Burning firewood to heat your home is one way many families save money on their utilities. For those folks, they need to take some extra precautions to make sure they keep their home safe. Chillicothe Fire Chief Eric Reeter says chimney maintenance is important.
He says don’t burn trash or cardboard as that can also ad to the creosote problems;
Other safety precautions include proper disposal of the ashes from the firebox. Reeter says to put the ashes outside in a safe location. Keep them away from leaf piles wood or other items that could catch fire in case you still have a few hot embers mixed in.
In addition, Reeter recommends having both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
If you have any questions about the safety of your fireplace, wood stove, or wood furnace, you can call the fire department. In Chillicothe, the number is 660-646-2139.
