Keeping the fire IN your fireplace

1/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of West Amarillo is Here to Help when it comes to fire damage. 806-331-4555

Safely using your fireplace means:

• Ensure the damper is opened before lighting a fire and that it remains opened until the fire is completely out.
• The glass doors need to be kept open when using your fireplace as they are only meant to contain drafts when the fireplace is not in use, also fires can get hot enough to shatter the glass.
• Only burn wood! Plastics and glossy papers can have toxic fumes. Paper can also cast embers up the chimney and cause fires. Avoid wet or resinous woods such as pine as they can cause creosote to build up in the chimney which is a fire hazard.
• Only start a fire with a match or firelighter, don’t use flammable liquids.
• Keep flammable décor away from the fireplace, and don’t leave a fire unattended. Have a fire extinguisher handy, and know how to use it.
• Crack a window when burning a fire, they require a lot of oxygen. Have a carbon-monoxide detector.
• Clean the firebox between fires, putting the ashes into a metal container. Chimneys should be cleaned and inspected by a professional annually.
• The roof and chimney need to be kept clean of tree leaves and needles or other debris. Tree branches need to be trimmed away from the chimney.

Safety precautions can fail.  If or a loved one find yourselves the victim of a fire, Call SERVPRO of West Amarillo.  We're here to help.