Saturday, December 25, 2010

Don't burn your wrapping paper in the fireplace!
























SFD reminds you that it's not proper-and highly unsafe-to burn holiday gift wrap and other waste items in a residential fireplace. Most fireplaces are designed to use natural gas or dry firewood to support a small decorative fire that enhances ambience. Attempts to burn improper items such as paper or even parts of a Christmas Tree can create an excessively large and hot fire that damages the fireplace and chimney. Each year, people lose their homes to such fires. Of particular concern to firefighters this week is the extremely unsafe practice of burning gift wrap and packaging material in a fireplace. Burning improper items creates heat & embers that bypass spark arresters and cause roof and attic fires. Attempting to burn improper items in a fireplace can also cause noxious fumes that make people ill and harm the environment. To learn more about keeping your family safe, visit and bookmark the SFD's blog, website, Facebook and Twitter sites.

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