireplaces create a cozy, comfortable atmosphere in your home. If not maintained properly, however, they can be dangerous. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 31 percent of home fires between 2011 and 2015 were caused by fireplaces and chimneys, resulting in an estimated 262 million dollars in direct property damage each year.
At such a high cost, it’s crucial that homeowners with fireplaces know how to use them safely. Use these fireplace maintenance and safety tips from the experts at ServiceMaster by LoveJoy to learn how you can safely heat your home all season.
Fireplace Safety Tips
Use these safety tips to help prevent a fire from getting out of control:
Only burn hardwood and approved manufactured logs
- Burning items that are unsafe can cause soot and creosote to build up in your chimney, which can combust and ignite a chimney fire.
- At the same time, unapproved materials like wet wood, trash, paper, lighter fuel or other dangerous items can cause a fire that began in your fireplace to spread through your entire home.
- To stay safe, only use dry or seasoned wood and approved fire logs and starter logs in your fireplace.
Always use a fire screen
- Fire screens can help keep embers in the fireplace, preventing them from flying out into your room.
- For extra safety, keep flammable items away from the immediate vicinity. This includes holiday decorations, wrapping paper, furniture, carpet, people and pets.
Maintain your fireplace
- Have your fireplace and chimney inspected before you use it for the first time this year.
- That way, professionals can clean out any creosote build-up, detect any chimney leaks and ensure that the structure is safe for use all season long.
Practice basic fire safety
Use these essential fire safety tips to help prevent a fire in your home:
- Keep a fire extinguisher close by to douse small flames.
- Test your smoke detectors monthly to ensure they will alert the household if a fire breaks out.
Use these essential fire safety tips to help prevent a fire in your home:
- Always open the damper before lighting a fire to avoid trapping poisonous gases in your home.
- Never leave your fireplace unattended
- Never overload the fireplace.
With these tips in mind, you can help keep your home cozy and safe this season. For more fireplace safety precautions, read the recommendations provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
How To Put Out Wood Fires
Wood burning fires typically stem from a fireplace or fire pit and are categorized as Class A fires – or a fire that uses flammable material as its fuel sources. Wood, paper, trash, fabric and plastics are also common sources of Class A fires.
If a fire originating from your indoor fireplace gets out of hand, here are some dos and don’ts on how to put out a wood burning fire:
- Do: Use a fireplace poker to spread out the wood and embers.
- Do: Extinguish the flames using the ash from your embers once they cool down.
- Do: Put a layer of baking soda over the ash once the fire is out to eliminate any remaining embers. This adds an additional layer that prevents oxygen from reaching the embers.
- Don’t: Remove the burning logs. Doing so increases the risk of the fire spreading to other parts of your home as you attempt to remove it.
- Don’t: Douse the flames with water in a fireplace or in an enclosed room unless this is a serious emergency and there’s no other option. Using water creates massive amounts of smoke and can cause steam burns. It can also damage your fireplace leading to cracks and heaves due to the sudden change in temperature.
What to Do During and After a Fire
- A fire extinguisher should be utilized for fires that can quickly be contained. For large fires, engage the emergency alarm system and exit the building using the evacuation routes determined in the emergency plan.
- After exiting the building premises, employees should immediately call 911.
- Do an official headcount once the entire workforce is out of the building. If someone is missing, alert emergency services and the fire department personnel. Do not attempt to rush back in to find them.
- Call fire damage restoration professionals, such as ServiceMaster by LoveJoy, and the insurance company. Document damages in detail to make the claims process easier.
What to Do During and After a Fire
If a fire becomes uncontrollable, leave your house immediately. Close the door as you leave to try to contain the flames. Once you’re safe, call 911 and do not go back inside your home until you’re told by a professional – like a firefighter – that the area is safe for reentry.
Contact the Fire Damage Restoration Professionals at ServiceMaster by LoveJoy
Despite our best efforts to protect our homes, fires still happen. When they occur, they can cause serious damage to our homes. Even if you get the fire out quickly, soot damage can still lurk throughout your home and cause significant destruction. Our fire and smoke damage restoration specialists at ServiceMaster by LoveJoy act fast to guide you through crisis to resolution, all while keeping you informed of the process.
Call the experts at ServiceMaster by LoveJoy at (678) 293-0297 for Conyers customers or (770) 983-6665 for Roswell customers. You may also schedule an appointment online.
Our Fire Damage Restoration Services
With the equipment, experience and expertise required to get the job done right, our professionals are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help restore your home after a disaster.
