The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District provides a number of tips for keeping your home safe and warm. These tips include having your chimney inspected annually, having working smoke alarms on every level of your home, keeping a fire extinguisher nearby, never burning trash or using accelerants in your fireplace, installing a mesh screen cap over the top of the chimney, using a stovepipe thermometer to monitor flue temperature, and cutting away any branches hanging above the chimney vent.
Additionally, they recommend letting ashes cool completely before removing them, and keeping ashes in a metal container at least 10 feet from your home. Finally, they suggest closing the mesh screen when the glass doors are open, and to keep the air in the chimney from entering your home when finishing the fire.
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Warm Home. Safe Home. Fireplace Safety Tips.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Have your chimney inspected annually by a certified chimney specialist. Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. FIRE RESCUE · EMS Have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Never burn trash or use accelerants in your fireplace. Store firewood at least 30 feet from your home.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE SERVICE
Chimney: Install a mesh screen cap over the top of the chimney. Call a certified chimney specialist to inspect and clean your chimney or wood stove annually.
Flue: Use a stovepipe thermometer to monitor flue temperature.
Air Inlets: Air inlets should always be kept open.
Mesh Gates: When the glass doors are open, close the mesh screen. It will help keep embers from escaping.
Hearth: The hearth should be completely clear of any debris, decorations or clutter.
Doors: Open or closed? Depends. Starting fire OPEN-air helps start the fire. During fire CLOSED-keeps fire contained and allows fan to heat your home.
4005 Port Chicago Hwy, Ste. 250 ● Concord, CA 94520 (925) 941-3300
Cut away any branches hanging above the chimney vent.
Ashes:
– Let ashes cool completely before removing them.
– If your fireplace doesn’t have an ash pit connected to the hearth, keep ashes in a metal container a safe distance from your home-at least 10 feet.
– Pour water over the ashes before throwing them away.
Finishing fire CLOSED-helps keep air in the chimney from entering your home.
Visit www.cccfpd.org for more information.
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