Last night I was thinking about a chimney fire story I had read on here, and was just wondering....several folks here have told that they have had chimney fires. Those of you that have, What type wood did you burn predominatly at the time. I know my Dad burned oak for YEARS and never had his flue cleaned, and never had a fire. We burn mostly elm and cottonwood, and (knock on wood) (haha) have not had a fire yet. Just curious as to how much the wood type affects the chances of fires. Thanks, Phyllis

-- Phyllis (tmblweed@wtrt.net), December 23, 2001

Answers

Mostly half rotten, damp California Black Oak, but I'd been burning a really pitchy split up elm stump when the chimney fire started.

Best advice: dry your wood THOROUGHLY; one year minimum, two's better. You get more btu's out of dry wood, have to cut less, and get less creosote. No good reason to burn less than the driest wood.

Don't forget the six "P"s: Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance!

-- joj (jump@off.c), December 23, 2001.

As long as you keep up on inspecting and cleaning every year you'd probably be fine with any wood. We hardly burnt any softwoods, except for kindling. Mostly seasoned oak, locust, black walnut, and some deadwood apple, cherry and maple. I think part of it was the flue design. The fireplace and chimney up to the attic was over 100 years old and wasn't designed for the low flow of a woodstove with a just a damper to pull air through. I think that allowed cresote to collect around the flue and after it caught fire the rest went with it.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), December 23, 2001.

I burned jack pine the first year we moved to the sticks,our woods was full of it(had it harvested out since)We never had a chimney fire but was darn lucky we did'nt,the cresote got so bad that it plugged the chimney up completely.If you tryed to start a fire all the smoke would come out in the basement(where the stove is)it had no choice since the chimney was plugged.I now burn only aged oak.I also use a couple scoops of chimney clean once a week and definately sweep it every year.I bought a chimney brush and the poles to do it myself that year and it really is not that hard to do(especially if you use the powder during the burning season,which helps keep cresote out of the chimney) and saves $65 a year if I had a chimney sweep come out and do it.I believe it takes me just over an hour to do and that includes cleaning out the "cleanout" disasembling and cleaning the pipe from the stove to chimney.It gives me peace of mind,especially with kids in the house.Merry Christmas.

-- Dave. (duckthis1@ma.net), December 23, 2001.

I burned wood for ten years and never had a problem. When I was putting in my stove my 76 year old neighbor came over to offer help. He said to prevent a fire always start it good and hot then turn it down. The creasote will not build up that way. Must have worked because when we moved it was clean. We burned everything in that stove, pine, elm, red oak, white oak and some hickery. Good luck and keep warm

-- phillip (raines@rainesridgefarm.com), December 23, 2001.

My own method is similar to Phillips. When starting a fire let it burn good and hot before restricting the draft. What creosote is in the pipe will "dry" up and fall of the pipe.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), December 23, 2001.

Do those "chimney cleaner" logs that you're supposed to burn once a year really work? Why?

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), December 24, 2001.

I am sticking with the burn it good and hot people. I burn green pine, poplar and once in a while oak and maple and others. In other words: the wood no one else wants to buy as I cut and sell firewood, although last year it was whatever I could get my hands on after we installed the wood stove. I run it hot then cut it back.. There was no measurable creosote in the chimney this year. I also tap on the stove pipe itself once in a while to knock anything out and never get the stove pipe itself up to "red hot." I have also been told never to burn corragated card board- it burns too hot and fast and is a leading chimney fire cause. Also to put a chimney fire out, I have been told to simply dump one box of baking soda on fire and close down flue and damper and it will go out fast. Never had to try it but keep baking soda on hand just in case.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), December 24, 2001.