With the weather cooling off, there are potential fire safety risks with your fireplace and heating system. Keep you and your family safe by following these tips:

•  Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms & make sure fire extinguishers are present and ready to use.
• Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home.
• Develop a home fire safety and evacuation plan and practice it.

HEATING AND FIREPLACE SAFETY

• Get your central heating system cleaned, inspected and serviced by a certified heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor every year before using it.
• Keep all flammable materials away from your furnace.  This includes, clothing, paint products, toxic materials, cardboard and more.
• Keep your fireplace inspected and cleaned each year. Burn only seasoned wood (avoid soft pine which creates a buildup of creosote (leading cause of chimney fires.)
• Fireplaces should be equipped with an appropriate screen or glass enclosure to prevent sparks from flying out.
• Never overload the hearth with wood or artificial logs, the resulting fire may be too large for the unit.
• Put all ashes outdoors and away from the house in a metal container.
• Make sure the top of the chimney is free and clear of tree branches.
• Store extra wood, and other types of combustible materials, at least five-feet away from your fireplace.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• When building a fire, strategically place logs on a metal grate at the back end of your fireplace; always use kindling to ignite fire.
• Do not use the oven for heating your house.
• Have a chimney cap installed on all of the flues. New chimney caps are usually constructed of stainless steel and do not rust. They keep out rain, birds, raccoons, squirrels, leaves and other debris that could obstruct the flow of flue gasses in your chimney.
• Do not use any type of liquid fire starters (lighter fluid, charcoal grill lighter, gasoline, etc.) to start the fire. Only use fire starters specifically designed for fireplaces and wood stoves. Besides the inherent danger of out of control flames inside the home, some of these accelerants can leave residues that may ignite inside the flue (chimney fire).
• Keep it clear. Keep all furniture and combustible furnishings at least 36 inches away from the fireplace or wood stove. Exposure to heat can lower the ignition temperature of combustible items over time, and they can catch fire.

ASH DISPOSAL

Hot ashes can stay hot for several days, with embers remaining hot enough to ignite a fire up to four days or longer, especially if insulated by the rest of the ash pile.

• Allow ashes to cool: Let ashes sit in the fireplace or wood stove for at least 2-3 days to cool down. Some experts recommend up to 96 hours (4 days) or even a week to be sure.
• Transfer to a metal container: Use a shovel to move the ashes into a metal can with a tight-fitting metal lid. 
• Soak with water: Pour water over the ashes to help ensure there are no hot spots. 
• Store safely outside: Place the metal container at least 10 feet away from your home, garage, or anything flammable. 
• Check again before disposal: Before putting the ashes in your regular trash, check again to make sure they are completely cool. 
• Never use other containers: Do not place hot ashes in plastic garbage bags, cardboard boxes, plastic cans, or other combustible containers. 
• Avoid using vacuums: Never use a household vacuum cleaner to clean up ashes, as the fine dust can easily ignite and cause a fire in the vacuum.

SPACE HEATER SAFETY

• Make sure that any space heaters are surrounded by at least three feet of empty space and avoid storing combustibles near it.
• Never place clothing or any other objects on a space heater to dry.
• Do not place space heaters near furniture or drapery.
• Turn space heaters off when you leave the house or go to bed.

PREVENTING OUTDOOR FIRES

• Never park your car or truck over a pile of leaves.  The heat from the vehicle's catalytic converter or exhaust system can ignite the leaves below.  The resulting fire could destroy your vehicle.
• Flammable liquids should not be stored in inside the home or in an attached garage or shed. This includes any unused fuel still in the fuel tank. Store this equipment away from your home or drain excess fuel out of the tank before storing. This simple safety precaution will help prevent accidental fires from escaping fuel vapors.
• Remove fuel from lawn mowers before storing them for winter.
• Keep your roof, gutters, and downspouts clear of debris.
• Contact your utility company if trees or branches are not clear of power lines. Prune back trees, and rake up leaves and debris. If you live in an open area with a lot of natural vegetation, consider creating a defensible fire zone around your home. Prune the bottom branches from trees and remove shrubs and trees within 20 feet of your home.
• Don’t store cardboard boxes, paper or other flammable materials in the backyard. These materials provide ready fuel for a fire and all it takes is one spark.