The wood is stacked, the flue is open and the match is in hand. You’re about to enjoy a wonderful winter evening by the fire in Portland or Beaverton, Oregon. Just know this first: Heat sources ignite more than 50,000 home fires in the U.S. each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

We’re not trying to put a damper on the mood. We just want your fire to be as safe as it is warm, so here are five fireplace safety tips to remember at your home or your winter vacation getaway:

1. Maintain your fireplace, chimney and the surrounding area.
Each year, ideally before your first fire of the season, bring in a certified professional to have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned. Make sure you don’t have any flammable decorations or other debris around the hearth – an errant spark might ignite them. And check the venting systems for all heating equipment. Vent pipes should extend at least three feet from your roof.

2. Have the right safety equipment.
Whether you regularly build fires or not, your home needs to have at least one fire extinguisher, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level, inside and outside of sleeping areas. Remember to change the batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and fall. According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of home fire deaths by half. As for your fireplace, it should have glass doors or a metal mesh screen (both is ideal) to block wayward sparks.

3. Build a safe fire.
Use seasoned hardwood stacked – not too high – on a sturdy grate at the rear of the fireplace. In addition to being easier to control, smaller fires produce less smoke and are more likely to burn out completely. Always ensure the flue is fully open before starting a fire, and never use flammable liquids or other debris, such as cardboard or trash, to get it going. While the fire’s burning, leave the glass doors open enough for the fire to get adequate airflow but close the metal mesh screen.

4. Make sure it’s out before leaving – or sleeping.
It’s dangerous to leave any fire unattended, so only start one when you know you’ll be home (and awake) for an extended period. Whenever possible, let the fire die out on its own – slowly spreading out the logs will help. Trying to extinguish a fire in your fireplace with water can result in a lot of smoke and ash coming into your home.

5. Think ahead and be prepared for the worst.
No matter how diligent you are about fireplace safety, you still want adequate protection for your home should something happen. You need enough homeowners insurance coverage to completely rebuild your home, replace its contents and live somewhere else in the meantime, should it come to that. If you’re unsure whether you have all of that, your independent insurance agent can help with a yearly review of your homeowners policy and other coverages.

Cold winter nights and warm fires will always go hand in hand. With just a little bit of preparation and precaution – and the right insurance – you can make sure safety is part of that equation, too.

Contact Us!

At Fox Insurance, we can work with you to make sure you’ve got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable.  If you have any questions or needs be sure to call us at 503-277-2300 or send us a note at info [at] foxinsure [dot] com. Fox Insurance Agency are your local insurance experts serving Portland, Beaverton, and throughout the rest of Oregon and Washington.  We are always ready to assist you with your home insurance policy, auto insurance policy, and other insurance needs. You can also protect your property in the event of an earthquake with a personal earthquake insurance policy. Just ask our agents if your situation may benefit from a policy like this. You can also visit our insurance website 24/7 to see about the other insurance products we offer.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance.