One of the most basic principles of fireplace cleaning and maintenance is removing ashes and disposing of them in an appropriate manner. However, many housefires are caused because fireplace owners neglect to empty ashes, or they are disgarded of in an improper manner. A recent news story in Maryland shows that ashes can end up being a very pricey issue if they are not maintained properly.

In Jarrettsville, Maryland, firefighters received a call for a fire at a single family home. Nobody was hurt in the fire, but the cost of the damage was estimated at $375,000. This was caused because of improper disposal of some of the ashses from the fireplace. Here are a few tips to remember when dealing with your fireplace ash cleaning and removal:

• Regularly dispose of ashes - Letting ash build up is bad for a number of reasons. The first is that it causes your fire to burn less cleanly which is not healthy for your family. The second is that is can cause risk for fire to escape from the fireplace.
• Dispose of ashes in a proper container - Putting ashes that are still warm in a plastic or other meltable container can cause damage to the container and increase the risk of a fire.
• Do not dispose of embers with ashes - The embers of a fire can re-ignite, even after the fire has been extinguished for hours. It is important to make sure that everything has fully cooled before disposing of ashses.
• Keep ashes away from flammable items - Simply throwing ashes in with paper and other flammable items is asking for trouble. Keep ashes seperate and in a safe container to decrease fire risk.

Use these tips to keep your fireplace maintenance safe and decrease any fire risks. Good luck and thanks for reading!