Fort Ann Volunteer Fire Company

heating oil, wood stove, safety, volunteer, fire company
	FORT ANN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

Serving the Community and all those who pass through with fire protection and rescue services

9/11/2001 "Lest We Forget" VIEW THIS REMINDER (click above)	Heating Oil Costs Through the Roof! With fuel costs so high, many people will try to cut costs by using alternate heat sources such as wood stoves and space heaters. as a heat source again this year. Improper installation and use of wood stoves is a large cause of fires this time of year. Here are a few tips on the installation and use of wood stoves: 1.Build the chimney properly. The Washington County Code Office has information on, and can inspect your installation. The Thimble, or where the stove pipe passes through the wall is critical. Most chimney fires that enter the structure do so at the Thimble. The fire enters the wall, and passes into the rest of the house through the wall cavities. 2. Install the stove properly. Protect the walls behind the stove and the floor below it. Masonry, such as brick, is best since it not only protects the walls, but also stores heat to even out the room temperature. Other materials can be just as effective, but remember: they must be installed correctly! 3. Use dry wood. Using dry wood cuts down on the buildup of creosote on the walls of your chimney. The ignition of this creosote is what causes most chimney fires. When you start up the stove after it has cooled off, burn it hot for 20 minutes to heat the chimney and cut down on the buildup of creosote. ONLY DO THIS IF THE CHIMNEY IS CLEAN! 4. Inspect and clean the chimney regularly. Open the cleanout door of your chimney and look up it with a mirror, to see if it is blocked in any way. If you are not sure, get someone who knows how to do it for you. A handy mirror to do this with is available at auto parts stores. It is extendable and hinged to get a better angle of view. Also pull the stove pipe from the Thimble and clean it out. Creosote buildup here is the greatest risk of transmitting fire into your house. If there is any buildup in the chimney, get it cleaned! 5. Get an expert to install and care for your stove and chimney. If you are unsure of how to use a wood stove, get expert help . Learn all you can on the subject for your and your families' safety. Space heaters have their own dangers How many times have you seen reports of fires where the cause was something close to the heater catching fire?There is also the danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning with the use of some space heaters These are guidelines only! You are responsible for your installation and use of your wood stove! We will accept no responsibility for any misuse of wood stoves or any heating appliances	Also, for community news and links click here: Fort Ann.org visit the Lake Hadlock Assn.site for information and photos of the dam break at http://www. lakehadlock.org
In times of disaster, the community is the first and last resource for aid. The response from the Fort Ann community was the first and best relief effort during the Hadlock Dam tragedy. Even at it's best, State and Federal government response is slow and burdensome, causing excess hardship for affected residents. Please keep our neighbors in mind and volunteer whenever possible. The local fire depts. and rescue squad are always accepting qualified new members. Contact your local agency for information. or call 1-800-FIRE-LINE at the same time as the national disasters, local people still need your help Please donate as you can to the charity of your choice