Firefighters Warn Chimney Fires Are Major Threat to Your Home ...

Hendersonville House Chimney ?

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. --

Jim Rank says he won't be using his chimney any time soon. He was entertaining family in his Hendersonville home when someone decided to add cardboard to the flames.

?Within a matter of seconds the chimney caught on fire,? said Rank. ?It sounded like a train coming through the house."???

The Valley Hill Fire Department says the fire was knocked out fast with little damage to Rank's home. But you may not be so lucky. Firefighters call chimney fires one of the worst threats to your house.

"They get up into the attic area, into the voids of the structure which is difficult to access,? said Fire Educator Alan Shaver with the Valley Hill Fire Department. ?A lot of times we have to use equipment to cut into the roof or into the wall."

Shaver warns be careful when it comes to your chimney. To reduce your risk of a chimney fire he says keep your fires small and stay with them. Use seasoned, dry wood. And keep your chimney clean, giving the fire room to breathe.??

?Keep the air inlets on the fireplaces open to allow adequate combustion of the wood that's in the fire place."

Shaver adds the best way to protect your family and home is to have your chimneys cleaned and inspected by a certified sweep.

That's advice Rank admits he learned the hard way.

?Asking me now, I would say very important. Two weeks ago, I didn't think you had to clean a fire place chimney."

Shaver also mentions when it comes to the left over ashes, you should store them in a metal container and wet them down with water.

Keep in mind this winter, chimneys aren't the only threat to watch for. Space heaters make up one-third of all heat-related house fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Space heaters should always be placed away from things that can burn.

During the holidays, you should also treat candles with the same care.

And your best bet is to make sure your smoke detector is working.

Source: http://www2.wspa.com/news/2012/nov/20/firefighters-warn-chimney-fires-are-major-threat-y-ar-5013218/

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