Chimney fires can have devastating consequences – here’s how you can prevent them

JAKE, MATT AND CAITLIN. GOOD MORNING. Yes, an important reason for a chimney fire to break out is poor ventilation. NOW THIS WOOD STOVE IS NOW IN OPERATION. However, before using such a stove, it is important that your chimney undergoes an annual inspection. THIS MORNING BRIAN KLINE COMES TO ME WITH SMOKE STACK MASONRY. BRIAN, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN YOUR INSPECTIONS? We ensure that the chimney is clear from bottom to top. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO CRACKS OR MISSING MORTAR JOINTS DURING VIDEO SCANNING. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO NEST OR ANYTHING IS CAUSED BY ANIMALS GOING IN AND OUT. AND TO MAINTAIN GOOD VENTILATION. It is also important to know what needs to be burned inside a wood stove or a fireplace that leads to a chimney. WHAT WILL YOU PUT IN THIS WOOD STOVE NOW? So I put some cherry wood in there and usually we want to make sure it burns. WELL SEASONED FIREWOOD. OAK, locusts, cherry. We don’t want to burn pine trees or anything like that. And we want to make sure our wood has been split and seasoned for about a year before we burn it. AND IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THE AREA WHERE YOU’RE BURNING IS ALSO CLEAR. THAT’S CORRECT. All right, BRIAN, THANKS. AND ANOTHER TIP FOR YOU: WHEN YOU STORE YOUR WOOD FOR STORAGE

Chimney fires can have devastating consequences – here’s how you can prevent them

Chimney fires are more common in the colder months of the year. Some homeowners may not be aware that their chimneys are currently a fire hazard.

Updated: December 5, 2024, 11:43 a.m. EST

Chimney fires are more common at this time of year. Some homeowners may not be aware that their chimneys pose a fire hazard. Brian Cline, who works at Smokestack Masonry in Lancaster County, said poor ventilation is a common cause of chimney fires. They don’t often use a fireplace or wood stove. Cline said seasoned hardwood is an acceptable material for burning in fireplaces and wood stoves. Other products could cause fires. Once enough ash has accumulated, Cline recommends disposing of it in a metal bin and leaving it outside. He said it was important to also cover the bucket with a metal lid because the wind could ignite the ash.

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. –

Chimney fires are more common at this time of year. Some homeowners may not be aware that their chimneys pose a fire hazard.

Brian Cline, who works at Smokestack Masonry in Lancaster County, said poor ventilation is a common cause of chimney fires.

He said annual inspections are essential to prevent fires from starting, even if you rarely use a fireplace or wood stove.

Cline said seasoned hardwood is an acceptable material for burning in fireplaces and wood stoves. Other products could cause fires.

Once enough ash has accumulated, Cline recommends disposing of it in a metal bucket and placing it outside. He said it was important to also cover the bucket with a metal lid because the wind could ignite the ash.