Hardwoods, like oak, have the best combustion efficiency, but softwoods, such as fir and pine, ignite easily and can be used to preheat your chimney before placing hardwood logs in your fireplace or stove. Don't burn garbage, trash, glossy paper, treated or painted wood, plastic or rubber. A clean chimney is a safe chimney. Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned before each heating season. A certified chimney sweep can do this for you.
Every chimney needs to be equipped with an approved spark arrestor at the top.
Spark arrestors prevent the escape of hot embers, hot creosote, or carbon fragments, which can cause roof fires or fires in combustible materials. Use a metal fire screen or glass doors in front of your fireplace at all times. Store wood and other combustibles at least 3 feet away from the fireplace. Never use lighter fluid, kerosene or gasoline. Keep trees trimmed at least 10 feet away from the chimney outlet.