The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Winter is prime time for chimney fires
Heating with wood can carry hidden dangers
By Edward Freundl, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 10, 2008
A Lyndon Township family can be thankful they were delayed in leaving their home the day after Christmas.
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As they prepared to go out that morning for a day of outdoor recreation, a fire in the chimney of the wood-burning stove in their living room was cooking away unseen behind the walls.
The family declined to give their names for this report, but agreed to share their story to spare others the grief that could have befallen them.
The residence, located in the 19400 block of North Territorial Road, is home to a man, his wife and their 11-year-old son.
The first thing they noticed wasn't smoke, flame or heat, but an unusual odor, and tracked it to the woodburner.
"As we were on our way out to go tobogganing I noticed a smell, like sweet plastic burning," the wife said.
"Our noses led us in here, and we could tell it was the chimney pipes."
The woman said when she opened the damper to give the woodburner more air, it "snowed black soot" out the chimney, then flames came shooting out of the top.
"We decided not to waste anymore time and called 911," she added.
Her son said the family was rushing around trying to leave when they smelled the odor.
"I was looking for my wallet for the longest time and that's what delayed us," he said, and that delay could very well be the reason that the home is still standing, rather than being a smoking ruin.
The Chelsea Area Fire Authority responded with several men and at least two trucks.
"(The chimney) was plugged up, but the homeowner said he just had it cleaned," said Chief Jim Payeur.
"They'll probably have to have someone come back and inspect it, and they'll have to replace the cap."
The cap at the top of the chimney should contain a screen to keep embers and sparks in and wildlife out, but it can become plugged.
"The good thing is, nothing else is damaged," said the homeowner.
"The problem is in the cap. (The woodburner) has been in here since 1998, and we've never had a problem with it."
Payeur said the incident served as an example of what can go wrong when heating with wood.
"The fire did minimal damage, but it's a reminder for people to make sure they have their chimneys inspected and checked regularly."
The homeowner said it was a lesson learned.
"I'm going to do everything I can to keep the family safe, so this thing with the cap means I'm going to keep a closer eye on it," he said.
Capt. Christopher Smyth said CAFA is called out on several similar fires every year.
"This is the first chimney fire we've run this year, but we average up to a dozen a year," he said.
Smyth, who has a woodburner in his own home, had this advice for those who use wood for heat:
"You should clean the chimney out at least once a year, or more if you use it more," he said.
"The moisture in the wood turns to creosote, and that's what builds up and can catch fire."
Other local fire officials had similar recommendations, but the number of chimney fires varied widely depending on department.
"If we handle one it's unusual; we just don't have many in the city," said Capt. Michelle Stanbury of the Ypsilanti City Fire Department.
"I don't know if it's due to new construction or in a lot of rental units they're covered up, but we don't seem to have a lot of chimney fires."
In contrast, Capt. Don Dettling of the Dexter Area Fire Department said his personnel handle "about 20 per year."
"And about 20 percent of those become actual structure fires," Dettling added. "We've had at least five already this year" because it turned cold earlier than usual.
The Ypsilanti Township and Milan fire departments gave estimates of the number of chimney fires handled on an average yearly basis, and the number so far this burning season.
"It varies from year to year: one year you may have 20, another year you may have none," said David Webb, who is not only Milan's fire chief but also a captain with Ypsilanti Township.
"It seems the colder the winter, the greater risk there is for chimney fires."
The Milan department was called out on a chimney fire recently that could easily have spread to the rest of the home, Webb said.
"They were starting their fireplace up for the first time this year," Webb said.
"The folks inside the house didn't know there was a fire until we showed them the flames coming out of the chimney."
Squirrels had piled up combustible material such as leaves, sticks and pine cones next to the chimney, Webb explained, and with the creosote burning inside the chimney, the material got hot enough to catch fire.
"They got very lucky," he said. "It was only about $5,000 in damage."
Officials from each fire department in this newspaper's coverage area were asked what people should keep in mind when using a woodburner or fireplace.
"It's a concern to all of us in that they are dangerous and there are rules that should be followed to ensure safety," said Dettling.
There are laws and regulations on the books for burning wood in commercial buildings, Dettling noted, but no such rules for residential structures.
"Use only dry wood; have them cleaned yearly by a professional certified chimney-sweeping company; clean out ashes and dispose of them in a metal can with a lid," Dettling added.
"(Ashes) can remain hot for days. We've had fires (from ashes) that had been put outside the day before."
Webb, who also has a woodburner at home, said it's important to keep a few things in mind.
"The biggest thing to avoid (a chimney fire) is to have them inspected at least annually by an insured and licensed chimney sweep," he said.
"If you're a heavy burner you need to have it cleaned and inspected twice a year."
As with any fire in the home it's best to call the fire department right away, but Webb said one thing a person can do is to remove the heat source from the home.
"Pull the wood out of the wood burner or fireplace and put it outside," he said.
Firefighters have highly specialized equipment to detect fires that a homeowner does not.
"We use a thermal imaging camera to see the heat inside the wall," Webb said.
"That makes finding the fire easier; before (we had the camera) we had to break into the walls and chase it."
Another thing to keep in mind is to use only wood that is suitable for the purpose.
"Use seasoned, dry hardwoods, they are low on resin and low on moisture, and burn really hot," Webb said.
That minimizes the buildup of creosote, which is the No. 1 culprit in chimney fires.
Creosote is a byproduct of incomplete combustion which adheres itself to the chimney walls.
Professional chimney sweeps say the longer creosote stays inside the chimney, the harder it gets and the harder it is to remove.
Kevon "Doc Flu" Binder, owner of Doctor Flue Inc., said there are three stages of creosote.
"The first degree is brown soot, that is the least flammable because the hydrocarbons have been burned the most;" Binder said.
"Second degree looks like corn flakes hanging on the surface, and it can be easily knocked off by hand or with a brush.
"Third degree is the most volatile, it has been burned the least and can be very difficult to remove. It can be dried out and brittle, or be a gooey tar."
Continuing with his rule of three, Binder said three things are needed for proper combustion: temperature, fuel and oxygen.
"The lack of any of those creates tar fog or smoke," which is a prime ingredient of creosote.
"Soot is carcinogenic; even the vapors from creosote can cause cancer, so you should treat it like asbestos," he said.
Binder has been in the chimney sweep business for 21 years, and his company is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and does "a lot of work" in Washtenaw County.
Open fireplaces are difficult to clean by the ordinary homeowner, Binder said, but professional chimney sweeps will have the proper equipment.
Another local company, All Point Chimney Service, has been in Ypsilanti for 16 years. Owner William Martindale has 28 years of chimney experience.
"Look out for burning wet wood, green wood or pine because it burns cold, and cold fires leave lots of residue," Martindale said.
He recommended the following tips, and their repetition is an indication of their importance:
"Burn wood that's been dried for at least a year," he said.
"Clean it out one a year, and every chimney should be looked at every five years, whether used or not used, to see if it has shifted or cracked.
"Check out the chimney roof screen, which keeps animals out and keeps sparks down.
"Get someone who knows chimneys," Martindale added. "A pro can spot problems right off the bat. Most people doesn't really know what to look for, and don't have the tools for it."
As a measure of its heat-producing potential, Martindale pointed out, creosote has the same amount of Btus, or British thermal units, as kerosene.
"You don't want a lot of shiny, gooey stage three creosote," he warned. "It has to be chemically removed, which is a very large job."
The experts also have some advice in the event it is too late to prevent a chimney fire.
"If you do have a chimney fire, you should have it video scanned which is a Level 2 inspection," Binder said. "Chimney fires are usually covered by most homeowners insurance."
Binder also noted that dealing with a certified, reputable company is paramount.
"A license is not required to clean a fireplace in Michigan, but a state mechanical license is required to take apart and reconnect the piping for a woodburner," he said.
Martindale said the winter is actually the best time to clean a chimney because of the natural updraft of cold air through the system, but an inspection can - and should - be done anytime.
"A fire can happen at any time, so you want to have it safe and tight," Martindale said.
"After a fire they have to call us, and it's $2,000 to $5,000, minimum, to rebuild the chimney."
SIDEBARS:
Three stages of creosote:
Creosote is a byproduct of incomplete combustion, and is composed of tar and sap from wet, green or soft woods.
- First degree: brown soot, least flammable, almost fully combusted
- Second degree: black, flaky, brittle, partially combusted and still slightly flammable
- Third degree: black, dried out and brittle or gooey tar, least combusted, highly volatile and very flammable, very difficult to remove
Three components necessary for combustion:
- Oxygen (blocked chimney or poor air circulation)
- Fuel (wet, unseasoned or high-resin woods)
- Heat ('green' wood will burn, but not very hot)
A lack of any one of these three components results in a poorly burning, creosote-producing fire.
Three tips to avoid a chimney fire:
- Use hardwoods that have been dried for at least a year
- Have your firebox and chimney inspected by a qualified professional at least annually, or more often depending on use
- Dispose of ashes often, in a metal can with a lid outside the home
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