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You can avoid chimney fires by learning how to operate your fireplace or stove correctly, and follow a regular routine of chimney cleaning, maintenance, and as needed repairs. Especially for wood stove users, proper operation and the use of correct fuel are critical. Long, slow burns or the use of green or wet wood can create dangerous creosote deposits very quickly, especially in older, less efficient stoves. Creosote is a product of incomplete combustion: deposits of unburned, flammable tar vapors from wood smoke. Sometimes it's crusty or flaky in texture, but often sticky or hard, like slag. Creosote deposits are often hard to remove from chimneys, and pose a serious fire hazard.

At least once each year you should have your chimney checked and cleaned if necessary, by a chimney professional. Under certain conditions, it may be necessary to have the chimney checked more frequently. For routine maintenance, early spring, after the heating season is over, is the best time to have the chimney cleaned and inspected. Not only for fire safety, chimney cleaning in the spring leaves the chimney free of corrosive and awful smelling soot deposits during the hot, humid summer months. And in the fall, you will be ready for the cold weather.

Be sure that you install a chimney cap at the top of the chimney. This cap will keep burning embers from blowing out of the top of the chimney and onto the roof of your house, where the roof can catch on fire. The cap will also keep leaves and other debris, as well as animals and birds from going down the chimney and cause a blockage.

Fire safety is something that everyone needs to be aware of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Do not wait until it is too late, practice fire safety every day! If you have any questions or comments about this article, or any other fire safety subject, please feel free to call the Fire Company at 215-646-2555 or stop into either fire station any Monday night. The Fire Prevention Committee is available to present programs upon request. Visit the Fort Washington Fire Company on the Internet at www.fortwashingtonfc.org.