WILMINGTON, MA — Sunday, November 6th is the date to set clocks back one hour. At that time, the Wilmington Fire Department recommends replacing the batteries in all Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors including plug-in and hard-wired types, which usually have battery back up in case of power loss. Massachusetts Law requires replacement of smoke detectors after 10 years.
The Fire Department offers the following tips for safe use of wood, coal and pellet stoves:
Before you purchase a heating stove, make sure that it has the approval from an independent testing lab, such as Underwriter’s Laboratories.
INSTALLATION
♦ A building permit MUST be obtained prior to the installation of fireplaces, wood, pellet or coal burning stoves and they must be inspected by the local building inspector prior to their initial use as required by the Massachusetts State Building Code.
♦ Allow at least 36 inches of clearance around the appliance to prevent combustibles from coming into contact with a heat source. This is the 3-foot circle of safety.
♦ Solid fuel heating appliances cannot share a common flue with chimney flues utilized by another solid fuel, fossil fuel or gas fired appliances.
♦ A qualified mason should inspect the chimney and flue before the stove is used. Cracks in the flue or mortar joints can allow flames and heated gases to extend into the structure.
PROPER USE
♦ Most chimney fires occur due of a build-up of creosote, a tarry by-product of burning wood. Have your chimney flue cleaned before each heating season. Burn only dry, well seasoned, hardwood to reduce creosote accumulation.
♦ Do not use flammable liquids to start a fire.
♦ Never leave children unattended near the stove.
♦ Check that the damper is open before lighting the fire. A closed damper will result in an accumulation of smoke and carbon monoxide in the home. Do not close the damper until the fire is out and the embers are cold.
♦ Use a fireplace screen to prevent flying sparks and embers from falling out on to the floor.
♦ Install and maintain smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms to provide protection for your family.
FIRE FROM ASHES
To prevent fires, ashes that are cleaned out from the stove or fireplace should be shoveled into a metal bucket with a metal lid and placed outside on the ground away from the building. There have been many recent fires from ashes stored underneath a deck or porch or inside the garage or from ashes stored in cardboard boxes. A live ember can continue to smolder unnoticed for quite some time.
The Wilmington Fire Department also wants to reminder residents that the season for open burning runs from January 15 through May 1. The Fire Department must be called to obtain permission to burn.
For more fire safety information, log on to the State Department of Fire Services website at http://www.mass.gov/dfs.
(NOTE: The above announcement is from the latest Town Topics newsletter.)
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