BURN FIRES SAFELY
Only burn well-seasoned wood in your fireplace that was cut at a minimum of six to 12 months prior to use. Store any additional wood for your fireplace in a covered and elevated location that is also easily accessible.
DISCARD ASHES
When your fire is finished burning, scoop up the ashes and place them in a metal container away from the house, where they can fully cool safely. Consider saving some ashes to use in the garden when you need to increase alkalinity in soils that have a pH of less than 5.5.
COMMON PRACTICE
Install smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors around your house. Never leave a fire unattended, and keep a close eye on children and pets when a fire is in use. When finished enjoying the fire, make sure it is fully extinguished before leaving the room.
DON’T DIY
Although it’s probably in your nature as a hobby farmer to want to take care of all chimney maintenance tasks on your own, give yourself a break from the cleaning and hand over chimney-sweep duties to the professionals. This is important because certified chimney sweep will know how to remove the thin layer of creosote, a combustible film that builds up in your chimney over time, that most homeowners overlook.
CLEAR THE AREA
Both the top of the chimney and the hearth need to be cleared of potentially hazardous material that could cause the fire to spread past the confines of the fireplace. Cut down branches of trees that are within 15 feet of your chimney and install a chimney cap to keep out debris and unwanted animals. Keep any flammable materials, including furniture, at least 3 feet away from the hearth, and install a metal or mesh screen in front of the fireplace to catch fire sparks.
