Holiday Decorations/Fireplaces
Incident #: Date of Incident: 12/26/2012 Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer
Narrative:
Burning wrapping paper and holiday decorations in a residential fireplace is not only improper—but highly unsafe.
Most fireplaces are designed to use natural gas, pellets or dry firewood to support a small warming fire or decorative fire that enhances ambience.
Attempts to burn improper items such as scrap lumber, vegetation or even parts of a Christmas Tree can create an excessively large and hot fire that damages the fireplace and chimney - or suddenly becomes uncontrollable. Each year, people lose their homes to such fires, which often spread quickly.
Of particular concern to firefighters this week is the extremely unsafe practice of burning holiday gift wrap and packaging material in a fireplace.
Burning improper items creates embers that bypass missing or damaged spark arresters. These embers cause roof and attic fires that can destroy your home and everything in it--very quickly! Additionally, attempting to burn improper items in a fireplace can also cause noxious fumes that make people ill and harm the environment.
Please dispose of your holiday waste appropriately—your family (and neighbors) will be glad you did.
Cause:
N/A
Damage:
N/A
End Of Release For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
No comments:
Post a Comment