One of the major sources of fires in residential homes are chimneys and flues. The wood burned in wood burning stoves and fireplaces often contains oils and tars. Soft woods such as pine, spruce, and fir are particularly high in oil and tar. When these woods are burned oils and tars are vaporized and rise in the chimey. Some stick to the sides of the chimneys and flues. All it takes then is an exposure to flame to ignite a chimney or flue fire.

There are two things you can do to prevent chimney and flue fires. First, have your chimneys and flues inspected annually, and if necessary, cleaned. Chimneysweeps can remove the accumulated oils and tars before they become a fire hazard. Second, try burning the hardest wood you can get, and avoid burning soft woods like pine. Hard woods include maple, cherry, oak, ash and poplar.