The wind bites and whips against the window. It’s tempting to throw on a few extra large cubes to thaw out a frozen living room after a long day at work. But is it so wise? Winter is peak season for pipe fires and there has been a marked increase in such fires in recent years. Large quantities of soot Three full garbage bags of soot were milled away from Ragnar Ridder-Nilsen’s pipe in Larvik. And according to the sweeper, this is the case in many pipes, says Ridder-Nilsen. – You put logs in the oven, and you get heat and the smoke disappears. You cannot see what is left in the pipe. Suddenly one day there is a little spark that catches you. This cleaning doesn’t last forever, he was told, and got some useful tips to fire correctly to avoid chimney fires: Use dry wood DRY ENOUGH: The wood must not be damp, it can lead to chimney fires, warns the sweeper. Photo: Hans H. Bjørstad The first suggestion is to avoid damp wood, advises sweeper Jan Espeseth of the Vestfold intermunicipal fire service. Our wood can emit gases that settle as a layer of tar on the inside of the pipe. An instrument that can measure the moisture in the wood can therefore be a good investment, he believes. – If it contains more than 20 percent water, it must be dried before you can use it. Air before lighting Remember to open the oven door a few minutes before lighting. This prevents the smoke from escaping through the pipe due to cold air, says Espeseth. – If you leave the door open for five minutes and then fire it up, you avoid getting what we call a cold plug. Then it works better. This is especially important in autumn. – When it gets below zero, the pipe is anyway warmer than what it is outside. Adjusting the draw The correct draw is important if you are to fire in a good and safe way. Espeseth advises people to familiarize themselves with the user manual for their fireplace, and reminds that the draft should be regulated along the way. – So that the flames are alive and fresh all the time. You actually have to play around a bit to find out how it works best. Size – The thickness of the logs should be like a half-litre bottle of soft drink, says Espeseth. He recommends using logs at the bottom of the fireplace and topping with kindling wood and kindling briquettes. The fire should be lit from the top. NO BIGGER: This is the maximum size a log can be before you throw it into the fireplace. Photo: Eivind Aabakken / news If the accident is out In the event of a pipe fire, it is important to close the draft valves and call 110, which is the emergency number for the fire service. – We are most concerned that the pipe should withstand a soot fire so that building parts do not catch fire. Then you are safe even if there is a pipe fire, says Espeseth. He says that correct use is the most effective way to prevent pipe fires. – We have had someone who changed pipes in January and had a soot fire in March. PIPE FIRE: This is what it looked like when there was a pipe fire in Holmestrand in January 2021. Photo: Vestfold intermunicipal fire service How to spot a pipe fire Loud crackling or rumbling from the pipe is a sign of a pipe fire. Flames or sparks from the pipe. Very dense and thick smoke from the pipe. Very hot pipe or strong smell of heat from the pipe. Ensure good ventilation Good combustion requires a lot of air. Keep all draft valves open when you light the oven. When there is good heat in the oven, you can turn down the draft until it burns with calm flames. Add little by little wood to keep the fire burning evenly. Do not use flammable liquids Never use lighter fluid, gasoline or other flammable liquids in the fireplace or stove. Not too much or damp wood If you fill the stove with wood and fire with little draft, soot will form in the chimney. The same happens if you fire with damp wood. The soot and tar that collects in the pipe takes after the fire. It can happen after just a few months of incorrect firing. Check the user manual or contact the supplier if you are wondering how your fireplace works. Discovering a chimney fire If you discover a chimney fire, you must close all oven valves and hatches leading to the chimney. If there is no fire in the fireplace, you can also close the fireplace damper. If there is a fire in the fireplace, you must not close the damper. Then the smoke will enter the room. Extinguishing a pipe fire You should leave the extinguishing of a pipe fire to the fire service. Call the emergency number 110. If you are in the cabin or it is far from the nearest fire brigade, you can try to extinguish the fire with a powder apparatus while you wait. Carefully open the soot hatch at the bottom of the chimney and direct the hose from the appliance into the chimney. Depress the trigger, but only allow a little powder to come out. Close the hatch again. Repeat this if the fire starts up again. Evacuate in time Remember that you must not put yourself in danger. You must always evacuate before it becomes dangerous to stay inside. After the fire, the chimney must be checked by the fire and sweeping services. Source: DSB
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Five tips for safe firing – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
