Fireplace and chimney safety starts with a yearly chimney inspection by a qualified chimney professional. Keep furniture and decorations away from the fireplace opening, and make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work. Burn dry, seasoned wood and supervise the fire the entire time it is burning.
The operating advice here applies to conventional open wood-burning fireplaces with chimneys. Other fireplace types require their own operating instructions.
Fire Prevention Month is a reminder to review these precautions, which matter throughout the year. The steps below cover professional maintenance, checks before lighting, precautions while the fire burns, and handling embers and ashes afterward.
Arrange a yearly chimney inspection and discuss cleaning
Have a qualified chimney professional inspect your wood-burning fireplace’s chimney every year. A quick homeowner look is not a substitute for that assessment.
Inspection and cleaning do different jobs: an inspection assesses the chimney’s condition, while chimney cleaning removes accumulated deposits. Deposits such as creosote can contribute to fire risk. Discuss cleaning needs with the professional rather than assuming that the yearly inspection recommendation sets one cleaning schedule for every household.
Start by locating the latest inspection report and reviewing its date and recommendations. If you rent, ask your property manager for the report and discuss arranging the next inspection. If you cannot establish when the chimney was last inspected, arrange a professional assessment rather than assuming it is ready for use.
Check the hearth area and alarms before lighting
Before lighting a conventional open wood-burning fireplace, work through this checklist:
- Clear movable combustibles. Keep furniture, blankets and decorations at least three feet from the fireplace opening. This is a room-use buffer—not an installation clearance for mantels or built-in features. Follow the fireplace’s instructions for applicable clearance requirements.
- Check the alarms. Confirm that both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are functioning.
- Use a compatible spark screen. It helps contain sparks and embers escaping from the open fireplace. Follow the fireplace’s instructions for glass-door operation; a spark screen does not determine how those doors should be used.
- Verify the damper is open. If the fireplace has a damper, confirm that it is fully open before ignition.
Burn dry wood and supervise the fire
Choose dry, seasoned firewood for your open wood-burning fireplace. It produces less smoke and contributes less to soot buildup in the chimney than wet or freshly cut wood. Do not use wrapping paper, cardboard or household waste as fuel.
Keep an active fire supervised throughout the burn, even with a spark screen in place. Never leave it unattended or go to sleep while it is still burning.
Handle embers and ashes safely after the fire
Do not use the disappearance of flames as your cue to close the damper. In a conventional open wood-burning fireplace with a damper, leave it open until the embers have cooled completely.
Let ashes cool completely before transferring them to a lidded metal ash container; do not rely on a set waiting period. Keep the container outdoors, more than ten feet from the house.
Keep your fireplace’s operating instructions and latest chimney inspection record available for the next use.