Whenever you burn firewood or wood pellets in your wood stove, fireplace, or fireplace insert, you will create ashes that need to be properly removed. These ashes must be removed periodically as they can impact both performance and life of the hearth appliance.
When removing ashes always exercise caution, small bits of hot coals may be mixed and buried within the ashes. This represents a potentially significant fire hazard. These hot coals can stay dormant for many hours and possibly days when buried in ashes. The ash acts as an insulator keeping the coals from burning out. These coals can flare up when they are exposed to more oxygen. For this reason, fire departments often return to the scene of a fire to place more water on smoldering timbers.
Proper Ash Removal & Storage
Safe removal of ashes and coals from a wood stove or fireplace, and from inside the home are a must. The proper type of ash “holder” or bucket, for ash removal and storage should also be sheet metal. Never store ash in a plastic bucket. The bottom of the ash bucket should be slightly offset from the bottom so that the actual bottom does not make contact with flooring. The edge will and should make contact, but the majority of the bottom of the ash bucket should be elevated. The bucket should have a large wire handle for easy carrying and a metal ash shovel for safe ash removal from the hearth appliance. And, most importantly, the pail should have a lid that closes tightly. Lastly, do not place the ash holder directly on a wood porch, they should only be placed on non-combustible surfaces such as stone, concrete, brick, or slate.
The New Hampshire Fire Marshal recommends:
Coals in a pile of wood ashes can stay live for many days. Store wood ashes in a covered metal container set on a dirt or concrete surface at least 36″ from any combustible surface or materials.
Improper Wood Stove Ash Storage and Removal Story
Seven Displaced in Wood Stove Fire
Manchester, New Hampshire
January 5, 2010
Seven people were displaced after a basement fire caused $50,000 in damage to a Brown Avenue home. The fire started in a living room area of a finished basement near a wood stove. Fire Prevention investigators have determined the fire happened because of the improper disposal of ashes. Cardboard was located near the wood stove as was a plastic bucket containing cold ashes. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 40 minutes and contained flames to the basement area but the entire residence was damaged by smoke. Damage was estimated at $50,000 and the home was rendered uninhabitable.
Luckily no one was injured. This fire could have been easily avoided if proper wood stove safety precautions and proper ash storage and removal procedures had been followed.
Fireplace Village sells high quality Ash Holders and Ash Shovels. Our ash holders and buckets are constructed of sheet metal, the bottoms are elevated from the ground, have safe handles and include lids. Stop by one of our New Hampshire stores today or purchase ash buckets and shovels online.
