Don’t let the sparks fly
There is nothing like sitting around an open fire on a chilly day and in the cold weather you may feel like turning up the heat with an open fire or wood burning stove.
Protect yourself from the threat from fire by following the advice below.
- have your chimney swept at least once a year, ideally in the autumn before your first log or coal fire, if you burn wood you should have your chimney swept more frequently
- avoid burning resinous woods
- only burn suitable fuels
- do not overload your fire place
- always check round the fire place for hot embers or sparks
- use a British Standard fire guard to prevent sparks escaping
- make sure embers are under control and properly put out before you go to bed or leave the house
- if you leave a wood burning stove on then ensure that the vents are closed to stop any sparks from leaving the burner
- make sure the appliance receives enough air to allow the fuel to burn properly
- maintain your appliance in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
- inspect your chimney breast, particularly the roof space. Make sure that it is sound and that the sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks
- avoid storing items in the roof space close to your chimney
