To keep your fireplace safe over the holidays, take stockings and garland down before you light a fire, keep everything that can burn at least 3 feet from the hearth, never burn wrapping paper, cardboard or tree branches, and never leave a fire unattended. Store cooled ashes in a covered metal container outside, at least 10 feet from your home. Before you decorate, make sure the chimney has been inspected this year.
The fireplace is the centerpiece of plenty of Connecticut holiday gatherings. It’s also the busiest it will be all year, with more fires, more people, and more decorations close to the heat. A few simple habits keep it that way.
Before You Decorate: A Quick Fireplace Safety Check
Run through this list before the stockings go up.
- Check the chimney’s inspection date. If it’s been more than a year, get it inspected before the season’s heaviest use.
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level and outside bedrooms.
- Check the damper. It should open fully and move freely.
- Look inside the firebox for cracked firebrick, fallen pieces, or shiny black deposits. See our first-fire checklist for more things to check before using your fireplace.
- Put the screen or glass doors in place.
- Clear a 3-foot zone around the fireplace, and decide now where the decorations will and won’t go.
- Empty old ashes into a metal container (see the ash section below).
Doing this first matters because decorations make it harder to see and reach the fireplace, and a problem you find after the room is decorated is a problem you may be tempted to ignore.
What Are the Safest Ways to Hang Stockings Around a Fireplace?
The safest option is to not hang them over a fireplace that’s in use. Stockings, garland and greenery on the mantel are fine when the fireplace is cold. Once there’s a fire, move them.
A screen stops sparks, but it doesn’t stop radiant heat. Fabric and dry greenery hanging directly above the opening can heat up to the point of catching.
Safer ways to hang stockings:
- Use removable stocking holders that you can move to a stair rail, bookshelf or wall on fire nights.
- Hang them on a wall or a freestanding stand at least 3 feet from the fireplace opening.
- Take them down before lighting. Put them back once the fire is out and the fireplace has cooled.
- Plan your fire nights. If the mantel is where the stockings always go, keep it as a display on nights without a fire, and move the stockings before you light one.
Never leave stockings, garland or other fabric on the mantel while the fire is burning, even with a screen in place.
What Decorations Should You Keep Away From the Fireplace?
Anything that can burn belongs outside the 3-foot zone while a fire is lit. That includes:
- Stockings, fabric and ribbon
- Garland, wreaths and real greenery (dry evergreen needles ignite almost instantly)
- Paper decorations, cards and gift wrap
- Candles and other open flames
- The Christmas tree, which should be kept well away from the fireplace
- Spray-on “snow” and other decorations with flammable coatings (check the label)
- Presents, toys and anything left on the hearth
Fake greenery and artificial trees are not necessarily safe. Many are not fire resistant, so keep them away too.
Keep 3 Feet Clear
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends keeping anything that can burn at least 3 feet from the fireplace.
During the holidays, check the whole space, not just the mantel. Furniture gets moved for extra guests, presents pile up, and blankets get left on the floor. Keep the tree well away from the fireplace, and keep gifts and toys out of the 3-foot zone.
A 3-foot “kid-free zone” is a good idea too, with the screen or doors kept in place at all times.
Never Burn Wrapping Paper
It’s tempting to toss the morning’s wrapping paper into the fire. Don’t.
Wrapping paper burns very fast and very hot, and it throws burning pieces up the chimney. Those flaming fragments can ignite creosote in the flue or land on the roof. Glossy and foil paper can also release chemicals as it burns.
The same goes for cardboard boxes, ribbon, tissue paper, plastic packaging and Christmas tree branches. Dry evergreen needles flare up almost instantly.
Set out a recycling bag well away from the hearth so guests have an obvious place for the paper.
Hidden Fire Risks Around Your Fireplace During the Holidays
Some of the biggest holiday risks aren’t visible from the room.
- Creosote buildup. Every fire leaves deposits in the flue, and these can ignite. The more you burn over the holidays, the faster it builds. A dirty chimney is one of the main causes of chimney fires.
- A blocked or damaged flue. Nests, debris or a damaged liner can send smoke and carbon monoxide into the room instead of up and out.
- Burning the wrong things. Wrapping paper, cardboard and tree branches throw sparks and flaming fragments into the flue.
- Hot ashes. Ashes can hold enough heat to start a fire for days after they look cold.
- Fires left to burn down unattended. Embers can reignite, and they still produce carbon monoxide.
- Fires that are too big. An overloaded firebox puts more heat and smoke into the chimney than it’s built to handle.
- Smoke from a partly closed damper. It’s a common cause of smoke in the room during a party.
Carbon Monoxide: The Risk You Can’t See or Smell
A fireplace that isn’t venting properly can push carbon monoxide (CO) into your home. CO has no color and no smell.
Early symptoms feel like the flu: headache, dizziness, nausea, tiredness and confusion. If several people in the house feel unwell at the same time, especially if they feel better after going outside, take it seriously.
Make sure you have working CO alarms on every level of the home and outside bedrooms. Test them before the holidays.
If a CO alarm goes off, get everyone outside right away, then call 911 from outside. Don’t stay in to open windows or look for the cause.
Supervise Every Fire
An adult should be responsible for the fire for as long as it’s burning. In a busy room, everyone assumes someone else is watching.
Put the fire out before going to bed or leaving the house. With a wood fireplace, don’t close the damper until the fire is completely out, including glowing embers. Closing it too early pushes smoke and CO back into the room.
Dispose of Ashes Safely
Ashes can stay hot enough to start a fire for days after they look cold. The U.S. Fire Administration’s guidance:
- Let ashes cool in the fireplace before removing them
- Scoop them into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid
- Store the container outside, at least 10 feet from your home and other buildings
- Never put ashes in a paper bag, cardboard box, plastic bin or your regular trash
- Never vacuum ashes with a household vacuum
The Most Common Holiday Fireplace Hazards and How to Prevent Them
| Hazard | How to prevent it |
|---|---|
| Stockings and garland near the fire | Take them down before lighting; use removable holders |
| Burning wrapping paper or tree branches | Recycle paper; use only dry, seasoned firewood |
| Anything flammable within 3 feet | Keep a clear 3-foot zone; move furniture, gifts and the tree |
| Creosote buildup in the chimney | Annual inspection and cleaning |
| Carbon monoxide | Working CO alarms; fix venting problems; never ignore symptoms |
| Hot ashes in the wrong container | Metal container with a lid, stored outside |
| Unattended fire | An adult watches the fire; put it out before bed |
| Overloaded fire | Build smaller fires with dry wood |
Get It Checked Before the Busy Season
If your fireplace hasn’t been inspected this year, the weeks before the holidays are the time to do it. You’ll use it more over the next six weeks than at any other time of year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the safest ways to hang Christmas stockings around a working fireplace?
Don’t hang them over a fireplace that’s in use. Use removable stocking holders that you can move to a stair rail, wall or bookshelf at least 3 feet from the opening on fire nights, and put them back after the fire is out and the fireplace has cooled.
What decorations should I keep away from my fireplace to prevent holiday fires?
Keep stockings, garland, real greenery, wreaths, paper decorations, candles, ribbon, spray-on snow, gifts and the Christmas tree at least 3 feet from the fireplace while a fire is lit.
What should I know about hidden fire risks around my fireplace during the holidays?
The biggest risks are creosote buildup, a blocked or damaged flue, burning wrapping paper or branches, hot ashes, unattended fires and carbon monoxide. An annual chimney inspection and cleaning finds most of them.
What should I do to make sure my fireplace is safe before decorating for the holidays?
Check that the chimney has been inspected in the past year, test your smoke and CO alarms, check the damper, look inside the firebox, put the screen in place, clear a 3-foot zone and empty old ashes into a metal container.
What are the most common holiday fireplace hazards and how can I prevent them?
The most common hazards are decorations near the fire, burning wrapping paper or tree branches, creosote buildup, carbon monoxide, hot ashes, unattended fires and overloaded fires. Keep a 3-foot clear zone, burn only dry firewood, have the chimney inspected and cleaned each year, and never leave a fire unattended.
Can I burn my Christmas tree in the fireplace?
No. Dry evergreen needles and branches burn explosively and can start a chimney fire. Use your town’s tree collection or chip it instead.
Can I go to bed if only embers are left?
No. Embers can still reignite and still produce carbon monoxide. Make sure the fire is fully out before you leave the room for the night, and keep the damper open until it is.
Book a Pre-Holiday Inspection
Make sure your fireplace is ready for the season. Eversafe Chimney Experts provides chimney inspections and cleaning across Connecticut, including Bridgeport, New Haven, and Stamford. Our technicians are CSIA certified, licensed and insured, and we’ve served homeowners for 10 years. Our chimney inspection is $69 and covers up to a Level 2 inspection, and same-day service is available.
Call (860) 846-4458 to book your inspection.
