132—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 5,1981
LANCASTER These days,
many people are enjoying the
warmth and cheer of a fireplace or
wood stove. Unfortunately, this
warmth and cheer has given rise to
an increasing number of
dangerous chimney fires, points
out Delaware Extension safety and
energy specialist Ronald Jester.
Every year in the United States
there are thousands of such fires
resulting in over 20 million dollars
worth of damage.
Chemical changes occur in wood
when it is burned. As a result,
gases and tiny droplets of tar and
water are released as smoke. The
heat generated by these burning
gases accounts for a large per
centage of of the wood’s total heat
output. However, these gases will
not ignite until the fire’s tem
perature has reached 1100 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Because wood combustion is
never perfect, smoke going up the
chimney always contains some of
the unbumed gases and tars. If the
chimney’s inner surface is cooler
than the smoke, as it almost
From vines to wreaths
(Continued from Page B 31)
Becky said regardless if the
wreath is an old or new craft, she
will continued to enjoy making
them along with another Early
American home furnishing—rag
nigs.
Becky began making the rugs as
a counterpart occupation to her
outdoor craft. She said she couldn’t
make wreaths the year round and
needed something to occupy her
time inside, even when she was
producing wreaths.
She already had a loom, but
never really used it.
“When I began making the
wreaths 1 started to toy with the
loom and decided it was time to use
it.’’ She stated that she had always
wanted to recycle the old baby and
children’s clothes that she had in
abundance, so what better way she
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always is, then some of the on
bumed gases and tars will con
dense out of the smoke onto the
chimney’s surface. This condensed
material is called creosote. When
creosote condenses on a relatively
cool surface, it will contain a large
amount of water and so will be
fluid. If the surface is 150 degrees
or hotter, the creosote will contain
little water and will be thick and
sticky like tar. This tar-like build
up will eventually change to a solid
or flaky form.
There is no way to completely
prevent the formation of creosote.
But it can be minimized by
avoiding smoldering fires, by
burning seasoned hardwoods, and
by using well-designed chimneys.
Air leaks, via cracks in the
chimney or in the clean-out doors,
provide a source of dilution which
lowers the stack temperature and
increases the accumulation of
creosote. Therefore, for safety as
well as maintenance, one should
inspect a chimney thoroughly to
insure that it is without cracks and
that clean-out doors are air tight.
though than to make rag rugs for
her home.
Several rag rugs later, Becky
now attends rummage sales and
flea markets, purchasing old
clothing for the decorative rugs.
Because of her remarkable rugs,
another avenue has opened up for
this industrious woman. She
recently began working with an
interior decorator designing rag
rugs for a client’s home.
“Designing the rugs for the home
is enchangmg, 1 feel like I am
making them for the home of the
“Little Women.”
Becky Francis is a rare craft
swoman, much like those of long
ago, recycling materials m nature
and in the home into beautiful,
unique home furnishings.
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buildup can cause chimney fires
It is important to note that
creosote condenses from flue gases
when the stack temperature drops
below 250 degrees. This means that
chimneys winch are insulated or
interior and allow less beat to
escape are preferred, especially
for air-tight wood stoves. Most
creosote fires are associated with
poor chimneys that have low draft,
cold walls, and too low a rate of
burning.
How do you know that creosote
has built up in your chimney or
flue?
The most obvious way is to in
spect the inside of your chimney or
stovepipe. You may also notice
back drafting and smoking as you
load your stove. The'connector
pipe will also radiate less heat, as
creosote is an excellent insulator.
If there is more than one-quarter
inch of creosote build-up, or if
there are small raised bumps of
creosote, a cleaning is needed.
Reports from fire victims in
dicate that a chimney fire is a
frightening experience and a
potentially dangerous situation.
With proper installation and
maintenance, regular inspection
and cleaning, your chances of a
chimney-related fire are remote.
Prevention is your best protection.
If for some reason you have a fire,
here are the signs that you should
recognize immediately so that you
can respond as quickly as possible.
—A distinct crackling noise in
the chimney or stovepipe.
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—"Sucking sound" of air being
drawn into the stove or chimney.
This may increase to a loud roar.
—The stovepipe may shake
(beware that it could fall apart
spilling flaming creosote).
—The stovepipe may glow red
hot.
—Sparks and flames may shoot
out of the top of the chimney or
stovepipe-and you’ll probably get
phone calls from your neighbors!
A last but very important con
cern is what to do m case of a
chimney fire. Following are some
recommendations:
—Call the fire departments You
may not need them, but if you do,
calling later may be too late.
—Gather all occupants of the
building and be ready to leave if
the situation worsens.
—Cut off an- to the fire. If you are
using a wood stove, close all its
draft and damper controls. If you
have a fire in the fireplace, cover
the opening with any rigid, non
combustible material (but beware
of strong suction caused by the
fire). Do not close the fireplace
damper as smoke from the fire in
the fireplace will then come into
the room.
—Use a fire extinguisher. Best is
a flare-like one designed
specifically for chimney fires,
ignite it like a road flare and place
it inside the stove or fireplace.
—Do not pour or spray water
directly into the chimney as the
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rapid contraction caused by
sudden cooling may break some of
the tiles.
—Continue to check outer sur
face of the chimney and any inner
walls near the chimney for ex
cessive heat-even after you think
thefireisout
—Check outside to see if sparks
and embers blown out the chimney
top are igniting roof or brush.
—When the fire's out, sweep the
chimney and carefully check for
any damage. Resolve to clean your
chimney more often. ..
For specific information contact
your local Volunteer Fire Com
pany or the Delaware Cooperative
Extension Service.
Learning, to harness the energy
potential' of wood is much like
working with electricity, says
Jester. It’s respect, not fear, that
allows us to make full use of it
safely. %
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