There is an old farmhouse we pass on our way to town. Every year come early November they will cut and split a bunch of wood and throw it into their basement. Then usually come January or February another load goes in. Right.... Today there were fire trucks all over the place and they even closed off the state highway for several hours. They had the road opened up by the time I went through but about the only thing left was ashes and chimney. I was told that it indeed was caused either by the stove or chimney. A total loss. I hope new wood burners read this and let it be a lesson to them. There is a good reason why we preach dry wood and also the 3 year plan.
and not letting hot coals roll out of the stove onto wool carpet or keeping hot ashes in a pizza box on the couch or smoking in bed ... I hope no loss of life and they had a safe for some valuables
I've not yet heard how the family is or if there was any harm other than to the house. I did find out the people were renters but that's about all I know right now.
Yes, sad to hear Sav. I remember back before I knew you and I had just began burning again. Someone gave me some fresh Oak and I was trying to burn it. All I ended up with is a huge thick pile of coals I would have to scoop out everyday. I kept saying to myself, this aint right, just aint right. I thought Oak was a good firewood. Today I'm burning Oak that has been sitting for 2 1/2 years and it's burning great. I'd go 3 if I had the space. I had one chimney fire when I first started and I thank god every time I think of it that I found all you guys here. Just a thought, how many lives and homes you all think you have saved through your message here?
Sad, but I have to tell you that is standard for wood one year old to be sold as seasoned wood. I never new any differently until I got on the wood forums.
That might be interesting to know Andy but we'll never know. I do know that many have commented to me about how I post some of the same things over and over when new people come onto the forum. They say I have patience. No, I am simply trying to help and am very grateful that I have been able to help some.
But these folks have been there more than a year; however, if you never improve your skills or knowledge, you can't expect much.
We see too many news stories of homes burned to the ground during the winters in Maine. An elderly couple bought my aunt's place, about 8 months before a bad Maine storm years ago. Their lack of experience burned the barn flat that first winter. If it hadn't been for the wind direction away from the house, probably would have lost it too… it's all very sad.
That's about the right length of time to build up a good thick layer of creosote in a chimney if they were burning unseasoned wood and didn't sweep the chimney at all. Of course it could have been something much simpler, like hanging clothes over the wood stove to dry. My house insurance agent came out to take pictures of my wood stove after it was installed, as per their policy. The first policy you have to fulfill before they will insure a house with a wood heating device is that it needs to be WETT inspected and approved, then they come out to take pictures of the installation for their records. These pictures help them determine if there have been any changes to the installation after it was inspected. In other words, if the home owners swaps or moves the stove after the inspection and the new stove or location doesn't meet the proper clearance spec, then they have some way of determining that by comparing the photos to what they find after a fire. Anyway, my insurance agent was telling me how often he goes out to take these pictures and finds things like wood stacked next to the stove, or laundry hanging just a few inches over the stove, etc... The home owners aren't even bright enough to move that stuff before he takes his pictures. If they don't bother to move it when the insurance agent comes out to take pictures, how much less likely are they to keep that stuff clear when he's not around? One thing for sure, it certainly gives him the evidence he needs to deny any fire insurance claims they might make down the road.
I couldn't agree with you more LJ. We had a rental back when I was a kid. The lady renting it piled up dirty clothes against the hot water heater where the flame use to be more accessible than they are in today's. The whole house was a loss. Thank god they all got out. After that no more rentals. Can't fix stupid.
Last word I got was that the fire started right where the pipe goes into the chimney. So either chimney fire or perhaps the pipe was getting old but I doubt the second one.
Sad news for sure . Hope everyone is ok . ......Are we talking wood thats been split and drying for one year ? Im a little confused on that .
We never start counting drying time until the wood has been split and then stacked out in the wind. If it is stacked in a shed, then add some time for the proper drying.
