As the temperature drops outside, wood and pellet stoves may be fired up inside the home. What you may not realize is that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months.

• Have a QUALIFIED professional install stoves, chimney connectors, and chimneys.
• Stoves should have the LABEL of an independent testing laboratory.
• In wood stoves, burn only DRY, seasoned wood. In pellet stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood pellets.
• Have your chimney and stove INSPECTED and cleaned by a certified chimney sweep every fall just before heating season.
• CLEAN the inside of your stove periodically using a wire brush.
• Allow ashes to COOL before disposing of them. Place ashes in a covered metal container. Keep the container at least 10 feet away from the home and other buildings.
• Keep a CLOSE EYE on children whenever a wood or pellet stove is being used. Remind them to stay at least 3 feet away from the stove.
• Stoves need SPACE. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from the stove.
• INSTALL and maintain carbon monoxide alarms (CO) outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection,interconnect the CO alarms.When one sounds, they all sound.

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