In recent weeks, the number of house fires and cold weather related incidents has increased. I ask a moment of your time to consider the safety of you and your family.

Please be sure you have a fresh battery in your smoke detector. Early warning of fire is critical to survivability. If the detector sounds, get out and call your local fire department. Fire grows logrithimacally, doubling in intensity every minute.

Have and practice an exit plan with family members. Be sure to have a safe location away from the house where everybody meets to insure accountability.

Purchase and install a carbon monoxide detector. If you have one be sure it has a fresh battery as well. Do not hestitate to call the fire department if the detector activates. Even a small amount of exposure to the very young and old can have serious health implications.

Have your chimney and oil burning appliances inspected and cleaned once per year. These two devices create most of the fire and carbon monoxide problems we encounter this time of year.

For those that enjoy live christmas trees, keep it well hydrated. Do not allow the tree to remain in the home for long after the holiday. When dried out these trees become highly combustible and very dangerous. Dispose of it away from your home.

My wish, and that of other public safety professionals, is for you and yours to be safe this holiday season. I in particular wish all of my fellow board members a safe holiday and look forward to meeting you on the beach next season.

Fireguy

thanks for the reminder :btu:

Thanks Fireguy!

A question for you...

What do you think / hear about the Chimney Sweeping Log (http://www.cleanyourchimney.com/)?

http://www.cleanyourchimney.com/CSL/CSLusa.gif

Thanks again,
Rob

DO NOT use it in your woodstove if your woodstove is a catalytic model. It will de-activate the catalyst....

They appear to work fine cleaning fire place flues. As stated above they are not for use with wood or coal burning stoves. Follow the directions on the package and it should work fine.

Point well made fireguy!
Folks in town just bought an older home and decided to have a fire in their "new" fireplace Thangsgiving night. Unfortunately they did not have the flue checked. Everyone is safe, however, they're looking at a major remodeling job.