Date: 21st January, 2025
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging local people to take care with open fires in the home following a spike in incidents involving woodburning stoves.
Woodburning stoves are a warm, welcoming addition to the home, but they do carry risks. If you have a wood burner, you should:
- Make sure that you leave sufficient time after a fire to let the ash cool and keep the door to the stove closed.
- Keep flues clean and well maintained.
- Avoid drying or airing clothes close or directly onto the flues or stove.
Group Manager Neil Tidball said: “A combination of colder weather and trying to keep costs down means people are more likely to be using open fires and woodburning stoves. Chimneys should be swept twice a year as a minimum to remove accumulated soot and tar, as well as making sure that the chimney is clear of debris.
“Green, or unseasoned, wood, shouldn’t be used as it smoulders with long burning embers and produces a lot of creosote and not much heat. Build-ups of creosote in a chimney or flue can become highly flammable and dangerous. You should also avoid burning painted, coated or treated wood, as this can release harmful gases.”
Another danger is the storage of wood and other fuel immediately next to a woodburning stove, as heat can build up and lead to a fire igniting.
Blocked or defective chimney flues also carry the risk of leading to carbon monoxide poisoning so, as well as getting chimneys and flues swept, people are encouraged to fit smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
If you are considering installing a woodburning stove in your home, always seek advice from a professional and ensure you use a qualified installer. More information on this can be found at www.hetas.co.uk
For more advice on staying warm safely this winter, visit our website www.dwfire.org.uk/staying-warm-safely/