WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Expert Advice: Heating Safely With Wood
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Shelburne, Vermont - September 25, 2008
Terry Tatro just put a wood stove into his Richford home.
The goal was saving money.
"We have a ten-and-a-half acre wood lot and we just figured it would be cheaper to cut our own wood as opposed to buying fuel oil," he said.
But safety was a priority, too.
"That weighed in a lot for us, so we had it all professionally done, professionally installed," he said.
Wood stoves and fireplaces are safe if used properly.
But Vermont's Division of Fire Safety says fireplaces and wood stoves needlessly kill many people each year.
"We're getting into that season where a number of fires we'll be involved with this winter will be heating related," said Bob Patterson of the Vermont Division of Fire Safety. Just this week, a fatal fire in Brandon was linked to a fireplace.
"There are many concerns both on a fire side and a carbon monoxide side of things," Patterson said, noting that the rising price of fuel may have people looking for alternative heat sources. "We're very concerned the number of fires and potential carbon monoxide casualties are going to be up this year."
At the Chimney Sweep in Shelburne, sales manager Paul Bartlett says he is selling a lot of wood stoves this year, as customers want an alternative to heating oil. He makes sure people are educated in how to use them safely.
"Operator error is where most accidents that do take place stem from," he said. "Most common is the removal of the ashes."
Bartlett recommends people buy ash pans with a cover and an insulated bottom; a safety gate to keep kids away; and gloves for handling wood and a hot stove.
"It's human nature to want to grab the handle and open it," he said. "You should have gloves. And when you wake up in the morning and want to throw wood into the stove, you want to make sure you don't have any loose clothing. A bathrobe can ignite very easily."
Chimneys should be cleaned once a year and the unit should be monitored for cracks and signs of overheating. Wood should be stored away from the stove, so an errant ember doesn't ignite it. Only dry, seasoned hardwoods should be burned. The stove should sit on a non-combustible surface and have a clearance of at least eighteen inches on all sides.
Bartlett says common sense and experience are the best safeguards.
"The manual that comes with the stove, that explains daily operation and safety, it's not there to light the first fire," he said. "Please read the manuals."
Kate Duffy - WCAX News
