’Tis the Season for Fireplace Safety

Getty ImagesNothing adds warmth and festiveness to those family gatherings like giving Aunt Edna three hot toddies and building a fire in a fireplace. Before you strike a match, though, make sure you check this safety list.

• Install a chimney cap to keep out debris and animals.
• Always use a metal screen or glass fireplace door.
• Have your chimney inspected annually and cleaned as necessary by a qualified specialist. As it burns, wood can leave a deposit called creosote along chimney walls, and it can catch fire if not removed regularly.
• Burn well-seasoned hardwood that has been split for a minimum of six months. Never burn Christmas trees or treated wood.
• Never burn cardboard, newspapers, or trash in your fireplace.
• Keep furniture, decorations, and other potentially flammable material at least two feet from the fireplace.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration; Chimney Safety Institute of America; Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

Originally Published in Reader's Digest