vernonia rural fire protection district
january21
2016
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Chimney Fires
It’s that time of year again
where everyone with a fireplace or wood
burning stove is heating their homes
during our colder winter months. While
there are few things more enjoyable than
sitting near a nice crackling fire in your
fireplace, or sitting near that nice warm
wood burning stove, there is a hidden
danger slowly building up in your
chimney called creosote.
Over time the smoke created
by your fire builds up a sticky tar like
substance. Creosote builds up faster in
chimneys that are used with wood stoves
designed to get the most heat out of the
wood that you are burning. Dampening
down the air supply, causing the wood
to burn more slowly, causes more smoke
and unburnt particulates to flow up
through your chimney.
Most chimney fires occur when
you first get your wood burning stove
going with a hot fire. The increase in
temperature ignites the creosote that has
built up on the lining of your chimney.
They can occur with little to no warning.
It’s important to always monitor your
heating system for any signs that might
indicate that you have a problem.
Creosote burns at an extremely
high temperature and your chimney,
which was designed to carry the smoke
out of your home, can catch on fire,
spewing smoke, ash, and in most cases,
sparks and even flames from the top of
your chimney. These sparks and burning
embers can fall on your rooftop and
ignite your roofing material.
It’s important to clean your
chimney on a regular basis. If you are
unsure how to, or unable to clean your
chimney, there are reputable companies
that you can call for assistance. For
more information on how to clean your
chimney, you can find information on
the internet.
Well designed chimneys have
been built with this possibility in mind.
Even so, chimney fires can burn at
extreme temperatures which can cause
severe damage to your chimney system.
If your chimney system fails, the extreme
heat can cause combustible materials
near it to ignite.
Some signs of a chimney fire
include:
• Loud cracking popping noise
• A lot of dense smoke that can puff in
and out of the air inlets on your wood
stove
• An intense hot smell
• A loud rumbling noise coming from
the area of your chimney.
In the event that you suspect
that you might have a chimney fire have
someone call 911 right away. Next, using
a chimney fire extinguisher, which can
be purchased at most home improvement
stores, will help to extinguish the fire.
Follow the directions provided with
chimney fire extinguisher.
Whether you use a chimney fire
extinguisher or not, the next step you
should take is to close the air vents and
the damper on your stove pipe leading
VRFPD’s Smoke Alarm Program
The Vernonia Rural Fire Protection
District is starting The Smoke Alarm
Installation Program.
This program is designed to
allow trained personnel
to enter your home or
apartment and asses your
smoke alarm needs.
Oregon
law
requires Landlords to
provide working smoke
alarms for their rental
units. It is the renter’s
responsibility to test these alarms and
replace the batteries as needed. Smoke
alarms are only rated to last for a period
of 10 years. Any alarms older than 10
years, or alarms that cannot be correctly
dated, must be replaced.
Oregon law also requires
Landlords to provide a CO detector when
there is a CO source in the dwelling, and
in all homes built in 2011 or thereafter
whether there is a CO source or not.
This program is designed to help
homeowners and tenants by determining
where the smoke alarms should be
installed throughout the home, provide
new batteries where needed, and we will
provide some new smoke alarms on a
case by case basis.
The Oregon Office of State Fire
Marshal is providing 100 new smoke
alarms to assist with this project, but
they will go fast. Due to the limited
number of available new smoke alarms,
the program will be done on a first come
first serve basis.
If you are a renter, and you
do not have working smoke alarms in
your rental unit, contact your landlord
or property manager
right away. We can install
the smoke alarms at the
time of our inspection,
provided the alarms have
been provided prior to the
scheduled inspection.
S t a t i s t i c s
provided by the
Oregon Office of State Fire
Marshal show that between
2004 and 2013 there were 348
fire related fatalities and 2,572
fire related injuries.
In the cases where there were
fatalities, only 54% had smoke
alarms installed in the structures.
Of the 54%, only 35% of those
alarms were working smoking
alarms.
Statistics show that working
smoke alarms, properly installed
and maintained, save lives and
reduce fire related injuries.
The Smoke Alarm Installation
and Inspection Program will be
starting in the next 3 to 4 weeks.
If you are a renter in
need of working smoke alarms,
please use this time period
to contact your landlord or
property manager to obtain
working smoking smoke alarms,
and inquire about CO detectors for your
home or apartment prior to applying
for the Smoke Alarm Installation and
Inspection Program.
If you live in the Vernonia Rural
Fire Protection District, please stop by
the fire station located at 555 E. Bridge
St. and pick up an application form
requesting an inspection and installation
of smoke alarms for your home.
Applications are available at the
15
to your chimney. Alert everyone in
your home that it might be necessary to
evacuate and wait for fire personnel to
arrive.
In the event that you have
a chimney fire, you should have the
chimney inspected by a qualified
chimney expert before using your
chimney again.
There are numerous websites
where you can learn more about the
causes of chimney fires and steps that
you can take to minimize your chances
of having one. Here is just one website
where you can go for more information.
h t t p : / / w w w. c s i a . o rg / h o m e o w n e r-
resources/the_facts_about_chimney_
fires.aspx.
Vernonia US Bank, Vernonia Library,
and Vernonia City Hall.
After you complete your
application, you can drop it off at the fire
station, fax it to:
(503) 429-2900,
or mail it to:
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Smoke Alarm Installation Program
555 E. Bridge St.
Vernonia, OR 97064
VOLUNTEERS
WANTED
VERNONIA RURAL FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT
VRFPD is currently accepting applications
for Volunteer Fire Fighters.
• You must have a High School Diploma or
G.E.D., a valid Oregon Driver’s License, and
be at least 18 years of age.
• Currently, you must be able to attend
weekly training on Monday nights
Here’s What We Do!
Calls responded to December 1-31
Fire
Emergency Medical Service
Hazardous Condition
Service Call
Good Intent
Severe Weather & Natural Disaster
Special Incident
No Emergency Found
False Alarm
Total
0
31
3
11
2
3
0
0
2
52
• Willing to attend the Fire Academy
VRFPD
• Live or work (employer willing to let you
respond to calls) within VRFPD’s District
555 E. Bridge St.
Vernonia, OR 97064
503-429-8252
• Applications can be picked up at the Fire
Station.
VRFPD FIRE CHIEF
Earl Dean Smith
dc4502@yahoo.com
503-709-882) (cell)
503-429-8252 (office)
VRFPD P.I.O.
Robert Schattschneider
pio.vrfpd@gmail.com
97)-225-8332 (cell)
503-429-8252 (office)
