Saw a sad thing today

[Backwoods Savage]

On my way into town I came across a bunch of fire trucks and the smoldering remains of what used to be a nice old farm house. It appears they lost everything and that is what I was told by others. We'll no doubt be checking to see if they need help.

However, these people every year cut their wood in October or November and then again sometime in mid-winter. Sad. But they were probably following bad advice from folks who know or knew that Grandpa did it that way.

If you are going to be burning wood, get the wood ahead of time and let it dry first so you won't be in the same situation.

Oh, I also saw 3 other places that were unloading fresh cut firewood and putting it into their basements. Guess what problems they will be having...

So please, please, especially for the new people just getting started with the wood stove. Put as much thought into the fuel as you do the stove and if anything, give your wood even more time to dry than you think necessary. In addition, we would welcome you to also visit The Wood Shed forum here on hearth.com for more information about the fuel.

 

[tarzan]

Yelp, round here, getting wood CSS in late spring for the following winter is considered getting it done early by most.

 

[RickBlaine]

Pardon me, but are you implying that the farm house burned because they were burning wet wood, which led to creosote, which led to a chimney fire?

You asked "Guess what problems they will be having." I do not know...The only think I can think of is they will be bringing insects into their basement. Is that what you mean?

 

[Warm_in_NH]

Preface....This is my girlfriend, not me.

So, the gf burns way too much green wood, but it burns and she's diligent about sweeping the chimney often as she knows how bad it is.

Last swept the chimney about 2/3 of a cord ago. Yesterday I took the pipe from the stove to the exterior masonry chimney off cause the stove burnt out and she wasn't home and I was curious to see. Tons of creosote, I couldn't believe how much built up so quickly.

She stays on top of it, but if she were to forget a sweeping it wouldn't take long to get into trouble. I think most people don't choose to burn wet wood, but if that's what you're doing, for whatever reason, make sure you sweep that pipe at least once per a cord. I know it varies w every setup, but after what I saw I would take no chances.

 

[Flamestead]

I shot this picture from the front yard Sunday morning of a neighbor's house going up. No word on the cause, but odds are good it was related to the cold weather we've been having (-12 degrees F early that morning). Makes you stop and think.

 

[RickBlaine]

Makes me stop and think what?

 

[Woody Stover]

Makes me stop and think what?

I give up.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

which is why ive made the decision I made with my wife just a day ago.

there is not enough education in the art of proper wood burning.

 

[HotCoals]

which is why ive made the decision I made with my wife just a day ago.

there is not enough education in the art of proper wood burning.

What decision was that?

Sorry, I just wanted to beat Rick B to that.

 

[red oak]

As many people as we see burn green wood, I am surprised there aren't more incidents like the one Dennis described.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

What decision was that?

Sorry, I just wanted to beat Rick B to that.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/its-official-im-writing-a-book.124188/

 

[Bigg_Redd]

On my way into town I came across a bunch of fire trucks and the smoldering remains of what used to be a nice old farm house. It appears they lost everything and that is what I was told by others. We'll no doubt be checking to see if they need help.

However, these people every year cut their wood in October or November and then again sometime in mid-winter. Sad. But they were probably following bad advice from folks who know or knew that Grandpa did it that way.

If you are going to be burning wood, get the wood ahead of time and let it dry first so you won't be in the same situation.

Oh, I also saw 3 other places that were unloading fresh cut firewood and putting it into their basements. Guess what problems they will be having...

So please, please, especially for the new people just getting started with the wood stove. Put as much thought into the fuel as you do the stove and if anything, give your wood even more time to dry than you think necessary. In addition, we would welcome you to also visit The Wood Shed forum here on hearth.com for more information about the fuel.

So we know for a fact it was a chimney fire?

 

[RickBlaine]

@stoveguy: I will buy your book! I really am not educated about building proper fires. Rebuilding engines and brake systems- no problem.

What is maddening to me is a post that ends with phrases open to interpretation.

1) Backwoods Savage said to "guess" about people unloading fresh cut firewood into their basement. Anyone have a guess as to what he is talking about to educate me please? Because other than pests, what exactly is the problem for unloading wood into your basement?
2) Backwoods Savage said "However, these people every year cut their wood in October or November and then again sometime in mid-winter. Sad. But they were probably following bad advice from folks who know or knew that Grandpa did it that way." How exactly is this bad advice? Should I cut wood in July or not before Arbor Day?
3) Flamestead said "Makes you stop and think." Really? It doesn't make me stop and think. It simply re-affirms my belief that your neighbor's house burning down is bad and can kill.

Communication is not what you say, it is what people understand. So it would be helpful, on a forum such as this, to write clearly. If you don't think people should burn green wood, then say that. Not helpful (to me, at least) to say people "should not unload green wood into their basement". As opposed to what? Their garage, formal dining room, the toddler's playpen?

 

[Flamestead]

@stoveguy: I will buy your book! I really am not educated about building proper fires. Rebuilding engines and brake systems- no problem.

What is maddening to me is a post that ends with phrases open to interpretation.

1) Backwoods Savage said to "guess" about people unloading fresh cut firewood into their basement. Anyone have a guess as to what he is talking about to educate me please? Because other than pests, what exactly is the problem for unloading wood into your basement?
2) Backwoods Savage said "However, these people every year cut their wood in October or November and then again sometime in mid-winter. Sad. But they were probably following bad advice from folks who know or knew that Grandpa did it that way." How exactly is this bad advice? Should I cut wood in July or not before Arbor Day?
3) Flamestead said "Makes you stop and think." Really? It doesn't make me stop and think. It simply re-affirms my belief that your neighbor's house burning down is bad and can kill.

Apologies. I'll try to write more slowly and clearly, with readers of your caliber you in mind.

 

[RickBlaine]

I accept your apology. Perhaps your blinding wit ignited your neighbor's fire, huh?

 

[Charles1981]

So, wait...did their house burn down because of a chimney fire? Or do you not know the exact cause yet?

 

[Flamestead]

I accept your apology. Perhaps your blinding wit ignited your neighbor's fire, huh?

Peace. I'm here to enjoy, discuss, and learn.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Apologies. I'll try to write more slowly and clearly, with readers of your caliber you in mind.

WTF? Rilly?

 

[jatoxico]

Take it easy Rick if you read a few more threads you'll know exactly what these guys mean. Can't spell out every last detail in every post every time you know?

 

[begreen]

Let's keep it civil. From what I can tell without referring articles or fire reports this could be electrical or gas heaters just as well as wood heaters. The point being that you need to have your house setup safely to heat, including your fall back solutions. Deferred maintenance and jerry-rigged solutions are apt to bite you when the demand for heat is high.

 

[BrotherBart]

Actually I thought the same thing as Rick when I read it. An overwhelming majority of house fires start in the kitchen.

 

[RickBlaine]

Take it easy Rick if you read a few more threads you'll know exactly what these guys mean. Can't spell out every last detail in every post every time you know?

Agreed....I learned about green wood vs. properly seasoned. I don't know why cutting wood in October is bad. Don't want to guess, I want to know. If no one wants to tell me, so be it. Peace.

 

[velvetfoot]

1-Focus on burning green wood, not where it is kept
2-Burning green wood bad
3-Maybe he was burning green wood

Burning green wood is bad

 

[velvetfoot]

Actually I thought the same thing as Rick when I read it. An overwhelming majority of house fires start in the kitchen.

Makes you think.

 

[BrotherBart]

When I set this place on fire, it was in the kitchen. I was down stairs tending the stove when the pan caught fire. And the cabinets.