Notes from the Fire Marshal
September 2008
FIREPLACES, CHIMNEYS, AND SPARK ARRESTERS
As we leave the summer season and enter the cooler days and earlier nights of fall, the trend to fire up the fireplace at night will increase. As an innkeeper in Carmel-by-the-Sea, if you have solid fuel (wood) fireplaces in your guest rooms, please pass the following information along to your guests (of course, the same advice holds true for your own fireplaces!):
(1) If you have a fireplace which uses solid fuel (wood, wood chips, or commercial logs), it is important to have your fireplace and chimney cleaned by a licensed, certified chimney sweep.
(2) Make sure that your spark arrester is in good shape. Your chimney sweep will be able to verify this.
(3) Never overload the fireplace. Use enough kindling to start the fire, and when you add fuel, add enough to keep the fire burning cleanly without overheating.
(4) Keep the screen in front of your fireplace clean and make sure it is in place when you enjoy the fire.
Also, as an innkeeper, please note that the policy of the fire marshal's office that if you operate an inn or hotel with solid-fuel burining fireplaces, it is required that your chimneys be inspected by a licensed, certified chimney sweep every six months. Such inspection reports are to be provided to the fire inspector upon request.