The U.S. Fire Administration recommends keeping anything that can burn at least three feet away from any heat source like fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, radiators or space heaters.
You should also:
- Keep portable generators outside, away from windows and as far from your home as possible
- Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month
- Plug only one heat-producing appliance into an electrical outlet at a time
- Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents each year
- Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep it outside, at least 10 feet away from your home and nearby buildings
(Kens5) Photo: Tom Merton