Home Heating

Fire Safety for Home Heating

Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires in Oregon. As temperatures drop, it's important to remember fire safety while staying warm at home. Remember fire safety when you’re using space heaters, wood or pellet stoves, or other heating devices.

Fire Safety Tips

Use heating equipment certified by a recognized testing laboratory, such as CSA Group, Element Testing Laboratories (ETL), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Certified electrical products will have a label with this information.
Keep things that burn such as paper, curtains, bedding, or furniture, at least three feet away from all heating equipment, including fireplaces, wood stoves, and pellet stoves.
Keep a three-foot kid- and pet-free zone around all heating equipment.

Use portable space heaters with an automatic shut-off so if they're tipped over, they turn off.
Clean them each year before using them and check for product recalls.
Unplug portable space heaters when not in use, before going to bed, and when leaving the room.
Make sure fuel-burning heaters are designed for indoor use and are properly ventilated.

Chimneys and vents should be professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year.
Only burn dry, “seasoned” firewood or pellets. Never burn garbage, treated lumber, or saltwater driftwood which can damage your fireplace and cause serious health issues.
Only use kindling, newspapers, or designated fire starters to start a fire. Never use flammable liquids such as kerosene, gasoline, or charcoal lighter fluid.
Fire needs room to breathe oxygen, so don’t overload your woodstove. Too much wood increases the risk of starting a chimney fire.
Never leave a fire unattended. Even for a short period of time.
Place ashes in a metal container, soak them with water, and keep them at least 10 feet away from the home or anything that can burn. Dispose of the ash only after it is cool.

Chimneys and vents should be professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year.
Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy metal or glass screen to stop sparks from escaping and igniting other objects.
Only use kindling, newspapers, or designated fire starters to start a fire. Never use flammable liquids such as kerosene, gasoline, or charcoal lighter fluid.
Fire needs room to breathe oxygen, so don’t overload your fireplace. Too much wood increases the risk of starting a chimney fire.
Only burn dry, seasoned firewood. Never burn garbage, treated lumber, or saltwater driftwood which can damage your fireplace and cause serious health issues.
Never leave a fire unattended. Even for a short period of time.
Place ashes in a metal container, soak them with water, and keep them at least 10 feet away from the home or anything that can burn. Dispose of the ash only after it is cool.

Wood Burning Safety

Did you know it takes at least six months for wood to become seasoned. Seasoned wood has been dried to reduce its moisture content which makes it suitable for burning both indoors and outdoors. Seasoned wood is best below 20% moisture content.

Why is this important?

Seasoned wood burns hotter and more easily than wet wood.
Wet wood creates more smoke and creosote, a leading cause of chimney fires.
Seasoned wood burns cleaner and more completely.

Always store your seasoned wood off the ground and at least 30 feet from any structure. Learn more about the EPA's Burnwise method for best results.

Seasoning Firewood

Click on each tab below to learn about firewood seasoning and storage.

Split

Start with a log that will split down small enough for your fireplace, stove, or fire pit
Split the wood into a range of sizes, but no larger than 6-inch wedges.
Split wood dries much faster.
Split small pieces for kindling.

Stack

Stack wood to allow air to circulate.
Build the stack 30 feet away from your home and other buildings.
Keep wood off the ground by stacking it on rails.
Stack wood in a single row with the split side down.

Cover

Cover the top of the stack to protect it from rain or snow.
Allow space between the cover and the stacked wood; don’t let the cover rest directly on top.
Keep the sides open so air can circulate through the stack.

Store

Allow enough time to dry; softwoods take about six months and hardwoods take about 12 months.
Properly dried wood is lighter and sounds hollow when knocked against another piece of wood.