How to Safely Put Out a Fire in Your Fireplace: A Comprehensive Guide

A crackling fire in the fireplace is a quintessential symbol of warmth and comfort, especially during the colder months. However, knowing how to safely extinguish a fire is just as crucial as knowing how to start one. Whether you’re ready to call it a night, need to leave the house unexpectedly, or simply want to ensure the fire is completely out before going to bed, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps necessary to safely and effectively put out a fireplace fire.

Understanding the Basics: Why Proper Extinguishing is Essential

Before diving into the practical steps, it’s important to understand why proper fire extinguishing is so vital. A seemingly dwindling fire can still harbor embers that can reignite or cause smoke damage, even hours later. Improperly extinguished fires are a leading cause of house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, taking the necessary precautions is not just about convenience; it’s about ensuring the safety of your home and family.

Key risks of an improperly extinguished fireplace fire include:

• Re-ignition: Embers hidden within the ash bed can smolder for extended periods and reignite, potentially spreading to other areas of the house, especially if there is combustible material nearby.
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Incomplete combustion can produce carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless, and deadly gas. Even when the flames appear extinguished, smoldering embers can still produce this harmful gas.
• Smoke Damage: Incomplete extinguishing can lead to excessive smoke production, which can cause significant damage to walls, furniture, and fabrics.
• Chimney Fires: If hot embers travel up the chimney, they can ignite creosote deposits, leading to a dangerous chimney fire.

Preparation: Gathering Your Fire-Extinguishing Tools

Before you even light your fire, make sure you have the necessary tools on hand to extinguish it safely. Being prepared in advance will save you time and reduce the risk of accidents when it’s time to put out the fire. Here’s a list of essential tools:

• Fireplace Shovel: A metal fireplace shovel is indispensable for moving and separating burning logs and coals.
• Fireplace Tongs: Tongs allow you to safely handle hot logs and embers without risking burns.
• Metal Bucket or Container with Lid: A metal bucket is essential for containing hot ash and coals after you remove them from the fireplace. The lid is crucial for preventing reignition and limiting the spread of dust and smoke. Make sure it’s metal and not plastic!
• Fire Extinguisher: It is important to have a fire extinguisher specifically rated for Class A fires, which are those involving solid materials like wood. Ideally, this should be near your fireplace. Make sure you know how to use it ahead of time!
• Metal Ash Can or Ash Container: This is used for the disposal of cooled ashes. Many fireplace sets have an ash bucket but a heavy duty metal container with a lid works just as well.
• Gloves: Heat-resistant gloves will protect your hands when handling hot tools and materials.
• Water Mister or Spray Bottle: This can be used to lightly moisten ashes. Don’t use too much water.

Step-by-Step Guide to Extinguishing a Fireplace Fire

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to put out a fireplace fire safely and effectively:

1. Allow the Fire to Burn Down

   The first step is to reduce the amount of fuel available to the fire. If time allows, let the fire burn down to embers and ash. Do not add any more wood to the fire. This will minimize the number of burning materials that need to be extinguished.

2. Separate the Remaining Embers

   Using your fireplace shovel and tongs, carefully separate the remaining embers and coals. Spread them out to allow for better cooling. This is crucial for ensuring that all hot coals are exposed and not insulated by layers of other coals.

3. Gently Apply Ash to the Remaining Embers

   Using your shovel, gather some of the cooler ash and gently apply it to the remaining hot embers. The ash will help smother the fire, depriving it of oxygen and reducing its heat.

4. Use a Water Mister or Spray Bottle Sparingly

   This step requires great care. While water can extinguish a fire, using too much can cause a mess, create excessive steam, and, more dangerously, potentially damage your fireplace and flue with sudden temperature changes. Use a spray bottle or mister to lightly moisten the embers and ash, but do not drench the fire. The goal is to reduce the heat without causing a large increase in steam. Never use a hose or a bucket of water unless you are facing an emergency and have to use everything at your disposal.

   Avoid using water if you have a cast iron fire place. Sudden temperature changes can cause the metal to crack. If you do end up using too much water, use a shovel and bucket to remove the ash mixture from the firebox. Let the firebox dry before starting another fire.

5. Carefully Transfer Embers and Ash to a Metal Bucket

   Once the embers are significantly cooled, carefully shovel them into your metal bucket or container. Use your tongs to pick up any larger pieces of burning wood and place them in the bucket as well. Do not overload the bucket, and make sure it has a lid to prevent the embers from reigniting or falling out.

6. Secure the Metal Bucket with a Lid

   Place the lid securely on the metal bucket. This is vital to prevent any remaining embers from reigniting or releasing smoke. The lid will also contain any airborne ash and dust.

7. Monitor the Bucket

   Place the metal bucket in a safe, non-combustible area. Monitor it periodically for at least a few hours to ensure no smoldering or reignition occurs. Do not place it on a wooden deck or near any flammable materials. Leave it outside for several hours if you can.

8. Clean Up the Fireplace

   Once the embers are completely cooled in the metal bucket (usually after several hours or the next morning), you can safely remove them and deposit them into a metal ash can for disposal. Using your fire shovel, carefully remove remaining ash and debris from the firebox. It’s advisable to wait until the fireplace is completely cool before cleaning, to avoid burns and smoke inhalation. A small fireplace broom or a small vacuum cleaner that is specifically made to remove ash is recommended for cleaning.

9. Final Check

   Double check to ensure no embers or hot ash remain inside the fireplace. Feel the bricks around the firebox with your gloved hands. If they are still warm, wait another hour and re-check again.

Important Safety Precautions

While extinguishing a fireplace fire is generally a safe process, it’s essential to keep safety in mind at all times. Here are some crucial safety tips:

• Never Leave a Fire Unattended: The most important safety precaution is to never leave a fire unattended. This applies both when the fire is actively burning and when you are extinguishing it.
• Keep Flammables Away: Ensure that no flammable materials such as newspapers, rugs, or furniture are near the fireplace. Maintain a safe distance of at least three feet from the fireplace.
• Use a Fire Screen: Always use a fire screen when your fire is burning. The screen will prevent stray sparks from escaping the firebox.
• Install and Maintain Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ensure that your home is equipped with working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them regularly and replace batteries as needed.
• Proper Ventilation: Make sure your chimney is properly cleaned and maintained. This is especially important before the start of the burning season. A build up of creosote could cause a chimney fire if hot embers are allowed to climb the chimney.
• Do Not Use Accelerants: Never use flammable liquids such as gasoline or lighter fluid to start or extinguish a fire. These substances can create a dangerous explosion or flash fire.
• Be Prepared: Always have a fire extinguisher, water mister, shovel, tongs, and a metal bucket nearby before starting a fire.
• Children and Pets: Keep children and pets at a safe distance from the fireplace at all times.
• Stay Alert: Be aware of any changes in your fireplace and keep a look out for excessive smoke or embers. This is a clue that something might be wrong.

Alternative Methods for Extinguishing a Fire

While the above steps provide the most common method for extinguishing a fireplace fire, there are a few alternative methods that you might consider in specific situations:

• Sand: In an emergency, if you don’t have water or a mister, you can use sand to smother a fire. Carefully pour the sand over the embers and make sure they are completely covered.
• Baking Soda: Baking soda is a fire retardant. You can use it to smother the flames as well.
• Class A Fire Extinguisher: If the fire gets out of control, don’t hesitate to use a Class A fire extinguisher. Direct the stream at the base of the flames to extinguish the fire effectively. Be sure that you have one that is in good working order and not expired.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some common issues you might encounter when extinguishing a fireplace fire, and how to address them:

• Difficulty Cooling Embers: If embers seem to be staying hot for an extended period of time, keep applying ash and very small amounts of water. Be patient and monitor the bucket outside the house.
• Excessive Smoke: If the fire is producing excessive smoke, check if the damper is fully open. Make sure the chimney has not been blocked. If the excessive smoke continues, then there might be a problem with your chimney. You may need to call in a professional to take a look.
• Re-ignition: If embers reignite in the bucket, use water from a mister to dampen them and seal the lid. Take the bucket away from the house and wait several more hours before emptying them in a metal ash container.
• Too much water: If you used too much water, use a shovel and bucket to carefully scoop up the slurry mixture and dispose of it in a metal container. Let the firebox completely dry out before starting another fire.

Conclusion

Knowing how to safely and effectively put out a fireplace fire is an essential skill for any homeowner with a fireplace. By following the detailed steps outlined in this guide and taking the necessary safety precautions, you can enjoy the warmth and comfort of a fireplace without compromising your safety. Remember, prevention and preparation are key. Always have the necessary tools on hand and never leave a fire unattended. In the event of an emergency, do not hesitate to call the fire department. Stay safe, and enjoy your cozy fires responsibly!