10 Things a Firefighter Would NEVER Do With a Fireplace

I spent thirty years as a fire captain, and I learned that the most dangerous fireplace fire of the year is often the first one. In this video, I reveal the ten things I would never do with a fireplace—and the hidden chimney danger that can turn a quiet evening into a roaring house fire. I’ll show you the safety checks I make before lighting a fire, including what I look for with creosote, ashes, dampers, gas fireplace vents, carbon monoxide alarms, firelogs, and anything placed near the hearth. Grab the brightest flashlight in your house—you’ll need it for the first check. 0:00 Why the first fire matters 1:16 Keep three feet clear 2:17 Never burn household waste 3:16 Do not overload firelogs 5:11 Inspect gas fireplace vents 6:25 Dispose of ashes safely 8:00 Never close the damper early 9:05 Install carbon monoxide alarms 10:23 Do not trust last year's inspection 11:27 Check for creosote buildup 13:01 Five checks before lighting #FireplaceSafety #FireSafety #HomeSafety #FirefighterTips #ChimneySafety