GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — A fire that damaged a home in Stearns County early Tuesday serves as a seasonal reminder of the danger posed by wood stoves and fireplaces.
Fire crews were dispatched to a house in rural Sauk Centre Township just after 1:30 a.m. after the homeowner awoke to smoke alarms going off and soon discovered her porch on fire.
Early indications are that a wood stove is the cause of the fire, which caused significant damage. The homeowner, her dog and a cat escaped safely.
Fireplaces, wood stoves and chimney fires become increasingly common as fall and winter approaches. The 2017 fire report by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office says 172 incidents were reported involving fireplaces and chimneys that year, which accounted for 69 percent of heating fires.
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) offers these suggestions for those who use a wood stove or fireplace to heat their home.
- Chimneys need to be inspected by a professional sweep prior to the start of each heating season and periodically throughout the year
- Have chimneys cleaned if there is a buildup of creosote. Creosote is a chemical substance that forms when wood burns and builds up on the chimney wall. It is highly combustible.
- Fireplace screens should be firmly in place when you burn fires.
- Burn only clean, well-seasoned, dry firewood in the fireplace.
- Make sure home smoke detectors are installed and working.
For wood stoves only
- Make sure the stove is properly ventilated. Other household venting appliances can diminish proper venting of your wood stove. Test all other appliances (bathroom fans, stovetop venting, HVAC units, etc.) to ensure that they don’t interfere with proper stove venting.
- Maintain clearances around stoves, flue pipes, and floors according to manufacturers' recommendations.
- Check all connections at the beginning of the heating season.
- If you have questions about fire protection devices, contact your local fire department.
