Attention chemical fires!
The BfB warns against fireplace fires in winter.
During the cold season, fires occur more than twice a day in Switzerland. The fires are mostly due to improper handling of fireplaces and wood stoves. The reason is usually uncontrolled sparks that ignite easily combustible materials near the fire. To prevent so-called sparking, the BfB Advice Center for Fire Prevention provides information on safety tips for dealing with open fires.
In the cold season, people like to warm up their homes with a fireplace or wood stove fire. It is often forgotten that this increases the risk of fire. A frequent cause of fire is above all the throwing of sparks. To prevent home fires, the safety doors or metal curtains of the stoves should always be closed. In the case of open fireplaces, it is advisable to retrofit appropriate protective devices. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that no combustible materials, such as curtains or carpets, are near the flames or in the area of the spark. An appropriate distance from the fire must be maintained. Burning trash and cardboard is prohibited and can lead to dangerous, uncontrollable chimney fires. Consequently, it is mandatory to refrain from doing so.
Did you know that ashes can still start fires after 48 hours? For this reason, ash must always be stored in a fire-safe container and allowed to anneal sufficiently before disposal.
BfB safety tips at a glance
- Always close protective doors or metal curtains of the furnaces.
- Retrofit open fireplaces and wood stoves with appropriate protective devices.
- Combustible materials do not belong near the flames or in the area of sparking.
- Burning waste is unlawful and can lead to dangerous chimney fires.
- Allow ash to burn out for at least 48 hours and dispose of only in a fireproof container.
