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IS YOUR CHIMNEY SAFE?
According to the U. S. Fire Administration (USFA) 36% of residential home fires are due to creosote buildup (a tar-like substance that sticks to the walls of a chimney when wood is burned) in chimneys and stovepipes. That adds up to 26,000 fires, 137,000 million dollars in property damage and 60 human deaths annually.
The USFA and Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission encourages you to practice the following fire safety steps to keep those home fires burning safely:
 Have your chimney or wood burning stove inspected and cleaned annually by a by a certified chimney specialist. Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials. Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire. Never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire. Safely Burn Fuels
Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.  Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup. Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke. Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove. When building a fire, place logs at the ... more

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