Follow package directions and use only one log at a time. When you clean the fireplace, put ashes in a metal container with a lid. Embers can burn for weeks and have been known to cause fires when placed in a garbage can with other trash. Have your chimney and fireplace checked every fall or winter before you use it. If you use your fireplace often, have it cleaned every year.
Chimney sweeps check for accumulations of creosote, an extremely flammable substance.
Ninety-three percent of all chimney fires are related to creosote buildup. Make sure you use seasoned wood, and don't burn treated lumber. When treated lumber is burned, the chemicals in it can create vapors that aren't good for your health.