By Nathan Straus
nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress .com
Jacksonville Fire Department authorities urge area residents to use caution when lighting up their fireplaces this year. Above all, common sense should be a deciding factor.
Jacksonville Fire Marshal Dennis Tate said the best thing to do to enhance fire safety with fireplaces and chimneys is to ensure the chimney is swept every year.
“All that stuff builds in the chimney and can catch fire,” Tate said of stray wood shavings that he said float into the air on combustion. “People need to have the pipes cleaned.”
Tate also said some types of wood are more susceptible to fire-related problems than others.
“Oak burns better. Not a lot of people burn pine, but pine has a lot of sap, and it is more apt to cause buildup in pipes,” he said.
Paying attention to the fire as it burns is another key point in avoiding a call to the fire department, he said.
“Don’t build a fire in the fireplace and then run off. Pay attention to it, and I don’t think you’ll have any problems. A little common sense goes a long way,” Tate said.
A screen should be kept in front of the fire to prevent a popping fire spraying burning wood onto the floor, he said. Along these same guidelines, anything flammable or combustible should be placed only as close as three or four feet from the flames.
Children should be limited to a safe distance. Rugs should be moved away from the fire to be on the safe side, Tate said.
“Just be careful what you do. If you don’t think it’s safe, don’t do it. The holiday time is no time for people to get hurt and lose their homes. It’s supposed to be a happy time,” he said.
Tate also cautioned against plugging too many devices into one electrical outlet.
