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House fire serves as reminder about fireplace safety

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Temperatures are dropping which means more and more people will be sparking up their fireplaces for the first time this season. That's why experts say it's time to remind people to take extra precautions when lighting their wood burning fireplace.

Randall Redding's been in the chimney cleaning business for 27 years and stresses the importance of fireplace safety. Yearly inspections are a part of that.

"If there's birds or squirrels that have made nests through the year or if a pipe or pipeliner has cracked, those are some important issues," said Randall Redding, owner of The Chimney Doctor. "You never know what could've happened in a 12 month period."

He says it's especially important to have a chimney inspection if you've purchased a new home. Redding adds using a hearth grate is key to keep embers from jumping onto carpet and furniture. Byproduct called creosote can build up, and if ignited, is especially difficult to put out.

"If the chimney gets overheated that fire that could be caused in the chimney could spread into the crawl space, into the house or the attic of the house," said Captain Brian Staskiewicz of the Bellevue Fire Department. "Which then, for the fighters, it's doubly hard to find because they have to go in and look for it and extinguish it from there."

He adds it's also important to remember to properly dispose of ashes in a fire proof container like a metal bucket with a lid. 

Inspections typically cost around a $100 with a full cleaning costing about $200. 

"A fire place or wood stove can be the focal point of your home. It can be the most enjoyable family gathering - most memories are created around that but unfortunately, it can also cause tragedy," said Redding.

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America - 22,000 house fires happen each year.