It's pretty cold, windy, and snowy out there!  During a blizzard, having an alternative form of heating can be a huge advantage, especially if the power goes out.

If you're a homeowner who has a fireplace or woodstove, it's important to make sure it is working properly and well-maintained for your own and your family's safety:

• Make sure the area around the fireplace or woodstove is clear of potentially flammable objects and materials.
• Clean out the ashes from your previous fire, and store them in a non-combustible container until you can properly dispose of them.
• For a fireplace, make sure you use a grate; keep the glass doors open while the fire is burning, but keep the fire screen closed.
• Build a safe and right-sized fire and use fireplace tools to tend to it.
• Don't leave a fire unattended and don't close the damper until the embers are completely burned out.
• Have the chimney inspected annually, and cleaned when necessary, by a professional chimney sweep.
• Install a chimney cap on top of the stack to help ensure that debris or animals don't block the flue.
• Install working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and have a fire extinguisher on hand.