Hold off on firing up your wood stove

If you're planning on firing up that old wood stove sitting in your house to take the chill off of these fall temperatures, you might want to blow out that match and listen to what the folks at the Sisters Fire Department have to say first.

Sisters Country is very dry, and we've already seen this summer how a stray spark can blow up into a major conflagration that threatens property and lives.

The stuff we burned in our stoves last winter could have left clumps of creosote stuck to the inside of the flue. That stuff could become hot and the glowing embers could be lifted out and deposited in your - or your neighbor's - backyard.

Tim Craig, chief of operations at the Sisters Fire District, suggests residents have their flue cleaned and examined to ensure there's nothing in there that would burst into flame or get out and start a fire going outside. Having someone who is certified come and clean your chimney/stove pipe will also provide you with a certificate that will make everyone sleep easier.

Craig urges locals to refrain from using their wood stove as a trash-burner; that's another way to start a fire where you don't want it. And, above all, make sure you have a secure cap on the top of the flue with a good screen on the cap.

There's a good chance if you do get some pitchy kindling going that's it's going to huff and puff, and send burning pieces up the flue. The screened cap will put everything back into the stove where it will eventually burn to fine ash and gas.