Maryland Chimney Fire Safety: 8 Things to Do Before First Burn This Winter

Eight CSIA-standard chimney fire safety checks every Maryland homeowner should do before the first burn this winter — from creosote inspection to CO detector batteries.

The first cold Maryland night of November is the most dangerous night of the year for chimney fires. After 8 months of dormant flues, sleeping animals, accumulated debris, and freeze-thawed masonry, that first eager fire in a long-unused chimney is where most Maryland chimney fires start. Maryland fire departments respond to more than 1,800 chimney-related calls per year — and a disproportionate share happen between November 1 and December 15.

The good news is that nearly every chimney fire is preventable with a short pre-season checklist. Here are the 8 things every Maryland family should do before lighting the first fire of winter.

1. Schedule an Annual Sweep — Done Before October 31

Book your sweep in August or September. By mid-October, every CSIA-trained sweep in Maryland is booked 3 to 5 weeks out. A proper annual sweep removes creosote buildup, clears animal nests and debris from the smoke shelf, and resets your one-eighth inch creosote clock to zero. The cheapest insurance policy you will ever buy is a $250 chimney sweep.

2. Get a CSIA Level 1 (or Level 2) Inspection

A Level 1 inspection comes with most sweeps and covers what is visible. Order a Level 2 video inspection if any of these apply:

• You bought the home within the last 18 months
• The chimney has not been inspected in 3+ years
• You experienced a chimney fire last winter
• A major storm event (derecho, hurricane remnant, ice storm) occurred since the last inspection
• You converted from wood to gas (or vice versa)
• You see any new cracks in the crown or chimney face

The video scan takes an extra 30 minutes and surfaces cracked tiles, hidden creosote glaze, and liner gaps that no flashlight ever finds. Catching these problems in October prevents the chimney fire in December.

3. Inspect the Cap and Spark Arrestor

Walk outside, get far enough back to see the top of the stack clearly, and check the cap. Look for:

• Dented or torn mesh (often from squirrels or hailstorms)
• A leaning or loose cap (clamps may have rusted)
• Visible bird droppings or nesting material on the crown
• Missing cap entirely (more common than you think)

Older Maryland brick stocks — especially those built before 1950 — were often built without caps. If your chimney does not have one, install one before the first burn. See our deep dive on chimney cap installation for sizing and material guidance.

4. Test Every Smoke and CO Alarm in the House

Maryland law requires CO alarms within 10 feet of every sleeping area in any home with fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage. Before first burn:

• Press the test button on every smoke and CO alarm
• Replace 9-volt or AA batteries (do not "wait until they chirp")
• Replace any smoke alarm more than 10 years old or any CO alarm more than 7 years old
• Install at least one CO alarm in the room with the fireplace

5. Burn Only Seasoned Hardwood — 20% Moisture or Less

Wet wood is the #1 producer of creosote. Wood with more than 20 percent moisture content burns cool, produces tar instead of flame, and coats your flue with Stage 2 creosote in a single season.

A $25 moisture meter from any Maryland hardware store gives you the answer in seconds. Aim for these values:

• Below 20%: Properly seasoned — safe to burn
• 20% to 25%: Acceptable but creates more creosote
• Above 25%: Do not burn — dry it another season

Best Maryland hardwoods: oak (24 month season), hickory (18 month), maple (12 month), ash (12 month, even shorter if standing dead). Avoid pine, spruce, and other softwoods — they burn fast, produce excessive creosote, and never season properly for indoor burning.

6. Maintain 3 Feet of Clearance Around the Hearth

NFPA 211 requires combustible materials (rugs, furniture, curtains, kindling) to stay at least 36 inches from the fireplace opening. Before the first fire:

• Move the holiday tree at least 3 feet away
• Clear the mantel of paper decorations and dried garland
• Pull rugs back from the hearth — fitted hearth rugs only
• Stack firewood outside, not next to the fireplace (carries insects and creates spark risk)
• Install a glass or mesh screen rated for ember containment

7. Never Leave a Fire Unattended

This rule sounds obvious. It is also the single most violated chimney-safety rule in Maryland. A fire left burning for the "five minutes" it takes to step out for groceries is what turns a controlled fire into a structural one.

Every adult in your home should know the rules:

• Do not leave the house with active flames in the firebox
• Do not go to sleep with active flames — let the fire burn down first
• Keep a Class A fire extinguisher within 10 feet of the firebox
• Know where the emergency damper rod or pull is and how to close it

8. Use the Post-Burn Ember Protocol

Fire department reports show that a startling share of "chimney fires" actually started with embers carried out in an ash bucket and ignited later. Maryland's freeze-thaw weather hides this risk — embers buried in cold ash can smolder for 72+ hours.

The right post-burn routine:

• Let ashes cool 24 hours minimum before scooping
• Use a metal bucket with a lid — never a paper bag or plastic
• Store the bucket outside on a non-combustible surface — not on a wooden deck, not in the garage, not in the basement
• Wait 72 hours before final disposal in a metal trash can away from the house
• Close the damper after the chimney has cooled — not while the flue is still warm

Maryland-Specific Considerations

Maryland chimneys come with a few regional quirks worth flagging:

• Older brick stocks (pre-1950). Common in Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick, and Ellicott City row houses and farmhouses. Built with soft brick and lime mortar that tolerates freeze-thaw poorly. Inspect crown and flashing every fall.
• Freeze-thaw crown cracks. Almost universal in Maryland chimneys older than 20 years that lack a cap. Check the crown from a ladder or have your sweep photograph it during the annual inspection.
• Volunteer fire department response. Many Maryland counties (Carroll, Frederick, Howard) are predominantly served by volunteer fire departments. Average response times can be 8 to 14 minutes for rural addresses. That makes prevention even more critical than in jurisdictions with all-paid fire service.
• Coastal humidity. Homes in Annapolis, Edgewater, and along the Eastern Shore see higher humidity that accelerates metal corrosion in caps, dampers, and liners. Choose 316 stainless over 304 in those zip codes.

If You Suspect a Chimney Fire

A chimney fire usually announces itself loudly — a freight-train roar from the roof, vibrations through the wall, embers shooting out of the cap, or thick black smoke from the stack. If you suspect a chimney fire is happening:

• Call 911 immediately. Do not wait to "see if it dies down."
• Evacuate the house with all family members and pets
• Close the damper if you can do it safely — cuts oxygen to the fire
• Use a chimney fire extinguisher stick (Chimfex) in the firebox if you have one
• Never spray water up the flue — the temperature shock cracks the liner and can collapse the smoke chamber

After any chimney fire — even a small one you put out yourself — do not light another fire until a CSIA sweep performs a Level 2 video inspection. The damage from a single chimney fire can be invisible from below and catastrophic on the next burn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the safest first fire of the season?

After your annual sweep and inspection, start with a small, hot, short fire — 3 to 4 split logs of well-seasoned hardwood, no more than 45 minutes total burn time. This warms the flue gradually, lets you check the draft, and surfaces any smoke spillage or animal issues before you commit to a long evening fire.

How long should ashes stay in the firebox?

Keep a 1-inch ash bed in the firebox during burning season — it actually improves combustion. Remove ashes only when the bed exceeds 2 inches and only after a full 24-hour cool-down. At end-of-season, remove all ashes and clean the firebox to prevent moisture absorption over summer.

Does Maryland require carbon monoxide detectors?

Yes. Maryland Public Safety Article §12-1101 requires a CO alarm within 10 feet of every sleeping area in any home with a fuel-burning appliance, attached garage, or fireplace. Hard-wired units are required in new construction; battery-operated units are acceptable in existing homes. Replace CO alarms every 7 years — the sensors lose accuracy.

What is the most common cause of Maryland chimney fires?

In our experience servicing chimneys across the state, the top three causes are: (1) skipping the annual sweep when creosote exceeds the one-eighth inch threshold, (2) burning unseasoned firewood that produces excessive creosote, and (3) animal nests in uncapped flues igniting from a hot fire. All three are preventable with a fall checklist and a properly inspected chimney before the first burn. Call Eagle Chimney Service or request a quote online to get on the fall schedule.