Fireplace safety

There is finally a chill in the air, and thoughts of firing up the fireplace are tempting.  However, according to the National Fire Protection Association, fireplaces and chimneys are involved in 42 percent of all home heating fires. Keep your holidays and winter season from getting smoked out by following these simple steps from the Bullhead City Fire Department and the NFPA to prep your fireplace before sparking up the logs.

• Clean out the chimney from all its soot and debris at least once a year.
• Check the structure for cracks, loose bricks, or missing mortar.
• Cap the chimney with wire-mesh covers to keep out animals, weather, and debris.
• Select dense, seasoned wood to burn.  Greenwood can build up creosote that can cause chimney fires.
• Keep fires small, so they don’t burn too hot and crack the chimney.
• Use kindling rather than flammable liquids to start the fire.
• Use a spark guard to keep errant embers from shooting out of the firebox
• Ensure there are working smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm in the home.

For additional information, please contact our Community Risk Reduction Division at 928-758-3971.

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