Coal Stove Blamed for Douglas Fire

Any else see this in the T&G today? Hope it wasn't a member from this board. Thankfully no one was hurt.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20091221/NEWS/912219982/1101/LOCAL

Something doesn't add up there ....

First off, when the story was first reported, they said it was a woodstove. Secondly ... how does a coal stove burn your house down? Unless he left the ash door open ....

Comment left, chimney fire from coal is impossible.

Did you browse our liberal paper?

I added a comment also, just to back up what you said. I'm waiting for the anti-coal set to start posting. I subscribed ....

On again, we need more info! I'm calling the chief in the AM to see what the real story is. I'll post when I get credible evidence one way or the other!

Someone posted this; "I have read all the posts by the people who burn coal stoves. I never burned coal, so I did some checking. I found the following from the instruction manual of a Magnafire Coal Stove:

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT CHIMNEYS IS THEIR NEED FOR MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING. IF A CHIMNEY IS NOT CLEANED ON A FREQUENT BASIS, IT WILL AFFECT DRAFT, AS WELL AS BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO A POTENTIAL CHIMNEY FIRE.

They also talk about a potential build-up of gasses if the draft is affected by wind or obstructions that can lead to pockets of gasses that can explode. If there is a crack in the chimney these gasses can collect in that pocket, and when the door is opened they can ignite and explode.

Those of you who burn the stoves may not believe this, but the guys who make them claim it can happen.

I have also heard that a film can build up on the lining of a chimney and care should be taken when cleaning the chimney that you do not create a spark, which can ignite the film in the flue. I would imagine that if there is a crack in the flue the same material that can gather in the flue itself can gather in an area around the crack, thus creating a fire potential."



Isn't the soot or ash in the chimney from a coal stove 100% non combustible? Isn't more acidic then it is flammable? If any type of coal was leaving a film in the chimney wouldn't it be Bit coal? From my understanding there isn't many of them around here but I sure would like to know what company is giving him his information?

Adamiscold wrote:If any type of coal was leaving a film in the chimney wouldn't it be Bit coal?

Soot from soft coal doesn't cause flue fires.

complete load of crap, and whoever wrote that instruction manual is a complete idiot.

Read the manual yourself...
http://www.hearthnhome.com/downloads/installManuals/Mark_I_II_III.pdf
No mention of Chimney Fire danger in my quick read...