Fireplace Safety

Decorating your fireplace can enhance the festive atmosphere. Still, it is crucial to prioritize safety. Ensure that all decorations are placed at a safe distance from the flames and that your fireplace is properly maintained to prevent fire risk while enjoying the warmth and cheer of the holidays. In addition, follow the decorating and using your fireplace recommendations below to keep safe during the holidays.

Decorating

Do not hang Christmas stockings in front of a burning fire
When decorating a mantle, keep is clear of flammable decorations such as greenery branches, ribbons and paper
Other decorations like baskets of pine cones or other greenery on the hearth can become a fire risk, so keep further away from the fire
Keep Christmas tree and anything that is flammable more than three feet away from a fireplace

When in Use

A fireplace in your home can be warm and festive during the holidays. However, follow the above fire and burn safety when decorating and when in use, to prevent the risk of a fire in your home and reducing burn risks to visitors such as infants or toddlers who live, or might visit your home.

Every year, have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional.
For wood stoves, make sure the stove has been tested by a qualified testing laboratory
Make sure it has a functional glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent fire embers and sparks from shooting out. for wood stoves, keep doors closed, unless you are loading or stocking a live fire
If your fireplace has a gas valve, an "on" switch, or remote, keep these out of reach of children
Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from a fireplace or wood stove
Never burn paper in a fireplace or wood stove
Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home
Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, placing the container outside and at least 10 feet from your home
NEVER put Christmas tree branches in a fireplace or wood stove, as they are extremely flammable and flame explosion risk