Nearly all houses across Canada have fireplaces that are constantly under use, especially during winter. Gathering around a fireplace with your loved ones and cracking jokes about the just-ended December holidays feels excellent.
No matter how hilarious the session gets, ensure not to leave the fireplace burning to avoid possible fire accidents. Below are simple steps for putting out a fire in a fireplace safely.
Materials Needed to Extinguish a Fire in a Fireplace
To extinguish a fire in a fireplace, you should be prepared enough with suitable materials for a successful cause of action. Some popular fire extinguishing materials include water in a spray bottle, baking soda, a fire poker, and a metal shovel. Always ensure the poker and shovel handles are made of a heat-non-conducting material such as wood.
How Does a Fire Burn?
Understanding how fire burns before learning the entire extinguishing process would be best. A fire requires three elements to burn: oxygen, heat, and fuel. Therefore, putting out fire aims to eliminate the above elements. The fuel is made up of burning wood, while the heat is the prevailing temperature as the fire burns.
Lastly, oxygen refers to the natural gas that supports burning. In cases of emergency, fire experts eliminate oxygen in a burning fire with carbon dioxide (a liquidized gas) that takes away the gas from the fire. Other factors to consider before putting out a fire in a fireplace include the type of fireplace, the wood used, and other lighting elements.
Stop Adding More Fuel
The first step to putting a fire in wood fireplaces is to cease adding more fuel. If your time at the fireplace is approaching its end, you shouldn’t add more fuel to the fire but let it gradually burn with the existing ones.
That makes it much easier to put out when the fire has reduced, saving some wood for later use. You can alternatively remove the woods that haven’t burnt significantly and leave out the burnt ones to complete the session.
Spread Out the Wood and Embers
The next step to putting out a fire in a fireplace is spreading out the woods and embers to create a flattened fire surface. The action facilitates a quicker cooling process of the fire as you approach the end of your session. Use a high-quality fire poker to spread the burning wood and embers, not a stick that can burn and cause accidents.
Reshuffle the Ashes
Reshuffling the ashes happens like the music reshuffle icon. It involves replacing the top burning ashes with the cooled bottom ones. Repeat the process at least every 10 minutes, depending on the combustion rate, until all the ashes have cooled. Ensure to use a shovel with a wooden handle for the job to prevent burns on your hand.
Spray with Water or Apply Baking Soda to the Ashes
You might wonder how long the process of putting a fire in a fireplace is. The aim is not to mess with your hours of sleep but protect you from possible fire accidents. After the reshuffled ashes have cooled, spray the fire with water in a spray bottle, covering all the ashes. Do not use buckets or cups, no matter how tempting they are.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle baking soda over the ashes, creating a thin layer above them. The agent contains sodium bicarbonate, a component found in most fire extinguishers that helps to ‘suffocate’ the fire. Avoid using sand as an alternative for baking soda, as it makes the fireplace hard to clean.
Monitor the Fireplace
Extinguishing a fire in a fireplace doesn’t end with spraying the ashes with water or sprinkling them with baking soda. You should wait a few minutes before moving to other businesses and ensure the fire doesn’t restart. The ashes must have adequately cooled (however, do not feel them with your hands) before clearing them from the fireplace.
Clean the Fireplace
You can clear the ashes to prepare the fireplace for the next session when they have cooled. Use a shovel to scoop the ashes and store them in a metallic ash container away from combustible materials. Alternatively, you can leave the ashes on the fireplace and clear them the next day.
Additionally, you can clean the fireplace with a broom and dustpan for more outstanding results. Professionals also advise using vacuum cleaners to eliminate any residue from the fireplace before scrubbing it with a cleaning solution and a soft brush.
Putting out a fire safely in a fireplace minimizes the chances of possible fire accidents and related misfortunes. Hopefully, you have grasped the entire process as you look forward to making the fireplace your best friend this winter. You can hire professional cleaners for your fireplace while performing regular maintenance to improve its functionality.
