The glass on these lamps can shatter when lit, posing a fire and laceration hazard to consumers. Wenzel Co., of St. Louis, Mo., is voluntarily recalling about 290,000 propane-fueled camping lanterns. An insufficient connection between the lantern and the propane cylinder can allow gas to escape and ignite unexpectedly, posing a potential fire and injury hazard to consumers. This hazard can occur during the lighting or normal use of the lantern. Return to Fire Dept.
Most chimney fires result from a build-up of creosote on the inside surface of the chimney.
Creosote is an extremely flammable, tar-like substance that is a byproduct of wood burning. It can ignite and burn, sometimes even causing the chimney to explode. Cracks in masonry chimneys, usually caused by settling, earthquakes, or chimney fires, can lead to heat transfer to wood construction and to other combustibles, causing fires outside the chimney. Burn dry, seasoned wood. 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.