How to prevent 'stove' fires

The peak of "stove" fires occurs precisely during the heating season, during the cold period. Tenants and homeowners lose their skills in handling heating appliances during the summer, forgetting about precautions. And the stove equipment itself becomes unusable over time.

Main causes of "stove" fires

- insufficient insulation of chimneys where they pass through wooden ceilings, as well as small clearances - distances between the stove walls and wooden structures of partitions and house walls;

- absence of a pre-fire hearth plate.

- igniting the stove with gasoline, kerosene, and other flammable liquids;

- using firewood whose length exceeds the dimensions of the firebox;

- overheating of stoves;

- doors left open;

- drying clothes or other items near the hearth.

It should be remembered that with stove heating, not only good draft, heat output, economy, and aesthetic qualities are valued, but also safety. An improperly built stove can cause a fire in the house. To prevent this, do not entrust stove construction to individuals unfamiliar with fire safety rules for installing stove heating.

The stove must be white, which will allow timely detection of malfunctions and cracks that can lead to a fire. A black smoke trail is clearly visible on the white background of the stove.

Vertical chimneys without ledges should be used for smoke removal. To protect combustible and difficult-to-combust floors in front of the stove's firebox, a metal sheet measuring 70x50 cm should be provided.

When operating stove heating, it is prohibited:

- To leave stoves unattended while they are being heated, as well as to entrust children with their supervision;

- To place fuel and other combustible substances and materials on the pre-fire hearth plate;

- To use gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, and other flammable and combustible liquids to ignite stoves;

- To heat stoves with coal, coke, and gas if they are not designed for these types of fuel;

- To heat stoves during meetings and other mass events held in the premises;

- Overheating furnaces;

- Installing metal furnaces that do not meet fire safety requirements, standards, and technical specifications. When installing temporary metal and other factory-made furnaces, the instructions (manuals) of the manufacturers must be followed, as well as the design code requirements for heating systems.

Rules of Conduct in Case of Fire

Upon detecting a fire or signs of combustion (smoke, smell of burning, elevated temperature), immediately report it by calling 101 to the rescue service, stating the address of the facility, the location of the fire, and your last name. In case of threat to human life, it is necessary to immediately organize their rescue, using available forces and means for this purpose. Before the arrival of the fire department, use available primary fire extinguishing means (water, sand, snow, fire extinguishers, water-soaked cloth materials) to extinguish the fire. Remove elderly people, children, disabled persons, and sick individuals from the danger zone.

Inspector of the Fire and Rescue Department of the Miory District Department for Emergency Situations O.M. Girzha