How To Put Out A Fire In A Fireplace

Fireplaces are perfect for a chilly night. They can add warmth and a gorgeous ambiance in any room, but a fire is still a fire and safety should be your top priority. Let’s talk about the safest ways to put out your fire at the end of a cozy night.

Safely Putting Your Fire Out

Once you’ve decided the night is coming to an end, stop adding fuel to your fire. After some time, the fire will begin to die out naturally. It’s important to know the burn time of whatever fuel you’re using and plan ahead. We’ve put together a guide for the steps of safely helping your fire burn out when you’re ready for bed.

Using the Right Fuel

The bigger the fire, the longer the burn time. Using smaller pieces of wood will give you a fire than will burn out more quickly, so if you’re planning on only enjoying your fireplace for a couple of hours it’s important to use the right size and amount of wood.

Invest in a Fireplace Screen

A fireplace screen will help ensure that embers and sparks don’t escape your fireplace. Place the screen in front of the fireplace as the fire burns out.

Spread Out the Embers

Using a poker, spread out the wood and embers. This will create a flat surface and allow the fire to cool more quickly. You can also repeatedly scoop cooled ashes and dump them over the fire to help speed up the process. 

Apply Baking Soda

Baking soda has shared ingredients with some fire extinguishers making it a great tool to put out your fire. Apply a layer of baking soda as a last step in putting out the fire and keep your fireplace screen in place until the fire is completely burnt out.

Cleaning Your Fireplace

Once the ashes in your fireplace have completely cooled, you can use a fireplace shovel to remove the ashes and store them in a metal ash container away from any combustible materials. It is recommended to leave about an inch of ashes in the fireplace to help protect your masonry from the heat of future fires.

What Tools Should I Avoid When Putting Out a Fire?

Using unsafe tools could create a dangerous situation when attempting to put out your fire. Let’s talk about some things to avoid when extinguishing your fire.

Using An Ash Bucket

Although you technically can use an ash bucket to remove still-burning materials, it is not recommended. The risks involved in this method can pose a greater threat than simply leaving the embers in your fireplace which makes it extremely dangerous. 

Using a Fire Extinguisher

Fire extinguishers are meant for emergencies, such as a fire that has spread into the home. Using a fire extinguisher to put out the fire in your fireplace will make an unnecessary mess of your space and leave you with muddy ashes to clean up

Using Water

While you may think water is a great idea, it’s a much messier solution than you’d probably prefer to deal with. It will leave you with runny ashes, excessive smoke, potential steam burns, and eventually cause damage to the masonry in your firebox. 

Keep Your Chimney and Fireplace In Top-Notch Condition

Keeping up with regular cleanings and inspections will help ensure the safest fireplace experience. Call Dubuque Fireplace and Patio for all your chimney and fireplace needs! Our team of experienced professionals provides quality care to chimneys and fireplaces in Dubuque, IA and surrounding areas. Give us a call today at 563-582-5156 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your appointment today.