Area fire departments hope residents will be wiser this winter by taking care of their wood-burning fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys, and by properly disposing of ashes.

In recent weeks, the departments have responded to calls for ashes that ignited and chimney fires, one in Pine that substantially damaged the home, and more. These incidents are preventable when residents follow some guidelines.

“It sounds funny to say it, but fire is dangerous,” Einar Jensen, spokesman for Evergreen Fire/Rescue, said. “We need to remember we can help control whether heat and fuel come together. If we allow it, that’s when we get fire.”

Disposing of ashes

Fireplace ashes cannot simply be thrown into the trash, fire department personnel said. It is essential to make sure the ashes are cold before disposal.

“Put fireplace ashes in a noncombustible container and place them outside on a noncombustible surface away from the house,” Jensen said.

Firefighters tell stories about people putting ashes, which turned out to be smoldering, in plastic bags, plastic buckets or trash bins. All of those led to fires that fire departments had to extinguish.

“Even if you can’t feel heat radiating off of the ashes, it’s still possible there are hot coals deep underneath the ash,” said Dan Hatlestad, battalion chief at Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District. “Ash acts as an insulator for the coals, helping them stay warm without burning themselves out. These latent coals can be hot enough to ignite paper, wood or vegetation, and easily melt through plastics.”

Hatlestad also suggested removing ashes regularly from fireplaces and woodstoves because the ashes will cool more quickly. He added that putting water on the ashes essential.

“Then, just like you would with a campfire, ensure the entire pile of ash is cool and remains wet before disposing of it,” he said.

Another concern, Jensen said, is residents who set hot ashes next to a house and/or right on a wood deck. The hot ashes can eventually burn down to the deck, starting it on fire, and that fire moves to the house.

Chimney cleaning

Firefighters advise that chimneys should be clean once a year by a licensed contractor. 

“For me, when it comes to my safety and my family’s safety, I want to do it right with a licensed inspector,” Jensen said. “I want the work done by someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Chimneys filled with creosote can ignite, moving sometimes undetected to other parts of the house, and by the time people see smoke and flames, it’s too late.

Paying for a chimney cleaning and inspection will cost much less than the costs and hassles of dealing with the aftermath of a house fire.

Other tips:

• Space heaters should have 3 feet of space around them while they are running.
• Blow out candles before you leave a room.
• Never use extension cords with heat-producing items such as space heaters. Plug them directly into the wall.