Eighth and Ninth Red Bulbs Placed on Fire Safety Wreath

Two structure fires that occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 27 represent the eighth and ninth red bulbs on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath. 

Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call at 5:20 p.m. reporting a residential structure fire in the 3000 block of Pelican Lane in the Scenic Ridge neighborhood. Crews arrived on scene to find a working fire with flames showing from the chimney and smoke from the roof of the two-story home. Escambia County Fire Rescue called the fire under control at 6 p.m., with the chimney and surrounding living areas sustaining moderate heat and smoke damage. The occupants were displaced as the power was shut off to the house. No injuries were reported. ECFR determined that the fire was caused by by a breach in the wall of the gas fireplace and the use of a false chimney. Smoke detectors were present but did not operate, as the majority of the fire was confined to the exterior of the house and extended up the wall into the attic area.

The second fire occurred at approximately 6:38 p.m. in the 100 block of Ariola Drive on Pensacola Beach. Crews arrived on scene to find smoke coming from the second and third stories of the three-story home. Escambia County Fire Rescue called the fire under control at 7:50 p.m. No one was injured in the fire, but the house sustained damage to the second and third story. ECFR determined that the fire was caused by the fireplace.

Here are a few quick tips on fireplace safety from the National Safety Council and the Chimney Safety Institute of America:

• Each season, before using your wood burning or gas fireplace, have your chimney, flue and vents inspected and cleaned by a certified professional.
• Know your chimney liner. Some chimney liners are not compatible with gas appliances because of the material from which they are made. It is important to make sure that the lining system you purchase – or even the one that may currently be in your chimney – is appropriate for use with gas appliances.
• If using a wood burning fireplace, use dry, seasoned wood that’s cut into manageable pieces. If using synthetic logs, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Never break a synthetic log apart and only use one log at a time. Don’t ever burn garbage. Always use a fireplace screen or door.
• Always extinguish fires before leaving the house or going to bed. Never leave a fire unattended.
• Dispose of ashes in a tightly-sealed metal container (only after they have completely cooled).
• Don’t forget that a carbon monoxide detector is important in any home, especially one with a wood burning or gas fireplace. 

The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the city of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also placed outside Escambia County's Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home. For more tips on how to stay safe during the holiday season, visit myescambia.com/KeepTheWreathGreen.