General Info
OPEN BURNING SEASON IN GUNNISON COUNTY Since the weather has warmed up, everyone begins their Spring clean-up. This means there is going to be several open burns planned and some of these will get out of control. These uncontrolled burns can be prevented if certain procedures are followed:
1. Notify Gunnison Dispatch, 641-8000, of the location, size and time of your burn. If this notification is not made and the fire is reported by someone, then the Gunnison Fire Dept. will respond to a burn that is actually under control.
2. Plan your burn in the early morning hours between 6:00 A.M. and 9:00A.M., or in the later evening hours, 6:00P.M. and 8:00P.M. This is when wind gusts are less likely to occur. Check with the local weather service prior to your burn as to what wind conditions are forecast for the day.
3. Make sure you have a water supply that will reach the entire perimeter of your burn area. Wet down the perimeter to prevent fire from spreading to your neighbors
property.
4. If you have a large area to burn, it would be best to burn in small sections and use your mower to cut some fire breaks. When you light your area, light only one area. Do not start several perimeter fires.
5. It is always best to have someone help you with your burn, you should never burn alone. Make sure your burn is no closer than 50 feet from any structure.
6. If your burn should get out of control, please do not hesitate to call the Fire Department. If you hesitate at all in calling, this fire can and will cause problems. A fire that would have taken 1/2 to 1hour to control, will take 4 to 8 hours to control. Open burning is not allowed within the city limits of Gunnison. If you have any questions on controlled burning in the county, please call the Fire Marshal at 641-8153.
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR FREESTANDING SOLID FUEL BURNING APPLIANCES (WOODBURNING STOVES) Check the stove for cracks or damage.
Assure proper clearances from combustibles have been observed. Use your manufacturers specifications to assure this if your appliance is either U.L. or I.C.B.O. listed. If not listed, maintain a 36" clearance from combustibles.
Keep paper, wood, curtains, furniture, or other combustible materials 36" away from your stove.
Check all connections in your metal chimney and flue pipe to assure they are all connected properly and not loose.
Check your chimney and flue pipe for creosote build-up (a by-product of combustion). If there is more than a 1/4" build-up you are running the risk of a chimney fire, therefore, you must clean your chimney from top to bottom.
Check your fire box for creosote build-up also, if there is any, brush it out.
Check your rain cap to assure it isn't plugged which causes smoke to enter the house.
Make sure you haven't gone from a listed metal double or triple wall chimney pipe back to a single wall pipe above the roof, this will cause greater amounts of creosote build-up.
Make sure your listed double or triple wall chimney pipe maintains its 2" clearance from combustibles, this goes for any type of insulation also.
If the appliance is vented into an existing chimney, inspect chimney for missing mortar, loose mortar joints and cracked bricks. Also assure connection into the masonry chimney is secure and free of leaks. Repair any defects.
Assure proper clearance of single wall pipe is maintained. In many cases it is required that you have a minimum of 18" clearance from combustibles. Do not penetrate a combustible ceiling or wall with only a single wall pipe.
Make sure no other appliance is vented into your existing chimney.
Make sure your smoke alarm is working, most of these have a test button. If you don't have one you should get one. Smoke alarms save lives.
You should obtain a 2A-10B-C fire extinguisher and place it in a readily accessible place. This extinguisher will work on electrical, flammable liquid, or solid combustible type fires.
Many of the preceding steps should be done a minimum of once a month.
Precautions when burning your solid fuel appliance:
Do not overload or overfire your appliance, this increases the chance of a chimney fire.
Do not burn trash, paper or cardboard in your appliance, this also increases the chance of a chimney fire.
Store ashes in a closed metal container outside at least 36" away from your residence and assure dry grass or weeds are cut back 36".
There is no woodburning installation which is 100% fire safe, so if a problem does occur, such as a chimney fire, notify the fire department immediately. there is no cost to you when you notify the department and they respond.
Never light your stove using gasoline, paint thinner, fuel oil, or any other type of accelerant. Many of these will cause an explosion and result in severe burns.