Baker City Fire Department responds to two chimney/fireplace incidents

BAKER CITY — (Press release from the Baker City Fire Department) The Baker City Fire Department responded to two incidents this weekend regarding fireplaces and chimneys.

The first incident occurred early in the morning on Saturday when a residence was filled with smoke from a fireplace lit and left unattended. The residents awoke to the smoke detectors sounding and the house filled with smoke. The house was evacuated prior to Baker City Fires’ arrival. The first arriving unit was quick to locate the source of the smoke and extinguished it. The crew searched the residence and ensured that it was the only area producing the smoke. Crews set up fans and removed all the smoke from the house.

The second incident occurred last evening (Sunday) when a neighbor reported that their neighbors’ chimney was on fire and they were not in the house at the time. Crews arrived and found that the neighbor had extinguished a majority (if not all of it) prior to their arrival. The Baker City Fire crew that arrived ensured that there was no extension to other parts of the house, ensured that all the smoke was removed from the residence, and awaited to ensure arrival and notification of the residents (as well as ensuring there was not a possibility of the fire being rekindled before their arrival).

These are two recent incidents that have had good outcomes. However, it could have quite easily been a different story and a more tragic outcome. The “What If’s. What if the residences did not have working smoke detectors? What if the neighbor had not seen the fire coming out of the chimney? What If nobody called 9-1-1 and fires had extended beyond the chimneys?

Did you know that, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM), home heating fires are the leading cause of home fires in Oregon. The OSFM has published a pamphlet to help reduce or eliminate chimney fires. Some of the recommendations include:

• Have chimneys and ventilation cleaned and inspected yearly.
• Don’t overload your wood stove or fireplace. Too much wood increases the risk of a chimney fire.
• Use a metal or glass fireplace screen to contain sparks and embers to prevent sparking a fire.
• Never leave a fire unattended, even for a short time. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the fire.
• Only use kindling, newspapers, or fire starters to start a fire. Never use flammable liquids like kerosene, gasoline, or charcoal lighter fluid.

This pamphlet, along with many others on this and other fire safety topics, are readily available for pick up at the Baker City Fire Station. If you have any questions, please contact the Baker City Fire Department @ (541) 523-3711

The Year has literally just begun. Let’s be Fire Safe.

Michael S Carlson

Baker City Fire

(541) 523-3711

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