• Make an escape plan and PRACTICE it.
• Make sure everyone (especially children) can unlock all doors and windows quickly, even in the dark.
• Never use an elevator to escape a fire, use the stairs.
• If you live in a multi-story house, consider buying fire escape ladders.
• In case of fire, test doors before opening them. If they feel warm, don't open them. If they feel cool, open cautiously.
• Crawl low under smoke. Once you are out of your home, stay out. Don't go back for any reason. If people are trapped, let the firefighters rescue them, they are trained to do so without high risk to their own lives.

• Do check the manufacturer's guidelines for your woodstove or insert
• Do use seasoned hardwood
• Do use commercial fire starters if you like. They eliminate the need for tinder and reduce the amount of kindling required
• Don't use charcoal lighter fluid or other flammable liquids. These are extremely dangerous. (Gel fire starters are okay.)
• Don't use coal in a woodstove or fireplace unless there are spcific written instructions - it will burn, but not safely.
• Don't burn artificial logs in a woodstove, unless they are specifically designed for woodstove use. Artificial logs can dirty the chimney much faster than regular wood, and can be hazardous in certain situations.
• Don't burn treated lubmer, trash, or anything other that wood in your fireplace or woodstove.

Don't wait for the cold weather when the heater is in use to have it inspected. Have it inspected in the spring or summer months.

According to the CSIA, unsafe chimneys cause significant number of deaths and injuries and account for more than $200 million in property losses. They recommend making chimney examinations a regular part of you me maintenance schedule.

There may be weaknesses in the bricks and mortar. The fireclay lining could be cracked. Even worse, many chimneys have no lining at all. Most old chimneys do not provide suitable venting for new wood appliances. These old chimneys need to be retrofitted with new liners. If not, the results could be disastrous. If you own a wood heating system, have a certified chimney professional inspect, clean, and replace any necessary parts.

Without any visible signs, acid produced by your gas appliance may be eating away at the inside of your chimney, putting your family at risk. Regular inspections of your chimney can alert you to potential problems before they become costly or dangerous. Chimney evaluations are especially important when older chimneys are paired with higher-efficiency appliances and boilers. Improper matches often occur when flues or the connector pipes are too large. With improper matches, a blockage can occur that could prevent carbon monoxide from leaving the system and allow it to enter your home. Improper matches can also cause inadequate draft in the system. This can reduce the efficiency and safety of the appliance. Evaluations are recommended for newer chimneys as well. Make sure that your furnace was installed according to the manufacturer's installation instructions and the NFPS standards.

With oil appliances, soot accumulation can restrict the flow of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor and not allow CO2 to be properly vented. This which could result in the CO2 spilling back into the house instead of going up the chimney. Also, a chimney's interior, if not properly maintained will decay and break down.

When starting a fire remember to open the damper and always use a grate. After your fire gets going, keep glass doors open, use fireplace tools to tend to it, and close the fire screen.

Build a safe fire

How do you properly start a fire in a fireplace?

You will need:

• Tinder - crumpled up newspaper, small twigs, pine needle, pine cones
• Kindling - Large twigs, small branches, small splits of wood
• Well-seasoned hard wood - split, dry wood that has been stacked several months.

Starting the fire:

• Open the damper.
• Put the tinder on the grate and cover it with kindling.
• Light the tinder
• Once the kindling is burning, add the well-seasoned hard wood.