Fireplace Fire Safety

12/3/2021 (Permalink)

“1 of every 6 home fires,” according to the American Red Cross, is the result of heating equipment, including fireplaces.

Winter and its chilly temperatures bring ample opportunities for us to put our fireplaces to use. While effective in heating our homes, fireplaces can also present fire hazards for your home. With a thorough understanding of fireplace fire hazard statistics and preventative measures against dangerous fires resulting from fireplace mishaps, you can protect your home from devastating and unexpected fire damage this winter. 

Overview of Fireplace Statistics

“1 of every 6 home fires,” according to the American Red Cross, is the result of heating equipment, including fireplaces. They also assert that from December to February, the height of winter in the United States, “1 in every 5 home fire deaths and half of all fires caused by home heating” take place. But what exactly is it that causes such devastating consequences to homes and those living in them? “The leading factor to home heating fires,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Fire Protection Agency, “was failure to clean, principally creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.” In fact, fireplace complications account for 87% of heating equipment fires in residential buildings, according to the EPA. Clearly, fire safety must be exercised in homes when interacting with fireplaces in order to minimize consequences.

“So, What Can I Do?”: Chimney Fire Prevention

We’ll cover a few preventative measures that you can take as a homeowner in order to decrease the likelihood of a fire igniting as the result of a fireplace fire. Flammable household items, such as clothing, newspaper, and, especially during the holidays, wrapping paper, are all considered “fuel” for chimney fires, according to the Red Cross. These items should always remain at least 3 feet away from your fireplace. Utilizing a fire screen is another way to make sure that embers, sparks, and other elements of your fireplace fires do not readily escape your fireplace or make their way towards flammable objects within the room. Once finished with your fireplace fire, be sure to extinguish the fire thoroughly, leaving no possibility for it to reignite while unattended. Once per year, according to the Red Cross, it may also be helpful to enlist the help of a fireplace expert in checking and cleaning your home’s fireplace. Lastly, consider installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home and keep a fire extinguisher handy in the event of an emergency. 

What To Do If Your Fireplace Instigates a Fire

It is somewhat rare for a fireplace fire to escape the chimney and cause objects in the room to catch fire, but as we have seen through the statistics shared at the beginning of this blog article, it can happen and, when it does, the consequences can be catastrophic. In the event that the unexpected comes to fruition, give SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team - Team Wall a call. You can contact our local SERVPRO of Metro Pittsburgh East office at (412) 672-5400 in order to speak directly with one of our team members. Our team of fire damage specialists has seen it all and is always prepared to tackle any size or type of fire emergency. We will restore your home to its preloss condition through our acclaimed Fire Damage Restoration services, as well as our Water Damage Restoration services, which can be helpful in cleaning up when hoses and water are utilized to extinguish the fire. Fires can also leave behind cosmetic damage and unpleasant odors, both of which we combat with our Cleaning services and Odor Removal service. On our website, you’ll also find a few of our favorite Fire Damage Tips, which provide information concerning what to do before our crews arrive on the scene. No matter what happens this winter, know that SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team - Team Wall is always standing by, ready to help.