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Have you ever had a neighbor call to tell you that there are flames shooting out of the top of your chimney?  Have you heard what sounds like a blast furnace or jet engine emitting from your chimney?  If you have, those are telltale signs of a chimney fire.

Using wood to heat your home is great, as long as you know the risks and take the proper steps to mitigate them.

• Chimney fires are caused when creosote deposits inside your chimney or stovepipe ignite.  Creosote is the dark brown or black flammable tar deposited by wood smoke as it rises inside your chimney or flue.  Creosote is usually heaviest in areas where the smoke has to slow down (bends, transitions, and within the last 10 feet of the chimney).  It’s highly flammable and capable of burning at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  Temperatures this high are capable of damaging or even causing your chimney to fail catastrophically.
• Causes of Creosote. Creosote happens due to several inefficient burning practices. Burning unseasoned wood, trash, glossy paper, and cardboard all increase creosote buildup. Restricting the air flow by using a damper may help keep more heat in the room by not allowing it to be pulled up the chimney, but it also slows the smoke down depositing more creosote as the smoke  Exterior chimneys are cooled more rapidly by the outside air, causing condensation and creosote deposits to form more readily. Filling your firebox full of wood and restricting the air flow in an effort to hold the fire for as long as possible is a common, but potentially problematic practice.
• How to Reduce Creosote Buildup. Fortunately, there are several “best practices” that you can follow to help reduce the amount of creosote deposited in your chimney.

Burning only dry well seasoned wood will produce less dense smoke.
Keeping your fires smaller and hotter will help “consume” the fuel more completely.
Have your chimney cleaned and inspected on a regular basis by someone who is qualified to do so.  Depending on their findings, you may need to adjust your standard burning practices.

Smoke and CO Detectors. Don’t overlook the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on all levels of your home and in each sleeping area.  CO is lighter than air and its effects are cumulative over time.  It bonds to our blood hemoglobin and reduces the ability of our blood to transport the required amount of oxygen to our body’s tissues. This leads to cell death and CO poisoning.

The symptoms of CO poisoning include tiredness, dizziness, and nausea. If you have a combustible fueled appliance in your home and are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek fresh air as soon as possible and call 9-1-1.

Keep in mind that OCFD6 tends to see most of our chimney fire responses at the beginning and the end of the home heating season.