For Immediate Release
October 10, 2002

Contacts
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Charlie Johnson, 681-5531
APCD
Doug Allard, 961-8853 or Mary Byrd, 961-8833

Cleaner Fireplace Burning

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA — The Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District announced today the top five tips for cleaner fireplace burning for improved safety and cleaner air. "Every year at this time local fire agencies see a marked increase in emergency responses to home fires. The reason for this increase is related to cool weather and the use of fireplaces and home heating appliances. With a few precautions, most of these incidents could be eliminated," said Santa Barbara County Fire Chief John Scherrei.

Doug Allard, Director of Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, noted, "Smoke is harmful for our lungs. When people burn trash, or make large smoky fires, they’re not only creating a safety hazard, they’re polluting the air and hurting their health—and the health of their neighbors." He said that smoke is especially harmful for adults and children with asthma or other respiratory diseases, or heart problems, and remarked: "At this time of year when more people are using fireplaces and woodstoves, it’s especially important that we try to be good neighbors. We need to follow safety rules, and remember that we all breathe this air, so we all need to keep it clean." The two agencies released top five tips for cleaner fireplace burning, below. 

Top Five Tips for Cleaner Fireplace Burning

Fireplaces can be a source of fire danger, and air pollution. Wood smoke contains dust, soot, and cancer-causing chemicals. Breathing wood smoke reduces lung function, aggravates heart and lung diseases, and can trigger asthma.

Take some of the steps below for the sake of your health and safety—and that of your neighbors.

1. Clean your chimney. How long has it been since your chimney was cleaned? A dirty chimney full of creosote is a chimney fire waiting to happen. Schedule regular maintenance by a professional chimney sweep.
2. Don’t burn trash. Burning trash can cause toxic chemicals to go into the air, and into your lungs. Don’t burn any of these: plastics, chemicals, wrapping paper, magazines, or any coated papers (including newspaper inserts, junk mail, etc.).
3. Burn safely in your fireplace. Keep your fireplace screen closed to keep sparks from landing on the carpeting, and have a spark arrester on top of your chimney to keep sparks from landing on the roof and causing a roof or attic fire. Be a good neighbor and notice your smoke. Burn dry, seasoned wood, and build small hot fires rather than large smoldering ones.
4. Save your fireplace or woodstove for special occasions. Fireplace fires are not a very efficient way to produce heat. The safest way to heat your home, and the cleanest for the air, is through a central heating system.
5. Use a gas log if you can, and NEVER burn wood in a fireplace that was designed for a gas log. Decorative fireplaces are not built to handle wood fires. Burning wood in one of these fireplaces is asking for trouble, and could create a dangerous situation.

For more information, see fires.htm on this website.

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