Photo courtesy of DepositPhotos
Over the Thanksgiving Day weekend, the Prescott Fire Department and the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority responded to two chimney fires in Prescott. In each case, a neighbor saw fire coming from the top of the chimney and either alerted the occupants of the house or called 9-1-1. Because of the fast action by neighbors, the fire department arrived quickly and extinguished each fire with minimal damage to the two residences and no injuries were reported. Because of these fires, the Prescott Fire Department would like to remind everyone of fireplace safety:
- Each fireplace should be regularly inspected for cleanliness, system integrity and proper use.
- Make sure the flue or damper is open to draw out the smoke.
- Check regularly between cleanings for signs of nesting in the chimney.
- Install safety screens around the front of the fireplace to minimize the risk of burns to both children and adults.
- Make sure combustible furniture or material are not in close proximity to the fireplace and keep an ABC fire extinguisher close by.
- Remove ash from the fireplace after it has cooled and complete the following tasks for proper ash disposal:
- Transfer the remaining wood and ashes to a metal bucket with a shovel.
- Wet the wood and ashes with water creating a slurry.
- Transfer the metal container outside until garbage day away from any combustible surfaces or materials.
- Re-stir the slurry in the metal can and make sure contents are cold before disposing of the slurry with your regular garbage.
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