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Burning Wood In Fireplace Starts House Fire
Many Fireplaces In Valley Cannot Burn Wood
A northwest Las Vegas home sustained $30,000 in damage after a fire started in the wall behind the fireplace yesterday. The fire started because the fireplace was burning wood and it was not manufactured for that purpose. Did you know that some fireplaces are not made to burn wood?
There are two types of fireplaces, those that can burn solid fuels such as wood or manufactured logs and those that only use natural gas. Both types of fireplaces and the chimneys are made differently.
Solid fuel fireplaces are made to withstand high heat that is produced by wood or manufactured logs that are available in retail stores. The chimney will also be different to withstand the higher heat. There is more maintenance with solid fuel fireplaces. The chimneys need to be inspected and cleaned due to buildup of a flammable film that forms from the smoke inside the wall of the chimney. If that film catches fire, it can cause the chimney, which generally is made of sheet metal, to warp and crack letting flames escape and extend to the interior wall of the house. The fire can burn from the ground floor to the attic without any evidence inside the house until the roof catches fire. By that time significant damage will have taken place.
The other type fireplace uses natural gas to produce a flame and uses fake logs for a visual effect. These fireplaces are made with thinner metal and do not produce smoke or a film in the chimney if used properly. Never burn solid fuels in a gas only fireplace, including cardboard, paper or wrapping paper which all can produce the flammable film on the interior of the chimney.
How do you know which type of fireplace you have? On the front of the fireplace is a small metal plate with information about the make, model and type of fireplace. Those that can use logs will have SOLID stamped on it for solid fuels, the others will have GAS or NATURAL GAS indicating they only use only natural gas. Check your fireplace to see what type you have.
A reminder, regardless of if you have a SOLID or GAS fireplace, the damper should always be OPEN when the fireplace is in use. The damper is a small trap door inside the fireplace at the top. You can close the damper to prevent drafts from the chimney from entering the home. It is important to OPEN the damper when the fireplace is in use to let smoke and poisonous carbon monoxide gas escape up the chimney. Always check to see that the damper is open before using the fireplace.
END ## LVFR/PEIO-TRS
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