After String Of Fires, Bucks County Officials Warn About Fireplace Safety
By Brad Segall
IVYLAND, Pa. (CBS) --- Fire investigators in Bucks County are putting out a warning to residents after a string of fires caused by issues related to the fireplace.
As the mercury continues to plummet, more people are lighting fireplaces and wood burning stoves to produce more heat.
Since late November there have been six house fires throughout Bucks County that can be attributed directly to fireplaces. County Assistant Fire Marshal Kevin Flanagan says a big problem has been improper disposal of ashes.
"Everybody likes to sit there and look at a fireplace, but you need to be aware that's an active fire inside there and there's a lot of precautionary measures that should be taken when you're going to use a fireplace," he warns.
He says people assume if they don't use the fireplace for a day or two it's cold.
"What happens is the embers, they're embedded in the firewood so you get in there you rustle them around, expose some oxygen to them and hours later we have a fire," Flanagan explains.
He says first, to get rid of the ashes, make sure the embers are cold: "Use a metal bucket to clean them out with. Take them out of your house, and have another metal container where you're going to dump them in that you can place a lid on and it's away from any combustible material."
In addition to that, Flanagan says you should have a professional check the inside of the chimney and the piping to make sure they're in working order.
Of course, he says it's important to make sure smoke detectors are working.
